Chad Spann rushed for a career-high 223 yards and two touchdowns to lead Northern Illinois to a 34-23 victory over Minnesota in a non-conference game on Saturday.

Spann broke loose for 56 yards on a first-quarter run to set up his own three-yard scoring run for Northern Illinois’ first points. Spann added a 61-yard scoring run with 6:22 to play that gave the Huskies (2-2) a commanding 18-point lead.

The victory was just Northern Illinois’ third in 38 career meetings with Big Ten programs. The humiliating home loss was the third in a row for Minnesota (1-3).

Spann averaged 14.9 yards on 15 carries as the Huskies rolled up 297 rushing yards.

Chandler Harnish tossed two touchdown passes, including a 10-yarder to Martel Moore with three seconds left in the first half to put Northern Illinois ahead for good at 20-13. The touchdown was set up by Jimmie Ward’s blocked punt, which gave the Huskies the ball at the Minnesota 11-yard line.

The Golden Gophers pulled within 20-16 on Eric Ellestad’s 21-yard field goal midway through the third quarter before Harnish tossed a two-yard scoring pass to Connor Flahive early in the fourth quarter to boost the Huskies’ lead to 11 points.

Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber passed for 373 yards and two touchdowns.