| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fresh) SG - Randy Nix (fresh) SF - Neil Gill (fresh) PF - Richard Traynor (fresh) C - Cecil Shelley (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth Zembower (fresh) SG - William Bynoe (fresh) SF - Francis Rosado (fresh) PF - Joe Thurman (fresh) C - Ryan Watterson (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Ball State | Ball State is playing a triangle offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| 19:48 | Northern Illinois University | William Bynoe makes the 3pt attempt from the left corner set up by Ryan Watterson | 0-3 |
| 19:31 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley comes up short on the driving attempt from close range but he's fouled by William Bynoe - foul #1 on William Bynoe, team foul #1 | 0-3 |
| 19:31 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley misses the 1st free throw | 0-3 |
| 19:31 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley makes the 2nd free throw | 1-3 |
| 19:17 | Northern Illinois University | Donald Cooley picks off the pass by William Bynoe | 1-3 |
| 19:12 | Ball State | Donald Cooley blows the layup | 1-3 |
| 19:11 | Northern Illinois University | William Bynoe grabs the defensive rebound | 1-3 |
| 19:06 | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado is whistled for traveling | 1-3 |
| 18:51 | Ball State | Neil Gill misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 1-3 |
| 18:49 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson grabs the defensive rebound | 1-3 |
| 18:43 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower connects on the 3 pointer from the right corner set up by Francis Rosado | 1-6 |
| 18:29 | Ball State | Richard Traynor hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left side | 1-6 |
| 18:28 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman grabs the defensive rebound | 1-6 |
| 18:22 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the right side but the foul's on Neil Gill - foul #1 on Neil Gill, team foul #1 | 1-6 |
| 18:22 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower makes the 1st free throw | 1-7 |
| 18:22 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower makes the 2nd free throw | 1-8 |
| 18:00 | Ball State | Richard Traynor scores on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 3-8 |
| 17:44 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line on a nice dish by Ryan Watterson | 3-10 |
| 17:30 | Ball State | Randy Nix makes the 3pt jumper from the right corner on a great pass from Donald Cooley | 6-10 |
| 17:13 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman comes up short on the jump hook from the baseline | 6-10 |
| 17:12 | Ball State | Donald Cooley gets the rebound | 6-10 |
| 16:56 | Ball State | Richard Traynor hits a floater near the basket | 8-10 |
| 16:36 | Northern Illinois University | Cecil Shelley swats the short shot by Kenneth Zembower | 8-10 |
| 16:34 | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado grabs the offensive rebound | 8-10 |
| 16:18 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower clanks a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 8-10 |
| 16:17 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Joe Thurman | 8-10 |
| 16:01 | Northern Illinois University | William Bynoe comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 8-10 |
| 16:00 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley pulls down the rebound | 8-10 |
| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Randy Nix (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Neil Gill (fairly fresh) PF - Richard Traynor (fairly fresh) 4 pts. C - Cecil Shelley (fairly fresh) 1 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth Zembower (fairly fresh) 7 pts. SG - William Bynoe (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Francis Rosado (fairly fresh) PF - Joe Thurman (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Ryan Watterson (fairly fresh) | |
| 15:52 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley hits a 3pt shot from the left corner set up by Donald Cooley | 11-10 |
| 15:33 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman misses the fadeaway in the lane but the foul's on Donald Cooley - foul #1 on Donald Cooley, team foul #2 | 11-10 |
| Subs | Ball State | Ernest Conner (PG), David Phillips (SG), Todd Parker (SF), Hubert Stephens (PF), Tyler Arocho (C) Donald Cooley, Randy Nix, Neil Gill, Richard Traynor, Cecil Shelley | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn (PG), Robert Keltner (SG), James Jackson (SF), Otto Walters (C) Kenneth Zembower, William Bynoe, Francis Rosado, Ryan Watterson | |
| 15:33 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman makes the 1st free throw | 11-11 |
| 15:33 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman makes the 2nd free throw | 11-12 |
| 15:19 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens scores on a jumper from the baseline on a nice dish by Ernest Conner | 13-12 |
| 15:10 | Northern Illinois University | Ernest Conner is called for the reach on Joe Thurman - foul #1 on Ernest Conner, team foul #3 | 13-12 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Shelton Click (C) Joe Thurman | |
