Brown’s passing, Salem’s receiving helps Illinois State top North Dakota State 27-24

Illinois State edges past North Dakota State 27-24

FARGO, N.D. — Eyad Salem had 14 catches for 172 yards and Matt Brown completed 30 of 42 passes for 320 yards to lead Illinois State to a 27-24 victory Saturday over North Dakota State.

A 2-yard touchdown run by Illinois State’s Geno Blow with 1:24 remaining sent North Dakota State to its first 1-4 start since 2002.

North Dakota State (1-4, 0-2 Missouri Valley Conference) took a 24-20 lead on true freshman Sam Ojuri’s first college touchdown, a 14-yard run with 4:53 left. But the Redbirds (2-3, 1-1) answered with an 8-play, 68-yard drive.

Pat Paschall had 21 carries for 115 yards for NDSU. Nick Mertens completed 11 of 21 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. His 95-yard TD pass to Gary Williams was the longest in NDSU history.

Brown threw two TD passes, including one to Salem.