Buffalo's second half tops Northern Illinois 63-52

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Zach Filzen scored 21 points and Byron Mulkey added 19 as Buffalo pulled away in the second half for a 63-52 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday.

The Bulls (13-6, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) won their fifth in a row despite struggling in the first half, when they needed 28 shots to make 10. But with Filzen and Mulkey combining for 17 points in the first 20 minutes, the Bulls scratched out a 27-24 halftime lead. They needed only 21 shots to make another 10 in the second half, when they built a 17-point cushion. Mulkey hit three free throws with 10:06 to play, making it 54-37.

Xavier Silas struggled from the field (4 of 15) but got to the free-throw line enough to compensate, making 12 of 13 to lead Northern Illinois (7-12, 3-4) with 20 points. But the Huskies hurt themselves with 17 turnovers, leading to 16 Buffalo points, and never led.