| 14:54 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner drills a 3 from the left corner on a great pass from Harold Hearn | 13-15 |
| 14:37 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens misses the lay-in | 13-15 |
| 14:35 | Northern Illinois University | Shelton Click grabs the board | 13-15 |
| 14:27 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson can't connect on a floater from the right side but he's fouled by Ernest Conner - foul #2 on Ernest Conner, team foul #4 | 13-15 |
| Subs | Ball State | Blake Ratcliff (SF) Ernest Conner | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 14:27 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson makes the 1st free throw | 13-16 |
| 14:27 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson misses the 2nd free throw | 13-16 |
| 14:27 | Northern Illinois University | Shelton Click snags the offensive board | 13-16 |
| 14:12 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn misses the floater from the left wing | 13-16 |
| 14:11 | Ball State | The rebound goes to Hubert Stephens | 13-16 |
| 13:59 | Ball State | Tyler Arocho connects on the fadeaway from the baseline set up by Todd Parker | 15-16 |
| 13:47 | Northern Illinois University | Shelton Click hits the finger roll on a great pass from Robert Keltner | 15-18 |
| 13:27 | Ball State | David Phillips can't connect on a jumpshot from the right wing but he's hacked by Shelton Click - foul #1 on Shelton Click, team foul #2 | 15-18 |
| Subs | Ball State | Randy Nix (SG), Neil Gill (SF), Cecil Shelley (C) Blake Ratcliff, Hubert Stephens, Tyler Arocho | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower (PG) Robert Keltner | |
| 13:27 | Ball State | David Phillips makes the 1st free throw | 16-18 |
| 13:27 | Ball State | David Phillips misses the 2nd free throw | 16-18 |
| 13:27 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters gets the rebound | 16-18 |
| 13:04 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 16-18 |
| Subs | Ball State | Donald Cooley (PG), Richard Traynor (PF) Todd Parker, David Phillips | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Erwin Taylor (SF) James Jackson | |
| 12:46 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley misses the 3pt shot from the right corner | 16-18 |
| 12:45 | Ball State | Donald Cooley tips it in | 18-18 |
| 12:20 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower throws a bad pass out of bounds | 18-18 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | William Bynoe (SG), Joe Thurman (PF), Ryan Watterson (C) Harold Hearn, Otto Walters, Shelton Click | |
| 11:56 | Ball State | Richard Traynor's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 18-18 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson (SF) Erwin Taylor | |
| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Randy Nix (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Neil Gill (fresh) PF - Richard Traynor (fresh) 4 pts. C - Cecil Shelley (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth Zembower (fresh) 7 pts. SG - William Bynoe (fresh) 3 pts. SF - James Jackson (fresh) 1 pts. PF - Joe Thurman (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Ryan Watterson (fresh) | |
| 11:38 | Northern Illinois University | William Bynoe scores on a shot from the right wing on a great pass from Kenneth Zembower | 18-20 |
| 11:19 | Ball State | Neil Gill misses the 3pt shot from the right corner | 18-20 |
| 11:17 | Ball State | Donald Cooley misses the tip | 18-20 |
| 11:15 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson gets the rebound | 18-20 |
| 11:09 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson makes the driving attempt near the basket on a nice dish by Kenneth Zembower | 18-22 |
| 10:47 | Ball State | Randy Nix is hacked by William Bynoe - foul #2 on William Bynoe, team foul #3 | 18-22 |
| Subs | Ball State | Todd Parker (PG), David Phillips (PF) Donald Cooley, Richard Traynor | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn (PG), Robert Keltner (SG), Francis Rosado (SF), Otto Walters (PF) Kenneth Zembower, William Bynoe, James Jackson, Joe Thurman | |
| 10:32 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley throws it down on a great pass from Randy Nix | 20-22 |
| 10:10 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner buries a jumper from the left block on a great pass from Harold Hearn | 20-24 |
| 10:02 | Ball State | Neil Gill scores on a 3 from the right corner | 23-24 |
| 09:58 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn drills a 3pt shot from the left wing on a great pass from Robert Keltner | 23-27 |
| 09:35 | Ball State | Todd Parker is hacked by Harold Hearn - foul #1 on Harold Hearn, team foul #4 | 23-27 |
| Subs | Ball State | Donald Cooley (PG), Hubert Stephens (PF), Tyler Arocho (C) Randy Nix, Neil Gill, Cecil Shelley | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower (PG), Shelton Click (C) Robert Keltner, Ryan Watterson | |
| 09:21 | Ball State | Francis Rosado swats the layup by Tyler Arocho | 23-27 |
| 09:20 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens snags the offensive board | 23-27 |
| 09:10 | Ball State | Todd Parker can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 23-27 |
