| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Delbert Ford (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Dean Rana (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Joseph Hill (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Tony Smith (fresh) 4 reb. C - Mark King (fresh) 5 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Rice | PG - George Mulloy (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Jim Johnson (fresh) 6 pts. SF - James Fleming (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Don Wettstein (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Blake Bush (fresh) 5 pts. 7 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 20:00 | Rice | James Fleming inbounds the ball | 38-26 |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Rice | Rice is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 19:36 | Rice | Mark King is called for the reach on Blake Bush - foul #2 on Mark King, team foul #1 | 38-26 |
| 19:23 | Rice | Jim Johnson makes the floater from the left side on a nice dish by James Fleming | 38-28 |
| 18:59 | Northern Illinois University | Don Wettstein takes the ball from Joseph Hill | 38-28 |
| 18:51 | Rice | James Fleming clanks a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 38-28 |
| 18:50 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith grabs the board | 38-28 |
| 18:34 | Northern Illinois University | Don Wettstein is called for the reach on Tony Smith - foul #2 on Don Wettstein, team foul #1 | 38-28 |
| 18:21 | Northern Illinois University | Delbert Ford clanks a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 38-28 |
| 18:19 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith tips it but misses | 38-28 |
| 18:17 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith grabs the offensive rebound | 38-28 |
| 18:01 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith is fouled on the floor by Don Wettstein - foul #3 on Don Wettstein, team foul #2 | 38-28 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Rice | Rodney Coca (PF) Don Wettstein | |
| 17:50 | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana is called for a moving pick - foul #2 on Dean Rana, team foul #2 | 38-28 |
| 17:31 | Rice | Jim Johnson makes the fadeaway from the right block | 38-30 |
| 17:13 | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana is hacked by Jim Johnson - foul #2 on Jim Johnson, team foul #3 | 38-30 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Chou (PG), Justin Tillman (SG) Delbert Ford, Dean Rana | |
| Subs | Rice | | |
| 17:02 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Hill jams it on a great pass from Justin Tillman | 40-30 |
| 16:45 | Rice | James Fleming loses the ball out of bounds | 40-30 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Robert Sullivan (C) Mark King | |
| Subs | Rice | Charles Hamilton (PG), Gilbert McGibney (SG), James Cooper (SF) George Mulloy, Jim Johnson, James Fleming | |
| 16:30 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Sullivan is whistled for traveling | 40-30 |
| 16:18 | Rice | Blake Bush is whistled for a charge - foul #2 on Blake Bush, team foul #4 | 40-30 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Bracken (SF), Eric Ovalle (PF) Joseph Hill, Tony Smith | |
| Subs | Rice | | |
| 15:56 | Northern Illinois University | Charles Hamilton picks off the pass by Timothy Bracken | 40-30 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - John Chou (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - Justin Tillman (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. SF - Timothy Bracken (fresh) PF - Eric Ovalle (fresh) 3 pts. C - Robert Sullivan (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Rice | PG - Charles Hamilton (fresh) 6 pts. SG - Gilbert McGibney (fresh) SF - James Cooper (fresh) PF - Rodney Coca (fresh) C - Blake Bush (fresh) 5 pts. 7 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 15:35 | Rice | Charles Hamilton connects on the 3pt shot from straight away set up by Gilbert McGibney | 40-33 |
| 15:15 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Tillman scores on a 3 pointer from the right wing set up by Eric Ovalle | 43-33 |
| 15:01 | Rice | Blake Bush can't finish the layup but he's fouled by Robert Sullivan - foul #1 on Robert Sullivan, team foul #3 | 43-33 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Delbert Ford (PG), Dean Rana (SG), Joseph Hill (SF), Tony Smith (PF), Mark King (C) John Chou, Justin Tillman, Timothy Bracken, Eric Ovalle, Robert Sullivan | |
| Subs | Rice | George Mulloy (PG), Jim Johnson (SG), James Fleming (SF), Don Wettstein (PF) Charles Hamilton, Gilbert McGibney, James Cooper, Rodney Coca | |
| 15:01 | Rice | Blake Bush misses the 1st free throw | 43-33 |
| 15:01 | Rice | Blake Bush makes the 2nd free throw | 43-34 |
| 14:57 | Northern Illinois University | Delbert Ford is fouled in the backcourt by George Mulloy - foul #1 on George Mulloy, team foul #5 | 43-34 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Rice | Richard Young (C) Blake Bush | |
