Final Score: Massachusetts 64, Northern Illinois 59

Dekalb, IL (Sports Network) - Maxie Esho scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Massachusetts Minutemen to a 64-59 victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies in non-conference action at the NIU Convocation Center.

Chaz Williams added 12 points, Freddie Riley tacked on 11 points and Terrell Vinson chipped in 10 points for Massachusetts (8-3). The Minutemen have now won five straight games.

Abdel Nader scored 15 points and was a rebound shy of a double-double for Northern Illinois (2-10) which lost for the fifth straight game. Askel Bolin added 11 points and Akeem Springs tallied 10 points.

The Minutemen got out to a 36-23 lead at halftime by shooting at a 59.1 percent clip while limiting the Huskies to just 24.0 percent shooting.

Massachusetts cooled to 36.4 percent shooting in the second half but rode a 10-3 edge on points from the free throw line to the victory.

Northern Illinois lost despite forcing a game-high 20 turnovers by Massachusetts.