| 09:08 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Shelton Click | 23-27 |
| 09:02 | Northern Illinois University | Todd Parker takes the ball from Harold Hearn | 23-27 |
| 08:38 | Ball State | David Phillips drills a 3pt shot from the left wing on a nice dish by Donald Cooley | 26-27 |
| 08:36 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower loses the dribble to Donald Cooley in the backcourt | 26-27 |
| 08:35 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens banks in the layup on a nice dish by Donald Cooley | 28-27 |
| 08:18 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn misses long on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 28-27 |
| 08:17 | Northern Illinois University | Shelton Click tips it in | 28-29 |
| 08:01 | Ball State | Todd Parker drills a 3pt attempt from the right wing on a great pass from Tyler Arocho | 31-29 |
| 07:44 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower comes up short on the floater from the right wing | 31-29 |
| 07:42 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens gets the rebound | 31-29 |
| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - David Phillips (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SF - Todd Parker (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. PF - Hubert Stephens (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Tyler Arocho (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth Zembower (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - Harold Hearn (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Francis Rosado (fairly fresh) PF - Otto Walters (fairly fresh) C - Shelton Click (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:25 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens blows the dunk but he's hacked by Otto Walters - foul #1 on Otto Walters, team foul #5 | 31-29 |
| Subs | Ball State | Dikembe Sato (PG), Randy Nix (SG), Neil Gill (SF), Richard Traynor (PF) Donald Cooley, David Phillips, Todd Parker, Tyler Arocho | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner (SG), James Jackson (SF), Joe Thurman (PF), Ryan Watterson (C) Kenneth Zembower, Francis Rosado, Otto Walters, Shelton Click | |
| 07:25 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens makes the 1st free throw | 32-29 |
| 07:25 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens makes the 2nd free throw | 33-29 |
| 07:03 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 33-29 |
| 07:02 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens snags the defensive board | 33-29 |
| 06:47 | Ball State | Dikembe Sato lays it in | 35-29 |
| 06:35 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman is fouled on the floor by Richard Traynor - foul #1 on Richard Traynor, team foul #5 | 35-29 |
| Subs | Ball State | Cecil Shelley (C) Hubert Stephens | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Justin Huizenga (SG) Harold Hearn | |
| 06:19 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner connects on the jumper from the right block | 35-31 |
| 06:11 | Ball State | Randy Nix hits a 3 from straight away on a great pass from Neil Gill | 38-31 |
| 06:06 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Huizenga is fouled on the floor by Cecil Shelley - foul #1 on Cecil Shelley, team foul #6 | 38-31 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower (PG) Justin Huizenga | |
| 06:01 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner's pass is intercepted by Richard Traynor | 38-31 |
| 05:43 | Ball State | Randy Nix comes up short on the fadeaway from the free throw line but the foul's on Robert Keltner - foul #1 on Robert Keltner, team foul #6 | 38-31 |
| Subs | Ball State | Donald Cooley (PG) Dikembe Sato | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 05:43 | Ball State | Randy Nix misses the 1st free throw | 38-31 |
| 05:43 | Ball State | Randy Nix makes the 2nd free throw | 39-31 |
| 05:29 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower clanks a shot from the baseline but he's fouled by Richard Traynor - foul #2 on Richard Traynor, team foul #7 | 39-31 |
| Subs | Ball State | David Phillips (PF) Richard Traynor | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn (SG) Robert Keltner | |
| 05:29 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower makes the 1st free throw | 39-32 |
| 05:29 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower makes the 2nd free throw | 39-33 |
| 05:14 | Ball State | Randy Nix hits a fadeaway from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Donald Cooley and he's fouled by Kenneth Zembower - foul #1 on Kenneth Zembower, team foul #7 | 41-33 |
| 05:14 | Ball State | Randy Nix misses the free throw | 41-33 |
| 05:14 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman grabs the board | 41-33 |
| 05:00 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower throws a bad pass out of bounds | 41-33 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado (SF) James Jackson | |
| 04:36 | Ball State | Randy Nix comes up short on the jumper from the right side | 41-33 |
| 04:34 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley gets the offensive rebound | 41-33 |
