DeKALB, Ill. – Ohio used a strong second half to run away with a 65-46 road victory against Northern Illinois on Saturday night.

Down 26-25 after the teams traded baskets to start the second half, the Bobcats used a 14-2 run to get separation.

Nick Kellogg led the way with 16 points and Ohio (13-4, 3-1 Mid-American Conference) got balance after that. Maurice Ndour finished with 10 points, Javarez Willis scored nine and T.J. Hall had eight.

Aaron Armstead scored 14 and Travon Baker added 12 for the Huskies (7-9, 1-3 MAC).

Hall hit a 3-pointer to put Ohio on top for good, Stevie Taylor added a layup and Hall completed a three-point play in the first two minutes of the second half. Following an Armstead basket, Kellogg drained back-to-back treys to give Ohio a 39-28 advantage.

Northern Illinois stayed within striking distance until a Willis 3-pointer sparked another big run. Ndour hit two four throws, Jon Smith scored in the paint, Willis made another trey and Kellogg capped off a streak of 15 consecutive points with a triple that made it 62-37 with less than five minutes remaining.

Aksel Bolin hit a 3-pointer with less than four minutes remaining, ending a Huskies scoreless drought of more than eight minutes.

Bolin had a steal and a layup to give the Huskies a 14-7 lead just past the midway point of the first half. An Antonio Campbell bucket got the Bobcats within one and a Smith layup a few minutes later tied the game at 21.

The Bobcats scored only 23 points before the break despite 50 percent shooting because of nine turnovers, only one offensive rebound and no made free throws. The second half saw Ohio shoot 53.6 percent with only three turnovers, five offensive boards and a 5-of-5 effort at the foul line.

The offensively-challenged Huskies shot just 29.2 percent in the game, including 25 percent in the second half.

Ndour paced Ohio’s efforts on the boards with eight, while Smith and Campbell had six each. Hall had four assists.

Ohio hosts Bowling Green at 7 p.m. Wednesday at The Convo.