BUFFALO, NY - William Andrews rushed for 113 yards and returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score as Northern Illinois defeated Buffalo, 45-21, in a Mid-American Conference battle on Saturday night at UB Stadium before 12,915 fans.

The Huskies jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead and put the game out of reach when Andrews took the kickoff to start the second half and went 95 yards up the right sideline to give NIU (1-4, 1-2) a commanding 31-0 lead.

The Bulls (0-4, 0-3) would score 21 second half points to break out of their offensive swoon - they hadn't scored a touchdown in more than 10 quarters when flanker Drew Haddad (Westlake, OH/St. Ignatius) hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass from Joe Freedy (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) - to make the game closer.

Haddad finished the game with eight receptions for 100 yards, the third straight game that he has cracked the century mark in receiving yards and the 13th time in his brilliant career. Fullback Josh Roth (Conewango Valley, NY/Pine Valley) led the Bulls rushing game with 11 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown, while tailback Derrick Gordon (Brooklyn, NY/August Martin), seeing his first action of the season, had 15 carries for 46 yards.

Defensively, the Bulls were led by Chris Shelly (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) who had 13 tackles, including two for loss, while fellow linebacker Brandon Jordan (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison) added 10 stops.

The Huskies were able to control the ball throughout the first half in rolling up a 24-0 lead. Northern Illinois had the ball over 18 minutes thanks to starting the game with six straight third down conversions. NIU ended up 8-of-11 for the game on third down.

"This year has been taking the positives that this team has accomplished and building off of them each week," said head coach Craig Cirbus. "I am confident that sooner or later that will turn into wins in this conference."