| 04:22 | Ball State | Neil Gill misses long on a fadeaway from the free throw line but the foul's on Ryan Watterson - foul #1 on Ryan Watterson, team foul #8 | 41-33 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters (PF), Shelton Click (C) Joe Thurman, Ryan Watterson | |
| 04:22 | Ball State | Neil Gill misses the 1st free throw | 41-33 |
| 04:22 | Ball State | Neil Gill makes the 2nd free throw | 42-33 |
| 04:06 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower misses the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 42-33 |
| 04:05 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters tips it home | 42-35 |
| 03:59 | Ball State | Donald Cooley is fouled on the floor by Francis Rosado - foul #1 on Francis Rosado, team foul #9 | 42-35 |
| Subs | Ball State | Richard Traynor (PF) Randy Nix | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | William Bynoe (SG) Kenneth Zembower | |
| 03:59 | Ball State | Donald Cooley makes the 1st free throw | 43-35 |
| 03:59 | Ball State | Donald Cooley makes the 2nd free throw | 44-35 |
| 03:41 | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 44-35 |
| 03:40 | Ball State | Richard Traynor snags the defensive board | 44-35 |
| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 5 ast. 2 stl. SG - David Phillips (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Neil Gill (fairly fresh) 4 pts. PF - Richard Traynor (fresh) 4 pts. C - Cecil Shelley (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Harold Hearn (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - William Bynoe (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Francis Rosado (fresh) PF - Otto Walters (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Shelton Click (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 03:21 | Ball State | Neil Gill misses the fadeaway from the left side | 44-35 |
| 03:20 | Ball State | Donald Cooley tips it home | 46-35 |
| 03:15 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn misses short on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 46-35 |
| 03:13 | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado gets the offensive rebound | 46-35 |
| 02:59 | Northern Illinois University | Shelton Click comes up short on the turnaround from the right block | 46-35 |
| 02:58 | Ball State | Neil Gill snags the defensive board | 46-35 |
| 02:37 | Ball State | David Phillips is fouled on the floor by William Bynoe - foul #3 on William Bynoe, team foul #10 | 46-35 |
| Subs | Ball State | Ernest Conner (PG), Randy Nix (SG), Hubert Stephens (C) Donald Cooley, Neil Gill, Cecil Shelley | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower (PG), Robert Keltner (SG), James Jackson (SF), Joe Thurman (PF), Ryan Watterson (C) Harold Hearn, William Bynoe, Francis Rosado, Otto Walters, Shelton Click | |
| 02:37 | Ball State | David Phillips makes the 1st free throw | 47-35 |
| 02:37 | Ball State | David Phillips makes the 2nd free throw | 48-35 |
| 02:12 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman is fouled on the floor by Hubert Stephens - foul #1 on Hubert Stephens, team foul #8 | 48-35 |
| Subs | Ball State | Todd Parker (SF) David Phillips | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 02:12 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman makes the 1st free throw | 48-36 |
| 02:12 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman makes the 2nd free throw | 48-37 |
| 01:56 | Ball State | Randy Nix hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 48-37 |
| 01:55 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower gets the rebound | 48-37 |
| 01:51 | Northern Illinois University | Todd Parker is called for the reach on Robert Keltner - foul #1 on Todd Parker, team foul #9 | 48-37 |
| 01:51 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner makes the 1st free throw | 48-38 |
| 01:51 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner makes the 2nd free throw | 48-39 |
| 01:25 | Ball State | Ernest Conner knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Todd Parker | 50-39 |
| 01:13 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson connects on the runner from close range on a nice dish by Kenneth Zembower and he's fouled by Hubert Stephens - foul #2 on Hubert Stephens, team foul #10 | 50-41 |
| Subs | Ball State | Neil Gill (SF), Cecil Shelley (C) Todd Parker, Richard Traynor | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn (SG) Robert Keltner | |
| 01:13 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson makes the free throw | 50-42 |
| 00:59 | Ball State | Neil Gill scores on a 3 from the left corner on a great pass from Hubert Stephens | 53-42 |
| 00:47 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower connects on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 53-45 |
| 00:27 | Ball State | Ernest Conner double dribbles | 53-45 |
| Subs | Ball State | Donald Cooley (PG), David Phillips (PF) Ernest Conner, Hubert Stephens | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado (SF), Otto Walters (PF) James Jackson, Joe Thurman | |
| 00:02 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn loses the ball out of bounds | 53-45 |
| Subs | Ball State | Richard Traynor (PF) David Phillips | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 00:00 | Ball State | Randy Nix misses long on a halfcourt shot | 53-45 |