A layup by Jordan Thomas early in the second half cut the deficit to two for the Northern Illinois men's basketball.
Then things went downhill.
Minnesota blew the game open in the second half and the Gophers defeated the Huskies 77-56 on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Thomas's layup cut the Minnesota lead to 29-27 with 18:10 remaining in the game before the Gophers pulled away.
The Huskies (4-5 overall) got their best game of the season from sophomore guard Marshawn Wilson, who finished with 18 points on 7 for 13 shooting. Senior guard Dontel Highsmith was the only other player in double figures for Northern Illinois, finishing with 10.