KENT, Ohio (Interstat) — Delrecco Gillespie scored 28 points to lead Kent State to a 77-73 victory over Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Memorial Athletics Center.

The Golden Flashes, who improved to 11-3, built a 47-26 halftime lead but had to withstand a fierce Huskies rally. Northern Illinois outscored Kent State 47-30 after halftime behind 27 points from Makhai Valentine. Taj Walters added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies, who fell to 5-9.

Gillespie added nine rebounds for Kent State. Rob Whaley contributed 18 points for the Golden Flashes in front of a crowd of 2,081.