| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - John Brady (fresh) SG - Dexter Sellers (fresh) SF - Dan Gavinski (fresh) PF - Michael Atkison (fresh) C - Neil Adkins (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Gardner-Webb | PG - Justin Mazzella (fresh) SG - Joseph Harward (fresh) SF - Brian Ashley (fresh) PF - Richard Armstrong (fresh) C - Arthur Schoonover (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois State | Neil Adkins wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois State | Illinois State is playing a flex offense and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| Game Plan | Gardner-Webb | Gardner-Webb is playing a flex offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:48 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison makes the 3 pointer from the right corner on a great pass from John Brady | 3-0 |
| 19:32 | Gardner-Webb | Richard Armstrong misses long on a 3 from the right wing | 3-0 |
| 19:31 | Illinois State | Neil Adkins pulls down the rebound | 3-0 |
| 19:02 | Illinois State | Dexter Sellers misses badly on a 3 from the right wing | 3-0 |
| 19:01 | Gardner-Webb | Arthur Schoonover gets the rebound | 3-0 |
| 18:55 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Harward is fouled on the floor by Neil Adkins - foul #1 on Neil Adkins, team foul #1 | 3-0 |
| 18:40 | Gardner-Webb | Arthur Schoonover hits a floater from close range set up by Justin Mazzella | 3-2 |
| 18:15 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison knocks in the fadeaway from the left wing | 5-2 |
| 18:00 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Harward misses short on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 5-2 |
| 17:58 | Illinois State | Neil Adkins gets the rebound | 5-2 |
| 17:49 | Illinois State | John Brady buries a shot from the right side set up by Dexter Sellers | 7-2 |
| 17:30 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Harward can't connect on a 3 from the right wing | 7-2 |
| 17:29 | Gardner-Webb | The offensive rebound goes to Joseph Harward | 7-2 |
| 17:21 | Gardner-Webb | Arthur Schoonover hits a 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Brian Ashley | 7-5 |
| 17:04 | Illinois State | Dexter Sellers makes the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 10-5 |
| 16:43 | Gardner-Webb | Brian Ashley's fadeaway is rejected by Neil Adkins | 10-5 |
| 16:42 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison pulls down the rebound | 10-5 |
| 16:28 | Illinois State | Dexter Sellers is hacked by Joseph Harward - foul #1 on Joseph Harward, team foul #1 | 10-5 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski (PG), David Vegas (SG), Young Xiong (SF), John Stahl (PF), Russell Riggs (C) John Brady, Dexter Sellers, Dan Gavinski, Michael Atkison, Neil Adkins | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | John Webb (PG), Jermaine Hall (SG), Luis Gober (SF), Dennis Banfield (PF), Joseph Newsom (C) Justin Mazzella, Joseph Harward, Brian Ashley, Richard Armstrong, Arthur Schoonover | |
| 16:08 | Illinois State | Young Xiong is called for traveling | 10-5 |
| 15:45 | Gardner-Webb | John Webb is whistled for traveling | 10-5 |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - Augustus Bienkowski (fresh) SG - David Vegas (fresh) SF - Young Xiong (fresh) PF - John Stahl (fresh) C - Russell Riggs (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Gardner-Webb | PG - John Webb (fresh) SG - Jermaine Hall (fresh) SF - Luis Gober (fresh) PF - Dennis Banfield (fresh) C - Joseph Newsom (fresh) | |
| 15:28 | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski misses the 3 pointer from the left wing | 10-5 |
| 15:26 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Newsom snags the defensive board | 10-5 |
| 15:24 | Gardner-Webb | Dennis Banfield's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 10-5 |
| 15:10 | Illinois State | John Stahl hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left block | 10-5 |
| 15:09 | Gardner-Webb | John Webb pulls down the rebound | 10-5 |
| 14:48 | Gardner-Webb | Luis Gober comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 10-5 |
| 14:46 | Gardner-Webb | John Webb tips it home | 10-7 |
| 14:39 | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski misses short on a turnaround in the paint | 10-7 |
