Central Michigan tops Northern Illinois, 68-66

Feb 18, 2015, 10:34 pm

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Braylon Rayson scored 23 points and Central Michigan got its school-record 14th win on its home court this season, holding off Northern Illinois for a 68-66 win Wednesday night.

Austin Stewart had the game-winning tip-in with 3.7 seconds.

Central Michigan has won four straight conference games for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The Chippewas sold out McGuirk Arena for the first time since it was built in 1973 and has two home games remaining.

Central Michigan (19-5, 9-4) is tied with Toledo for first place in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas won 21 games in Keno Davis' first two seasons as head coach.

Rayson got the Chippewas off to a fast start, sparking them to a 41-30 lead at intermission by hitting all five field goal attempts to notch 15 points.

Northern Illinois (10-14, 4-9) got 19 points from Aaric Armstead and 15 more from Jordan Threloff.