The win gives EMU (2-4; 2-4 MAC) its second-consecutive victory over Northern Illinois (0-6; 0-6 MAC).
Offensively, the Eagles . . .
In the backfield, freshman running back Darius Boone Jr. rushed for 38 yards on 10 attempts and scored his second-career touchdown, while sophomore Samson Evans recorded 58 rushing yards on seven attempts. Junior wide out Hassan Beydoun grabbed eight catches for 136 yards, reaching the 100-yard mark for the third time this season and fourth time in his career.
Beydoun is one of seven players in program history to reach the 100-yard plateau four times in a career, which is also tied for fourth in the EMU football record books.
Sophomore Tanner Knue was another reliable target for Hutchinson as he was able to haul in five catches for 42 yards and one touchdown, while junior Dylan Drummond also tallied a score in his stat line.
On the defensive side, junior Tariq Speights led EMU with 11 tackles, while freshman Mark Lee Jr. had a career day as he recorded his first career fumble return, which resulted in a 61-yard touchdown.
FIRST HALF
Eastern Michigan jumped out to a 10-point lead, which was answered by NIU with 10 of its own.
The Eagles would score the next 17 points -- 10 before intermission. Hutchinson hit Drummond with an eight-yard pass early in the second period and Chad Ryland gave EMU a 20-10 halftime lead with his 24-yard field goal.
SECOND HALF
Lee's 61-yard fumble return at 13:13 of the third quarter expanded Eastern's lead to 17 points, but Eric Collins answered for NIU with a nine-yard run that capped off the Huskies 10-play, 79-yard drive.
The teams traded 18-yard touchdowns before the third quarter ended. EMU's Boone covered the distance on a run and Bowers hit Messiah Travis with a pass as the stanza ended with Eastern Michigan holding a 34-24 advantage.
EMU got its final score on a Hutchinson one-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Northern managed nine more points -- two on a safety and seven more off of Bower's three-yard pass to Cole Tucker.
(EMUeagles.com/MRO edit)