CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) _ Ryan Helming threw for five touchdowns and 419 yards as Northern Iowa scored 30 unanswered points to defeat visiting Indiana State 44-21 in Gateway Conference action Saturday.

Down 21-14 late in the second quarter, Helming's 64-yard strike to Jeremy Dusho tied the game with 41 seconds remaining in the half.

After the Panthers (7-2 overall, 3-2 Gateway) forced the Sycamores to turn the ball over on downs, Helming's 25-yard pass to Eddie Berlin set up Brian Stegall's 47-yard field goal as time expired in the half for a 24-21 lead.

Northern Iowa extended its lead to 30-21 on Adam Benge's 3-yard run in the third quarter. Helming and Ryan Hannam combined on touchdown passes of 31 and 5 yards in a 5:30 span of the third and fourth quarters to put the game away.

Helming completed 26 of 33 passes. Dusho had five catches for 121 yards and Berlin caught seven balls for 101 yards.

Indiana State (2-6, 1-3) was led by quarterback Sheraton Fox, who rushed for 116 yards on 27 carries. His 27-yard touchdown pass to Jared Sessum with 11:56 to go in the second quarter put the Sycamores ahead 21-14.