DE KALB—Xavier Silas scored 40 points Tuesday night and Northern Illinois held on to beat UIC 80-78.Silas was 8 of 18 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers, and 22 of 24 from the free-throw line for the Huskies (3-4), playing for the first time in 12 days. Silas scored 28 points in the second half, including Northern Illinois’ last seven points from the foul line. UIC made it close on Corey Gray’s 3-pointer with 2 seconds to play for the final margin.No other NIU player finished in double figures.The Flames (4-7) jumped to a 15-2 lead and were ahead 33-29 at halftime. Silas had 12 points in the first half on 1-of-8 shooting and was 10-for-10 at the line.Darrin Williams led UIC with 16 points. Paul Carter and Robo Kreps scored 14 points apiece, Zavion Neely added 12 and Paris Carter had 10.