MUNCIE, Ind. -- Tre Harbison ran for two scores, Marcus Childers threw for a touchdown and Northern Illinois held off Ball State 24-16 on Saturday.
NIU had a 21-6 lead late in the third quarter, but the Cardinals closed to 21-16 on James Gilbert's 3-yard TD run that was set up by Ray Wilborn's interception. NIU answered with Andrew Gantz's 27-yard field goal for a two-possession game with 5:26 to play.
Ball State drove to NIU's 35, but was stopped on downs when Riley Neal's pass to Justin Hall was broken up by Trayshon Foster in the end zone.