DEKALB, Ill.- Western Michigan outscored Northern Illinois by 10 in the second half, but it wasn't enough to erase a 19-point halftime deficit, falling at Northern Illinois Saturday, 76-67.

The Broncos and Huskies split this year's series, with each team winning on its home floor. Western Michigan knocked off Northern Illinois in Kalamazoo back on Jan. 16, 83-69.

Unlike the first meeting this season, Saturday's game between WMU and NIU got off to a lackluster start. With nine and a half minutes played the two sides had combined for 18 points and the score was tied at 9-9.

Northern Illinois was able to settle in through the rest of the first half while the Broncos continued to have trouble on the offensive end of the floor. WMU shot under 21 percent in the first half and trailed 38-19 at halftime.

Western Michigan warmed up to 51.4 percent shooting in the second half. The Huskies however had built as big as a 28-point lead with 12:56 left to play The Broncos slowly chipped away and cut the deficit down to single digits with under two minutes remaining, but there was not enough in the tank for a comeback.

Northern Illinois has been one of the best in the Mid-American Conference defending its home floor, where the Huskies improved to 16-1 this season.

The loss to Northern Illinois was a rare one for Western Michigan, which previously had won 12 of the last 13 meetings against NIU, dating back to 2010.

Sophomore point guard Thomas Wilder shook off a 1-for-9 shooting performance in the first half and finished with a team-high 17 points for Western Michigan. He also had six assists and six steals.

Junior Tucker Haymond finished with 12 points and five rebounds. Freshman Seth Dugan tallied 10 points and four rebounds in just 13 minutes played. Senior Anthony Avery Jr. flirted with a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.

Junior guard Aaric Armstead scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebound to lead Northern Illinois. Sophomore center Marin Maric totaled 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocks.

Western Michigan's record slipped to 11-18 and 5-11 in MAC play. Northern Illinois' record moved to 19-10, 8-8 MAC.

The Broncos return to Kalamazoo to host Toledo in the final home game on Tuesday, March 1. WMU then faces rival Central Michigan in the regular season finale, Friday, March 4. Both tip-offs are at 7 p.m. The 2016 MAC Tournament begins on March 7.