| 14:45 | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana clanks a 3pt shot from straight away | 43-34 |
| 14:43 | Rice | James Fleming snags the defensive board | 43-34 |
| 14:39 | Rice | James Fleming is hacked by Delbert Ford - foul #1 on Delbert Ford, team foul #4 | 43-34 |
| 14:23 | Rice | James Fleming misses long on a shot from the left block | 43-34 |
| 14:21 | Rice | George Mulloy grabs the offensive rebound | 43-34 |
| 14:07 | Rice | Richard Young misses badly on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 43-34 |
| 14:06 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith grabs the board | 43-34 |
| 13:59 | Northern Illinois University | Delbert Ford lays it in on a great pass from Dean Rana | 45-34 |
| 13:31 | Rice | Don Wettstein's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 45-34 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Rice | Blake Bush (C) Richard Young | |
| 13:15 | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana knocks in the fadeaway in the paint on a nice dish by Tony Smith | 47-34 |
| 12:46 | Rice | The jumper by Don Wettstein is denied by Mark King | 47-34 |
| 12:45 | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana gets the rebound | 47-34 |
| 12:39 | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana is hacked by Jim Johnson - foul #3 on Jim Johnson, team foul #6 | 47-34 |
| 12:32 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Hill misses badly on a shot from the right wing | 47-34 |
| 12:30 | Rice | Jim Johnson snags the defensive board | 47-34 |
| 12:06 | Rice | Blake Bush misses long on a 3 pointer from straight away | 47-34 |
| 12:04 | Rice | The offensive rebound goes to Blake Bush | 47-34 |
| 11:52 | Rice | Blake Bush blows the layup | 47-34 |
| 11:51 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Joseph Hill | 47-34 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Delbert Ford (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - Dean Rana (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - Joseph Hill (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Tony Smith (fresh) 8 reb. C - Mark King (fresh) 5 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Rice | PG - George Mulloy (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Jim Johnson (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 pf. SF - James Fleming (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Don Wettstein (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Blake Bush (fresh) 6 pts. 8 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 11:45 | Northern Illinois University | Mark King misses short on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 47-34 |
| 11:43 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Hill tips it in | 49-34 |
| 11:20 | Rice | James Fleming misses long on a fadeaway from just outside the lane but the foul's on Joseph Hill - foul #1 on Joseph Hill, team foul #5 | 49-34 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Chou (PG), Justin Tillman (SG), Timothy Bracken (SF), Eric Ovalle (PF), Robert Sullivan (C) Delbert Ford, Dean Rana, Joseph Hill, Tony Smith, Mark King | |
| Subs | Rice | Charles Hamilton (PG), Gilbert McGibney (SG), Rodney Coca (PF) George Mulloy, Jim Johnson, Don Wettstein | |
| 11:20 | Rice | James Fleming makes the 1st free throw | 49-35 |
| 11:20 | Rice | James Fleming makes the 2nd free throw | 49-36 |
| 11:06 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Bracken hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right side | 49-36 |
| 11:04 | Rice | The rebound goes to Rodney Coca | 49-36 |
| 10:47 | Rice | Rodney Coca misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 49-36 |
| 10:46 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou snags the defensive board | 49-36 |
| 10:41 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou is called for traveling | 49-36 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Rice | James Cooper (SF) James Fleming | |
| 10:25 | Rice | Rodney Coca throws a bad pass out of bounds | 49-36 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Hill (SF), Tony Smith (PF) Timothy Bracken, Eric Ovalle | |
| Subs | Rice | Don Wettstein (PF) Rodney Coca | |
| 10:07 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou is fouled on the floor by Charles Hamilton - foul #2 on Charles Hamilton, team foul #7 | 49-36 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Mark King (C) Robert Sullivan | |
| Subs | Rice | | |
| 10:07 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou makes the 1st free throw | 50-36 |
| 10:07 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou makes the 2nd free throw | 51-36 |
| 09:46 | Rice | Gilbert McGibney scores on a jump hook in the paint set up by James Cooper | 51-38 |
| 09:27 | Northern Illinois University | Mark King misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 51-38 |
| 09:25 | Rice | Charles Hamilton grabs the board | 51-38 |
| 09:03 | Rice | Charles Hamilton clanks a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 51-38 |
