MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Zane Fakes’ 13-yard touchdown catch with 8:14 to play Wednesday night gave Ball State a three-score lead and a chance to breathe easy against an Ohio squad looking to win their ninth contest of the season.

In front of a national audience, a rarity for teams out of the Mid-American Conference, Ohio and Ball State went toe-to-toe until the fourth quarter when Ball State outscored the Bobcats 21-3 on their way to a 52-27 victory.

Fakes caught seven passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns, the most important coming in the fourth quarter to give Ball State (8-3, 5-2 Mid-American) a 45-27 lead. Ohio (8-3, 4-3) never recovered and have lost three of their last four games after starting the season 7-0.

Jahwan Edwards had 17 carries for 169 yards and a touchdown while Horactio Banks had 14 carries for 135 yards and a score for the Cardinals.

N. Illinois 31, Toledo 24

DE KALB, Ill. (AP) — Jordan Lynch threw for 407 yards and three touchdowns Wednesday night and Northern Illinois defeated Toledo 31-24 to claim a spot in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

Lynch also ran for 162 yards for the Huskies (10-1, 7-0), who extended the longest home winning streak in Division I to 21 games. The defending MAC champions won their 10th straight game and wrapped up the West Division title to advance to the conference championship Nov. 30 in Detroit.

Toledo (8-3, 5-2) led 14-7 at halftime, but 18 seconds into the third quarter Lynch hooked up with Martel Moore for a 74-yard touchdown pass, their second scoring connection of the game. NIU went ahead 21-14 on Lynch’s 6-yard TD pass to Ashford Perez.

The Rockets trailed 31-14 but got within seven points after Jeremiah Detmer’s 34-yard field goal with 5:57 left. The Huskies picked up three first downs and ran out the clock.

Moore had 153 yards receiving for NIU. Terrance Owens threw for 265 yards and ran for a score for Toledo.