Turnovers doom NU

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Quarterback Ben Chappell, who started in place of the injured Kellen Lewis, had 219 yards passing and a touchdown and rushed for another score, and Indiana beat Northwestern 21-19 to snap its longest winless streak since 2005.

The Hoosiers (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten) should have less pressure this week as they prepare for next Saturday's home game against Central Michigan.

"It's like a monkey off your back," said Hoosiers receiver Mitchell Evans. "I think everybody is pretty relieved right now."

Against Northwestern, Tandon Doss finished with 8 receptions for 107 yards, and Damarlo Belcher caught 6 passes for 82 yards and a score, helping Indiana end a four-game losing streak against the Wildcats.

Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher had 219 total yards of offense and 1 TD, and Tyrell Sutton ran for 77 yards and a score for the Wildcats (6-2, 2-2), who lost for the second time in three games after a 5-0 start.

Northwestern turned the ball over five times with 3 fumbles and 2 interceptions.

"Coach (Bill) Lynch and his staff did a great job of coming in and taking advantage of our mistakes, our lack of discipline, our inability to take care of the football," said Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald. "You turn the ball over five times - they're going to lunge back."

The Wildcats regained a 9-7 advantage with five minutes left in the second quarter on Sutton's 1-yard scoring run. Northwestern, which missed the extra point, had kicked a short field goal on fourth down, but a personal foul on Indiana gave the Wildcats a fresh set of downs inside the 10.

The Wildcats, who scored on Bacher's 3-yard TD run later in the third quarter, had a final chance to take the lead after getting the ball on their own 20 with 2:10 left in the game. But a fumble ended the drive.

"We can't turn the ball over five times and expect to win," Fitzgerald said. "We knew exactly what we were getting into and it's my fault we didn't come down here and execute."