Redshirt junior Boubacar Toure split a pair of free throws to put the Eagles (10-13, 4-6 MAC) back in front for good. Redshirt senior Paul Jackson added a layup on EMU's next possession to build a 48-45 edge with 3:07 left in the second.
NIU (12-12, 5-6 MAC) added a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to one, but Jackson responded with a three-point play to stretch the lead to 51-47 with 2:44 on the clock.
The Huskies knocked down a jumper to once again make it a one-possession game, but Jackson added another layup to restore EMU's four-point cushion with 2:03 to go in the final frame.
After Jackson set up senior James Thompson IV on an alley-oop in the final minute of regulation, the Green and White used free throws the rest of the way to snap a two-game skid.
Jackson scored 20 of his team-leading 23 points in the second half, while pacing the Green and White with eight assists and three steals. Fellow redshirt senior Elijah Minnie notched 11 points, three blocks, and two swipes, while redshirt freshman Tariq Silver marked his first career start with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting.
The Eagles finished 43.2 percent (19-of-44) from the floor, as the Huskies ended the afternoon at a 34.7 percent clip and shot a woeful 1-of-13 from downtown. EMU out-blocked NIU, 9-2, and overmatched the visitors in assists (9-8), steals (8-5), and fast-break points (8-4).
Senior Dante Thorpe was the only Huskie in double figures, finishing with 13 points. He made 5-of-10 shots from the field and hit all three 3-point opportunities
EMU relied exclusively on the long ball in the early stages, as Minnie opened the scoring from beyond the arc before Silver added a pair of triples to give the Eagles a 9-5 lead with 16:31 left in the opening half.
NIU bounced back to level the score at nine apiece, but redshirt sophomore Ty Groce drained a corner three to put the Green and White back in front, 12-9, with 14:40 to go in the first period.
Trailing 13-12, the Eagles replied with a 9-0 run to build their largest lead of the contest, 21-13, with 8:40 to go in the opening stanza. Silver knocked down a corner three of his own and set up Minnie on an alley-oop to cap the run, prompting NIU to burn a timeout.
The Green and White trailed 27-24 coming out of the break, but opened the second half with an 8-2 run to grab a 32-29 lead with 16:47 left in the frame.
NIU's foul trouble gave EMU more opportunities at the charity stripe, allowing the Eagles to open up a 39-34 advantage with 9:42 to go in the second. However, the Huskies repeatedly played catch-up as the contest headed into its final media stoppage.