| 14:38 | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall grabs the board | 10-7 |
| 14:35 | Gardner-Webb | Luis Gober's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 10-7 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Gregory Williams (PG), Dexter Sellers (SG), Dan Gavinski (SF), Michael Atkison (PF), Kenneth Bolen (C) Augustus Bienkowski, David Vegas, Young Xiong, John Stahl, Russell Riggs | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Justin Mazzella (PG), Joseph Harward (SG), Brian Ashley (SF), Richard Armstrong (PF) John Webb, Jermaine Hall, Luis Gober, Joseph Newsom | |
| 14:24 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison hits the front of the rim on the floater from the baseline but he's fouled by Joseph Harward - foul #2 on Joseph Harward, team foul #2 | 10-7 |
| Subs | Illinois State | | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Luis Gober (SG), Arthur Schoonover (C) Joseph Harward, Dennis Banfield | |
| 14:24 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison makes the 1st free throw | 11-7 |
| 14:24 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison makes the 2nd free throw | 12-7 |
| 14:15 | Gardner-Webb | Brian Ashley can't connect on a jump hook from the baseline | 12-7 |
| 14:13 | Gardner-Webb | Luis Gober hits the follow up shot | 12-9 |
| 13:56 | Illinois State | Dan Gavinski is fouled on the floor by Arthur Schoonover - foul #1 on Arthur Schoonover, team foul #3 | 12-9 |
| Subs | Illinois State | | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | John Webb (SG) Luis Gober | |
| 13:47 | Illinois State | Brian Ashley denies the turnaround by Dexter Sellers | 12-9 |
| 13:46 | Illinois State | Dexter Sellers hits the follow up shot | 14-9 |
| 13:44 | Gardner-Webb | John Webb is hacked by Dexter Sellers in the backcourt - foul #1 on Dexter Sellers, team foul #2 | 14-9 |
| Subs | Illinois State | | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall (SG) John Webb | |
| 13:34 | Gardner-Webb | Richard Armstrong misses short on a shot from the right wing | 14-9 |
| 13:33 | Illinois State | The rebound goes to Kenneth Bolen | 14-9 |
| 13:11 | Illinois State | Dan Gavinski hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 14-9 |
| 13:10 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison hits the follow up shot | 16-9 |
| 12:57 | Gardner-Webb | Brian Ashley knocks in the 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Justin Mazzella | 16-12 |
| 12:39 | Illinois State | Brian Ashley knocks away the 3 by Dexter Sellers | 16-12 |
| 12:38 | Illinois State | Kenneth Bolen gets the offensive rebound | 16-12 |
| 12:19 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison comes up short on the jumper from the free throw line but the foul's on Jermaine Hall - foul #1 on Jermaine Hall, team foul #4 | 16-12 |
| Subs | Illinois State | John Brady (PG), Augustus Bienkowski (SG), Young Xiong (SF), Neil Adkins (C) Gregory Williams, Dexter Sellers, Dan Gavinski, Kenneth Bolen | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | John Webb (PG), Luis Gober (SG), Joseph Newsom (SF), Dennis Banfield (PF), Marvin Walker (C) Justin Mazzella, Jermaine Hall, Brian Ashley, Richard Armstrong, Arthur Schoonover | |
| 12:19 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison misses the 1st free throw | 16-12 |
| 12:19 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison misses the 2nd free throw | 16-12 |
| 12:19 | Gardner-Webb | The rebound goes to Dennis Banfield | 16-12 |
| 11:56 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Newsom misses the easy layup but he's hacked by John Brady - foul #1 on John Brady, team foul #3 | 16-12 |
| Subs | Illinois State | John Stahl (PF) Michael Atkison | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | | |
| 11:56 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Newsom makes the 1st free throw | 16-13 |
| 11:56 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Newsom makes the 2nd free throw | 16-14 |
| 11:30 | Illinois State | The short jumper by Neil Adkins is denied by Marvin Walker | 16-14 |
