Northern Illinois scored the game's last 12 points and cruised to a 29-16 victory over visiting Akron in Mid-American Conference football Wednesday night in DeKalb, Illinois.

The Zips (2-8, 1-5) trailed just 17-16 after Noel Roach blocked an NIU punt and Terence Thomas recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown with 9:20 to play in the first half.

But the Huskies (6-4, 3-3) responded with seven-play, 82-yard drive capped by a 32-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Hampton to Grayson Barnes to lead 23-16 at halftime. NIU tacked on the clinching score when Gavin Williams bolted 71 yards for a TD with 7:56 to play.

Northern Illinois led 439-255 in total yards, including 295-50 on the ground.

UA quarterback Ben Finley completed 19 of 52 passes for 205 yards, including a 40-yard TD pass to Adrian Norton with 9:46 to play in the first quarter to give the Zips a 6-0 lead. Norton finished with two catches for 57 yards.

Jordon Simmons led Akron with 56 yards on 12 carries.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips fall to 2-8 with MAC football loss to Northern Illinois