SATURDAY'S GAMES Northern Illinois tops Akron in MAC opener

Despite a series of turnovers, the Zips couldn't run past the Huskies.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DEKALB, Ill. -- Zach Pancratz scored 15 points while leading Northern Illinois to a 66-58 victory over Akron in the opening of Mid-American Conference action.
The Huskies (2-3, 1-0) went into the second half with a 30-26 lead and was able to hold on for the win, despite a series of turnovers that Akron converted for 14 points.
Pancratz also grabbed five rebounds, while Mike McKinney and Todd Peterson scored 11 each for Northern Illinois.
Darryl Peterson scored 11 points for Akron (3-2, 0-1), with Cedrick Middleton adding 10.
Cent. Michigan 66, Rochester, Mich. 56
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Kevin Nelson scored 13 points to lead Central Michigan past Rochester College.
The Warriors, who won the United States Athletic Association national title last year, cut Central Michigan's lead to 48-45 with 8:23 to go on a basket by Scott Ode, but hit just five baskets the rest of the game.
The Chippewas, meanwhile, found their offense and scored on five of their next seven trips down the court.
Central Michigan (3-2) held a lead from the start that included a 10-3 advantage on the strength of a pair of 3-pointers by Tony Bowne. Rochester (6-7) cut it to 16-14 in the first half as Mike Tobin scored on a lay-up, but the Chippewas then went on a 22-7 run to close the half.
Derek Evans led the Warriors with 15 points while Ode added 12.
Central Michigan, which shot 51.7 percent in the first half, was 8-of-32 in the second half for just 25 percent shooting and finished at 37.7 percent for the game.
Steve Harris added six points and 10 rebounds for the Chippewas while Bowne finished with nine points and five assists. Nelson hit just one of 11 3-pointers as Central Michigan went 5-of-26 from behind the arc.