| 11:28 | Gardner-Webb | John Webb pulls down the rebound | 16-14 |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - John Brady (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Augustus Bienkowski (fresh) SF - Young Xiong (fairly fresh) PF - John Stahl (fresh) C - Neil Adkins (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Gardner-Webb | PG - John Webb (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Luis Gober (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Joseph Newsom (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Dennis Banfield (fresh) C - Marvin Walker (fresh) | |
| 11:22 | Gardner-Webb | John Webb knocks in the shot near the basket set up by Luis Gober | 16-16 |
| 11:05 | Illinois State | John Brady is called for traveling | 16-16 |
| Subs | Illinois State | David Vegas (SG), Dan Gavinski (SF), Russell Riggs (C) John Brady, Young Xiong, Neil Adkins | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Luis Farmer (PG), Brian Ashley (SF) Luis Gober, Marvin Walker | |
| 10:42 | Gardner-Webb | Luis Farmer makes the jumpshot from the left wing on a great pass from Joseph Newsom | 16-18 |
| 10:33 | Illinois State | Russell Riggs misses the jumper in the paint | 16-18 |
| 10:31 | Illinois State | John Stahl snags the offensive board | 16-18 |
| 10:25 | Illinois State | Russell Riggs misses the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 16-18 |
| 10:23 | Illinois State | John Stahl grabs the offensive board | 16-18 |
| 10:06 | Illinois State | John Webb steals it from Russell Riggs | 16-18 |
| 10:02 | Gardner-Webb | Luis Farmer banks in the layup set up by John Webb | 16-20 |
| 09:40 | Illinois State | Russell Riggs misses long on a floater from the right block but he's hacked by Joseph Newsom - foul #1 on Joseph Newsom, team foul #5 | 16-20 |
| Subs | Illinois State | John Brady (PG), Dexter Sellers (SG), Neil Adkins (C) Augustus Bienkowski, David Vegas, John Stahl | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Justin Mazzella (PG), Jermaine Hall (SG), Luis Gober (SF), Richard Armstrong (PF), Marvin Walker (C) Luis Farmer, John Webb, Brian Ashley, Dennis Banfield, Joseph Newsom | |
| 09:40 | Illinois State | Russell Riggs makes the 1st free throw | 17-20 |
| 09:40 | Illinois State | Russell Riggs makes the 2nd free throw | 18-20 |
| 09:35 | Gardner-Webb | Dexter Sellers steps in front of the Luis Gober pass in the backcourt | 18-20 |
| 09:26 | Illinois State | Dan Gavinski is fouled on the floor by Richard Armstrong - foul #1 on Richard Armstrong, team foul #6 | 18-20 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Michael Atkison (PF) Russell Riggs | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Arthur Schoonover (C) Marvin Walker | |
| 09:12 | Illinois State | Neil Adkins buries a shot from the baseline | 20-20 |
| 08:54 | Gardner-Webb | Richard Armstrong misses short on a jumper in the paint | 20-20 |
| 08:52 | Illinois State | Neil Adkins pulls down the rebound | 20-20 |
| 08:25 | Illinois State | A charge is called on Dexter Sellers - foul #2 on Dexter Sellers, team foul #4 | 20-20 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Gregory Williams (PG), David Vegas (SG), Young Xiong (SF), Kenneth Bolen (C) John Brady, Dexter Sellers, Dan Gavinski, Neil Adkins | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Luis Farmer (PG), Brian Ashley (SF), Marvin Walker (C) Justin Mazzella, Luis Gober, Arthur Schoonover | |
| 08:22 | Gardner-Webb | Gregory Williams steals the ball from Luis Farmer in the backcourt | 20-20 |
| 08:11 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison clanks a jumper from the right wing | 20-20 |
| 08:09 | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall gets the rebound | 20-20 |
| 07:52 | Gardner-Webb | Marvin Walker can't connect on a floater from the left wing | 20-20 |
| 07:50 | Illinois State | The rebound goes to Michael Atkison | 20-20 |
| 07:36 | Illinois State | Gregory Williams travels with the ball | 20-20 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski (SG), Russell Riggs (PF) David Vegas, Michael Atkison | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | John Webb (SG), Dennis Banfield (PF) Jermaine Hall, Richard Armstrong | |
| 07:33 | Gardner-Webb | Luis Farmer is fouled in the backcourt by Gregory Williams - foul #1 on Gregory Williams, team foul #5 | 20-20 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Neil Adkins (C) Kenneth Bolen | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | | |
