MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) _ The last of three touchdown passes from Chris Finlen to Justin McCareins with 3:24 left rallied Northern Illinois past Central Michigan 31-27 on Saturday, the Huskies' first win here since 1965.

Finlen finished with 266 yards on 12-of-23 passing for Northern (3-4, 3-1 Mid-American), guiding the Huskies on the decisive six-play, 40-yard drive in 1:49 for the team's third straight victory.

McCareins and Finley also connected on a 73-yard TD that put Northern ahead 24-20 with 11:50 left, the Huskies' first lead since a 10-3 margin with less than 3 minutes left in the first quarter.

Ira Gooch countered for Central with a 63-yard scoring toss to David Hannah with 7:23 to play, putting the Chippewas (2-5, 1-3) up 27-24.

McCareins and Finley also hooked up on a 40-yard, first-quarter touchdown pass that put Northern ahead 7-3.

McCareins, who entered the game with 490 yards on 30 catches this season, finished with seven catches for 163, accounting for the bulk of Finlen's passing yardage.

Eric Flowers led the Chippewas with 129 yards on 34 carries, including second-quarter touchdown runs of 1 and 23 yards, the latter staking Central to a 17-10 halftime lead.

Central's Jammarl O'Neal added 93 yards on six catches.

The Huskies _ without backup running back Ivory Bryant, suspended for violating team rules _ mustered 93 yards on 45 rushes, an average of just 2.1 yards per attempt. William Andrews had 81 yards on 33 carries.

Before being suspended, Bryant had 236 yards and four touchdowns.