CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) -- Eric Coleman scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Northern Iowa beat Illinois State 69-61 Wednesday night.
Northern Iowa's biggest lead was six until closing the game on a 8-0 run. The game featured nine ties and eight lead changes.
Illinois State (15-6, 7-3 Missouri Valley Conference) stayed close early and trailed 35-34 at halftime, but failed to make a 3-pointer in the second half and finished 3-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Both teams traded runs after halftime, and the Redbirds trailed 63-61 after Boo Richardson's layup with 1:13 left.
Northern Iowa (13-8, 5-5) missed its next shot but got the ball back on Adam Viet's steal, which led to Jared Josten's fastbreak layup and a 65-61 lead with 28 seconds left.
Adam Koch hit four free throws in the ensuing possessions to seal the win. Northern Iowa was 19-of-23 from the free-throw line, including hitting all 11 attempts in the last 5:30.
Dom Johnson led the Redbirds with 17 points and Dinma Odiakosa added 14.