Recap: Ball State vs. Northern Ill

Muncie, IN (Sports Network) - Jauwan Scaife netted 17 points to lift the Ball State Cardinals to a 53-51 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies in a Mid- American Conference tilt at John E. Worthern Arena.

Majok Majok added nine points and five rebounds off the bench for Ball State (15-14, 8-8 MAC), which ended the regular season on a five-game winning streak.

Darrell Bowie scored 10 points off the bench to lead Northern Illinois (5-24, 3-13) which was without leading scorer Abdel Nader due to personal reasons for the third straight game.

NIU led 6-0 early on and never trailed in the first half en route to a 27-19 halftime advantage. The Huskies outrebounded Ball State, 16-6, and forced seven Cardinals' turnovers.

Ball State responded in the second half and asserted itself offensively by shooting 52.2 percent from the floor while holding NIU to just 37.5 percent. Trailing 47-46 with 5:13 remaining, Majok converted an old-fashioned three- point play to put Ball State ahead by two. Despite missing some free throws late, the Cardinals held on for the win after Antone Christian's 3-point try with two seconds left was off the mark.

NIU committed 27 fouls while Ball State had just 12. With the win, the Cardinals clinched the sixth seed in the upcoming MAC tournament.