| 07:18 | Gardner-Webb | Marvin Walker hits a turnaround from the right block | 20-22 |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - Gregory Williams (fresh) SG - Augustus Bienkowski (fresh) SF - Young Xiong (fairly fresh) PF - Russell Riggs (fresh) 2 pts. C - Neil Adkins (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Gardner-Webb | PG - Luis Farmer (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SG - John Webb (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Brian Ashley (fresh) 3 pts. 2 blk. PF - Dennis Banfield (fresh) C - Marvin Walker (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:06 | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski is hacked by Marvin Walker - foul #1 on Marvin Walker, team foul #7 | 20-22 |
| Subs | Illinois State | John Brady (PG), Dan Gavinski (SF), John Stahl (PF) Gregory Williams, Young Xiong, Neil Adkins | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Justin Mazzella (PG), Luis Gober (SG), Joseph Newsom (SF), Arthur Schoonover (C) Luis Farmer, John Webb, Brian Ashley, Marvin Walker | |
| 07:06 | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski makes the 1st free throw | 21-22 |
| 07:06 | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski misses the 2nd free throw | 21-22 |
| 07:06 | Gardner-Webb | Dennis Banfield pulls down the rebound | 21-22 |
| 06:53 | Gardner-Webb | Arthur Schoonover can't finish the uncontested layup | 21-22 |
| 06:51 | Illinois State | Dan Gavinski gets the rebound | 21-22 |
| 06:31 | Illinois State | Dan Gavinski can't connect on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 21-22 |
| 06:29 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Newsom snags the defensive board | 21-22 |
| 06:24 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Newsom misses short on a jumpshot from the left wing | 21-22 |
| 06:22 | Illinois State | Russell Riggs pulls down the rebound | 21-22 |
| 06:00 | Illinois State | Russell Riggs clanks a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 21-22 |
| 05:58 | Illinois State | John Stahl tips it home | 23-22 |
| 05:48 | Gardner-Webb | Arthur Schoonover connects on the open jumper from the free throw line set up by Luis Gober | 23-24 |
| 05:43 | Illinois State | Russell Riggs hits a floater from the right block | 25-24 |
| 05:41 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Newsom is hacked by John Stahl in the backcourt - foul #1 on John Stahl, team foul #6 | 25-24 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Gregory Williams (PG), David Vegas (SG), Michael Atkison (PF), Kenneth Bolen (C) John Brady, Augustus Bienkowski, John Stahl, Russell Riggs | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | John Webb (PG), Jermaine Hall (SG), Brian Ashley (SF), Richard Armstrong (PF), Marvin Walker (C) Justin Mazzella, Luis Gober, Joseph Newsom, Dennis Banfield, Arthur Schoonover | |
| 05:31 | Gardner-Webb | Marvin Walker clanks a jump hook from the right block | 25-24 |
| 05:29 | Gardner-Webb | Richard Armstrong pulls down the offensive rebound | 25-24 |
| 05:24 | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall is hacked by Gregory Williams - foul #2 on Gregory Williams, team foul #7 | 25-24 |
| Subs | Illinois State | John Brady (PG), Neil Adkins (C) Gregory Williams, Kenneth Bolen | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | | |
| 05:24 | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall makes the 1st free throw | 25-25 |
| 05:24 | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall misses the 2nd free throw | 25-25 |
| 05:24 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison grabs the board | 25-25 |
| 05:12 | Illinois State | Dan Gavinski comes up short on the jumper from the left side | 25-25 |
| 05:11 | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall pulls down the rebound | 25-25 |
| 04:58 | Gardner-Webb | Brian Ashley throws it down on a great pass from Richard Armstrong | 25-27 |
| 04:45 | Illinois State | Richard Armstrong is called for the reach on John Brady - foul #2 on Richard Armstrong, team foul #8 | 25-27 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Young Xiong (SF), Kenneth Bolen (C) Dan Gavinski, Neil Adkins | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Arthur Schoonover (C) Richard Armstrong | |
