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KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan freshman guard Bryce Moore scored a game-high 24 points in his first career start, helping lead Western Michigan to an 83-69 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday at University Arena.

It was the first Mid-American Conference victory for the Broncos (1-3 MAC) who opened league play with close losses to Kent State, Akron and Ball State. WMU improved its overall record to 7-10 on the season.

The loss was only Northern Illinois' third of the season and the Huskies' first (3-1) against a MAC opponent. NIU entered the game with the top record in the MAC going 14-2 in its first 16 games with non-conference losses on the road at Missouri and at Ohio State.

“Obviously a much needed win, we had our backs against the wall early here in the conference season," said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins. "We had a very tough test on our hands with one of the best teams in the conference tonight and our guys responded. The guys played hard and we finally put together 40 minutes of basketball. We played aggressive and shared the ball.”

Moore replaced senior Taylor Perry in the Bronco lineup and drove coast to coast to the rim for the first basket of the contest. He went on to make 7 of 11 attempts from the field, including 4 of 8 from behind the 3-point line, playing a season-high 33 minutes. Moore averaged just 2.8 points coming into Saturday night's matchup and with just two 3's on the season.

An early incident led to the ejection of four Northern Illinois players as well as off-setting technicals issued to WMU's Drake LaMont and NIU's Marin Maric at the 15:41 mark in the first half. WMU junior Tucker Haymond broke free on a fast break and was fouled hard in the air by the Huskies' Travon Baker, setting off a scuffle close to the NIU bench. Baker was ejected for a flagrant two foul and Northern Illinois players Marshawn Wilson, Jordan Thomas and Andrew Zelis were ejected for coming off their bench onto the floor. Western Michigan led 9-2 at the time of the skirmish.

The Broncos continued to add to their lead and built a 12-point advantage by the end of the first half. WMU shot just 38.2 percent in the opening frame but knocked down seven three-pointers and were 7-for-8 from the free throw line. Moore had 15 points at the half. The Bronco defense also forced 11 first-half turnovers by the Huskies.

Northern Illinois scored the first five points out of the break to cut WMU's lead down to seven, 40-33. The Broncos proceeded to go on a 17-4 run over the next four and a half minutes, hitting four of their next six shots and going 7-for-8 from the free throw line. Senior Anthony Avery Jr. put down just his third 3-pointer of the season to cap the run and put WMU up by 20 (57-37) with 14 minutes left to play. The Broncos lingered around a 20-point lead until the final two minutes where NIU sank free throws with WMU's reserves on the floor.

Western Michigan forced a season-high 21 turnovers in the game, which was also the most committed by Northern Illinois this season. WMU won the rebounding battle, 40-31, and had 14 offensive boards to NIU's six.

Avery checked out with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. Haymond totaled 11 points and five rebounds. Sophomore point guard Thomas Wilder had nine points, two rebounds and two assists and Perry chipped in seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Four players scored in double figures for NIU, led by junior guard Aaric Armstead's 15 points and seven rebounds.

The Broncos finished the night shooting 42.4 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent (12-for-26) from the 3-point line. NIU shot 48.9 percent in the game.

WMU has now won 11 of the last 12 meetings against Northern Illinois, dating back to 2010. Hawkins is 19-6 all-time against the Huskies.

Western Michigan takes on Ohio on the road Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game will be aired on the American Sports Network (ASN). The Bobcats (10-6, 1-3 MAC) lost at Kent State Saturday, 89-82.