Bacher leads 'Cats past Eastern Michigan

DETROIT - C.J. Bacher ran and threw for fourth-quarter touchdowns, helping Northwestern hold off Eastern Michigan 26-14 in a nonconference game Friday night at Ford Field.

After beating Michigan State and Minnesota in overtime the past two weeks, it took the Wildcats (5-3) a while to get rolling against lowly Eastern Michigan. They didn't put it away until Bacher hit Tim Thompson for a 71-yard touchdown with 2:44 left.

Bacher finished 25-of-42 for 363 yards passing, and Omar Conteh added 122 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Eagles (2-6), who turned the ball over three times inside the Northwesten 10, have lost four straight.