| 04:45 | Illinois State | John Brady misses the 1st free throw | 25-27 |
| 04:45 | Illinois State | The offensive rebound goes to Michael Atkison | 25-27 |
| 04:29 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison knocks in the 3pt attempt from the right corner on a great pass from Kenneth Bolen | 28-27 |
| 04:14 | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall makes the turnaround near the basket set up by Brian Ashley | 28-29 |
| 03:54 | Illinois State | Young Xiong misses the jumpshot from the left wing | 28-29 |
| 03:53 | Illinois State | Young Xiong grabs the offensive rebound | 28-29 |
| 03:27 | Illinois State | Marvin Walker steps in front of the David Vegas pass | 28-29 |
| 03:20 | Gardner-Webb | Marvin Walker clanks a 3 from the left wing | 28-29 |
| 03:19 | Illinois State | Young Xiong gets the rebound | 28-29 |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - John Brady (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - David Vegas (fairly fresh) SF - Young Xiong (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - Michael Atkison (tiring) 12 pts. 5 reb. C - Kenneth Bolen (fairly fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Gardner-Webb | PG - John Webb (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jermaine Hall (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. SF - Brian Ashley (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 blk. PF - Marvin Walker (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Arthur Schoonover (fairly fresh) 7 pts. | |
| 03:01 | Illinois State | Michael Atkison scores on a shot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Young Xiong | 30-29 |
| 02:53 | Gardner-Webb | Arthur Schoonover comes up short on the 3 from the left wing | 30-29 |
| 02:51 | Gardner-Webb | Jermaine Hall grabs the offensive rebound | 30-29 |
| 02:37 | Gardner-Webb | Marvin Walker misses short on an open fadeaway jumper from the left side | 30-29 |
| 02:35 | Gardner-Webb | John Webb gets the offensive rebound | 30-29 |
| 02:21 | Gardner-Webb | Brian Ashley misses the easy layup but he's fouled by John Brady - foul #2 on John Brady, team foul #8 | 30-29 |
| Subs | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski (PG), Dexter Sellers (SG), Dan Gavinski (SF), John Stahl (PF), Neil Adkins (C) John Brady, David Vegas, Young Xiong, Michael Atkison, Kenneth Bolen | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Justin Mazzella (PG), Joseph Harward (SG), Richard Armstrong (PF), Dennis Banfield (C) John Webb, Jermaine Hall, Marvin Walker, Arthur Schoonover | |
| 02:21 | Gardner-Webb | Brian Ashley makes the 1st free throw | 30-30 |
| 02:21 | Gardner-Webb | Brian Ashley makes the 2nd free throw | 30-31 |
| 02:00 | Illinois State | Neil Adkins blows the dunk but the foul's on Brian Ashley - foul #1 on Brian Ashley, team foul #9 | 30-31 |
| Subs | Illinois State | | |
| Subs | Gardner-Webb | Luis Gober (SF) Brian Ashley | |
| 02:00 | Illinois State | Neil Adkins misses the 1st free throw | 30-31 |
| 02:00 | Illinois State | Neil Adkins misses the 2nd free throw | 30-31 |
| 02:00 | Gardner-Webb | The rebound goes to Richard Armstrong | 30-31 |
| 01:58 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Harward's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 30-31 |
| 01:45 | Illinois State | Luis Gober takes the ball from John Stahl | 30-31 |
| 01:29 | Gardner-Webb | Richard Armstrong hits a 3pt jumper from the right corner on a nice dish by Justin Mazzella | 30-34 |
| 01:15 | Illinois State | Dexter Sellers scores on a 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Dan Gavinski | 33-34 |
| 00:56 | Gardner-Webb | Joseph Harward is open and scores on a 3pt shot from the left wing set up by Justin Mazzella | 33-37 |
| 00:44 | Illinois State | John Stahl connects on the jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Augustus Bienkowski | 35-37 |
| 00:24 | Gardner-Webb | Justin Mazzella clanks a pull-up jumper from the left side | 35-37 |
| 00:23 | Illinois State | Dexter Sellers grabs the board | 35-37 |
| 00:01 | Illinois State | Augustus Bienkowski clanks a shot from close range | 35-37 |
| 00:00 | Gardner-Webb | Dennis Banfield grabs the board | 35-37 |