| 09:01 | Rice | James Cooper hits the follow up shot | 51-40 |
| 08:51 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou misses the lay-in but he's hacked by Charles Hamilton - foul #3 on Charles Hamilton, team foul #8 | 51-40 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana (SG) Justin Tillman | |
| Subs | Rice | George Mulloy (PG), Jim Johnson (SG), James Fleming (SF), Rodney Coca (C) Charles Hamilton, Gilbert McGibney, James Cooper, Blake Bush | |
| 08:51 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou makes the 1st free throw | 52-40 |
| 08:51 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou makes the 2nd free throw | 53-40 |
| 08:37 | Rice | George Mulloy drills a 3pt attempt from the right corner on a great pass from Don Wettstein | 53-43 |
| 08:23 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith makes the jumper from the baseline set up by Joseph Hill | 55-43 |
| 08:12 | Rice | Jim Johnson misses the shot from the left wing but the foul's on Dean Rana - foul #3 on Dean Rana, team foul #6 | 55-43 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Delbert Ford (PG), Timothy Bracken (SF), Justin Tillman (PF) John Chou, Joseph Hill, Tony Smith | |
| Subs | Rice | Richard Young (C) Don Wettstein | |
| 08:12 | Rice | Jim Johnson makes the 1st free throw | 55-44 |
| 08:12 | Rice | Jim Johnson makes the 2nd free throw | 55-45 |
| 07:51 | Northern Illinois University | Delbert Ford can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 55-45 |
| 07:50 | Rice | Richard Young grabs the board | 55-45 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Delbert Ford (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - Dean Rana (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Timothy Bracken (fresh) PF - Justin Tillman (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. C - Mark King (fresh) 5 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Rice | PG - George Mulloy (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jim Johnson (fresh) 12 pts. 3 pf. SF - James Fleming (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. PF - Rodney Coca (fresh) 2 reb. C - Richard Young (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:35 | Rice | Jim Johnson misses the floater in the lane | 55-45 |
| 07:34 | Rice | The offensive rebound goes to Richard Young | 55-45 |
| 07:15 | Rice | Rodney Coca knocks in the floater from the right side set up by James Fleming | 55-47 |
| 06:54 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Tillman is fouled on the floor by Rodney Coca - foul #2 on Rodney Coca, team foul #9 | 55-47 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Hill (SF), Tony Smith (PF), Robert Sullivan (C) Dean Rana, Timothy Bracken, Mark King | |
| Subs | Rice | Don Wettstein (PF), Blake Bush (C) Rodney Coca, Richard Young | |
| 06:54 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Tillman makes the 1st free throw | 56-47 |
| 06:54 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Tillman makes the 2nd free throw | 57-47 |
| 06:45 | Rice | James Fleming misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 57-47 |
| 06:44 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Sullivan grabs the defensive rebound | 57-47 |
| 06:38 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Tillman can't connect on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 57-47 |
| 06:36 | Rice | Blake Bush gets the rebound | 57-47 |
| 06:19 | Rice | James Fleming buries a shot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Jim Johnson | 57-49 |
| 05:55 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Sullivan loses the dribble to Blake Bush | 57-49 |
| 05:37 | Rice | George Mulloy connects on the jumpshot from the right wing on a nice dish by James Fleming | 57-51 |
| 05:33 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Hill's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 57-51 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana (SG), Mark King (C) Justin Tillman, Robert Sullivan | |
| Subs | Rice | Charles Hamilton (PG), Gilbert McGibney (SG), James Cooper (SF) George Mulloy, Jim Johnson, James Fleming | |
| 05:14 | Rice | Dean Rana is called for the reach on Gilbert McGibney - foul #4 on Dean Rana, team foul #7 | 57-51 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Chou (PG) Delbert Ford | |
| Subs | Rice | | |
| 05:14 | Rice | Gilbert McGibney makes the 1st free throw | 57-52 |
| 05:14 | Rice | Gilbert McGibney makes the 2nd free throw | 57-53 |
| 04:45 | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana buries a 3 from the right wing | 60-53 |
| 04:33 | Rice | Charles Hamilton buries a 3 pointer from the left wing | 60-56 |
| 04:11 | Northern Illinois University | Dean Rana clanks a 3pt shot from the left wing | 60-56 |
| 04:09 | Rice | Charles Hamilton gets the rebound | 60-56 |
| 03:45 | Rice | Don Wettstein connects on the shot in the paint and he's fouled by Dean Rana - foul #5 on Dean Rana, team foul #8 | 60-58 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Delbert Ford (PG), Timothy Bracken (SF), Robert Sullivan (C) Dean Rana, Joseph Hill, Mark King | |
