NIU continues futility season with loss to Buffalo

DE KALB—Javon McCrea had 14 points and 12 rebounds Saturday and Buffalo defeated Northern Illinois 74-59.Zach Filzen scored 12 points, making four 3-pointers, and Mitchell Watt had 10 points and four blocked shots for the Bulls (12-6, 5-2 Mid-American), who broke away from a 15-15 game with a 10-2 run and were in control after that. Buffalo led 37-28 at the break and by as many as 25 points in the second half before NIU scored 10 of the game’s last 12 points.Abdel Nader was the only Huskie in double figures with 11 points. Northern Illinois (2-17, 1-6) shot 28 percent from the field in the game