| Subs | Rice | George Mulloy (PG), Jim Johnson (SG), James Fleming (SF) Gilbert McGibney, Charles Hamilton, James Cooper | |
| 03:45 | Rice | Don Wettstein makes the free throw | 60-59 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Delbert Ford (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Chou (fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - Timothy Bracken (fresh) PF - Tony Smith (fresh) 2 pts. 8 reb. C - Robert Sullivan (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Rice | PG - George Mulloy (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jim Johnson (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - James Fleming (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - Don Wettstein (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Blake Bush (fresh) 6 pts. 9 reb. 3 stl. | |
| 03:26 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Bracken comes up short on the 3 from the right corner | 60-59 |
| 03:24 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou pulls down the offensive rebound | 60-59 |
| 03:13 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith misses long on a fadeaway from close range but he's hacked by Don Wettstein - foul #4 on Don Wettstein, team foul #10 | 60-59 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Rice | Rodney Coca (PF) Don Wettstein | |
| 03:13 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith misses the 1st free throw | 60-59 |
| 03:13 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 61-59 |
| 02:56 | Rice | George Mulloy comes up short on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 61-59 |
| 02:55 | Rice | Blake Bush tips it home | 61-61 |
| 02:55 | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 61-61 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Hill (SF), Mark King (C) Timothy Bracken, Robert Sullivan | |
| Subs | Rice | Don Wettstein (PF) Rodney Coca | |
| 02:35 | Northern Illinois University | Mark King knocks in the 3 from straight away on a nice dish by Delbert Ford | 64-61 |
| 02:25 | Rice | Don Wettstein clanks a 3 pointer from the left corner | 64-61 |
| 02:23 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Mark King | 64-61 |
| 02:13 | Northern Illinois University | Mark King misses the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 64-61 |
| 02:12 | Rice | Blake Bush pulls down the rebound | 64-61 |
| 01:57 | Rice | George Mulloy can't connect on a shot from the right wing | 64-61 |
| 01:55 | Northern Illinois University | Mark King pulls down the rebound | 64-61 |
| 01:50 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou clanks a jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Jim Johnson - foul #4 on Jim Johnson, team foul #11 | 64-61 |
| 01:50 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou makes the 1st free throw | 65-61 |
| 01:50 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou makes the 2nd free throw | 66-61 |
| 01:41 | Rice | Don Wettstein drills a fadeaway jumper from the right side set up by Jim Johnson | 66-63 |
| 01:24 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith comes up short on the shot from the left wing but the foul's on Don Wettstein - foul #5 on Don Wettstein, team foul #12 | 66-63 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Rice | Rodney Coca (PF) Don Wettstein | |
| 01:24 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith misses the 1st free throw | 66-63 |
| 01:24 | Northern Illinois University | Tony Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 67-63 |
| 01:05 | Rice | Tony Smith blocks the short jumper by Jim Johnson | 67-63 |
| 01:04 | Northern Illinois University | Delbert Ford grabs the board | 67-63 |
| 01:00 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou's pass is intercepted by Jim Johnson | 67-63 |
| 00:57 | Rice | Jim Johnson jams it | 67-65 |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Rice | Rice is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:28 | Northern Illinois University | Rodney Coca blocks the short jumper by Mark King | 67-65 |
| 00:26 | Rice | James Fleming grabs the defensive rebound | 67-65 |
| 00:14 | Rice | Rodney Coca knocks in the 3pt shot from the right corner | 67-68 |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Rice | Rice is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:08 | Northern Illinois University | Mark King misses the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 67-68 |
| 00:06 | Northern Illinois University | John Chou tips it but misses | 67-68 |
| 00:05 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Hill tips it back up and in | 69-68 |
| 00:05 | Rice | Rice calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 4 full remaining) | 69-68 |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Rice | Rice is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:00 | Rice | Rodney Coca misses badly on a driving attempt in the lane | 69-68 |