| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - John Smith (fresh) SG - Timothy Levron (fresh) SF - Luis Johnson (fresh) PF - Dale Beattie (fresh) C - Patrick Matthews (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Neal Niblett (fresh) SG - Richard Greer (fresh) SF - David Havel (fresh) PF - Walker Butters (fresh) C - Zachary Kessler (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Central Michigan | Zachary Kessler wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Central Michigan | Central Michigan is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:45 | Central Michigan | Neal Niblett misses badly on a 3 pointer from straight away | 0-0 |
| 19:44 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie snags the defensive board | 0-0 |
| 19:42 | Northern Illinois University | John Smith is fouled in the backcourt by Neal Niblett - foul #1 on Neal Niblett, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:35 | Northern Illinois University | Luis Johnson's fadeaway is rejected by Walker Butters | 0-0 |
| 19:33 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters snags the defensive board | 0-0 |
| 19:21 | Central Michigan | Richard Greer misses short on a fadeaway from the right side | 0-0 |
| 19:19 | Central Michigan | David Havel grabs the offensive board | 0-0 |
| 19:04 | Central Michigan | The jump hook by Richard Greer is blocked by Dale Beattie | 0-0 |
| 19:02 | Northern Illinois University | Patrick Matthews snags the defensive board | 0-0 |
| 18:54 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie misses badly on a jumpshot from the right side | 0-0 |
| 18:53 | Central Michigan | The rebound goes to Walker Butters | 0-0 |
| 18:38 | Central Michigan | Neal Niblett is hacked by Timothy Levron - foul #1 on Timothy Levron, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 18:25 | Central Michigan | David Havel is hacked by Luis Johnson - foul #1 on Luis Johnson, team foul #2 | 0-0 |
| 18:06 | Central Michigan | Dale Beattie is called for the reach on Walker Butters - foul #1 on Dale Beattie, team foul #3 | 0-0 |
| 17:47 | Central Michigan | David Havel is fouled on the floor by John Smith - foul #1 on John Smith, team foul #4 | 0-0 |
| 17:39 | Central Michigan | Zachary Kessler is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on Zachary Kessler, team foul #2 | 0-0 |
| 17:18 | Northern Illinois University | John Smith misses badly on a jumper from the left wing | 0-0 |
| 17:17 | Central Michigan | Zachary Kessler grabs the defensive rebound | 0-0 |
| 17:04 | Central Michigan | Patrick Matthews is called for the reach on David Havel - foul #1 on Patrick Matthews, team foul #5 | 0-0 |
| 16:51 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters makes the shot in the lane on a nice dish by Neal Niblett | 0-2 |
| 16:38 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Levron is hacked by Neal Niblett - foul #2 on Neal Niblett, team foul #3 | 0-2 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Brian Robey (PG) Neal Niblett | |
| 16:23 | Northern Illinois University | Patrick Matthews hits a shot in the paint on a great pass from John Smith | 2-2 |
| 15:58 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters misses long on a jumper in the lane | 2-2 |
| 15:57 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie gets the rebound | 2-2 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - John Smith (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Timothy Levron (fresh) SF - Luis Johnson (fresh) PF - Dale Beattie (fresh) 2 reb. C - Patrick Matthews (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Brian Robey (fresh) SG - Richard Greer (fairly fresh) SF - David Havel (fairly fresh) PF - Walker Butters (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Zachary Kessler (fairly fresh) | |
| 15:51 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie lays it in | 4-2 |
| 15:36 | Central Michigan | Zachary Kessler misses long on a driving attempt from close range | 4-2 |
| 15:35 | Central Michigan | The offensive rebound goes to Zachary Kessler | 4-2 |
| 15:21 | Central Michigan | Richard Greer misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 4-2 |
| 15:19 | Central Michigan | Zachary Kessler hits the follow up shot | 4-4 |
| 14:59 | Northern Illinois University | Patrick Matthews misses long on a fadeaway in the paint but he's fouled by Zachary Kessler - foul #2 on Zachary Kessler, team foul #4 | 4-4 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | George Thompson (SG), Jeffrey Morris (SF), Kenneth Zimmerman (PF) Timothy Levron, Luis Johnson, Dale Beattie | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | David Dunkel (PG), Zlatko Gostomski (SG), Ruben Harrill (PF), Richard Wright (C) Richard Greer, David Havel, Walker Butters, Zachary Kessler | |
| 14:59 | Northern Illinois University | Patrick Matthews makes the 1st free throw | 5-4 |
| 14:59 | Northern Illinois University | Patrick Matthews makes the 2nd free throw | 6-4 |
| 14:46 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel is whistled for traveling | 6-4 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock (C) Patrick Matthews | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 14:26 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Wright takes the ball from George Thompson | 6-4 |
| 14:09 | Central Michigan | Brian Robey's floater is tipped away by Jeffrey Morris | 6-4 |
| 14:08 | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock pulls down the rebound | 6-4 |
| 13:44 | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey Morris hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left wing | 6-4 |
| 13:43 | Central Michigan | Zlatko Gostomski snags the defensive board | 6-4 |
| 13:33 | Central Michigan | Brian Robey misses badly on a fadeaway from the left block | 6-4 |
| 13:31 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zimmerman grabs the defensive rebound | 6-4 |
| 13:26 | Northern Illinois University | John Smith can't connect on a floater from the right side | 6-4 |
| 13:24 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zimmerman misses the tip | 6-4 |
| 13:22 | Central Michigan | Richard Wright gets the rebound | 6-4 |
| 13:07 | Central Michigan | Ruben Harrill makes the 3pt attempt from the left wing set up by David Dunkel | 6-7 |
| 12:53 | Northern Illinois University | George Thompson misses long on a 3 from the left corner | 6-7 |
| 12:51 | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock hits the follow up shot | 8-7 |
| 12:40 | Central Michigan | Zlatko Gostomski connects on the 3pt attempt from the right wing set up by David Dunkel | 8-10 |
| 12:21 | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 8-10 |
| 12:19 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel grabs the board | 8-10 |
| 11:57 | Central Michigan | Ruben Harrill misses short on a runner in the paint but he's fouled by Kenneth Zimmerman - foul #1 on Kenneth Zimmerman, team foul #6 | 8-10 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Levron (SG), Luis Johnson (SF), Dale Beattie (PF), Patrick Matthews (C) John Smith, Jeffrey Morris, Kenneth Zimmerman, Rudolph Hock | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Richard Greer (SG), David Havel (SF), Walker Butters (PF) David Dunkel, Zlatko Gostomski, Richard Wright | |
| 11:57 | Central Michigan | Ruben Harrill makes the 1st free throw | 8-11 |
| 11:57 | Central Michigan | Ruben Harrill makes the 2nd free throw | 8-12 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - George Thompson (fresh) SG - Timothy Levron (fresh) SF - Luis Johnson (fresh) PF - Dale Beattie (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Patrick Matthews (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Brian Robey (fresh) SG - Richard Greer (fresh) SF - David Havel (fresh) PF - Walker Butters (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Ruben Harrill (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| 11:32 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie loses the dribble to Ruben Harrill | 8-12 |
| 11:12 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters is called for traveling | 8-12 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | David Dunkel (PG), Lowell Cantrell (C) Brian Robey, Ruben Harrill | |
| 10:55 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie throws a bad pass out of bounds | 8-12 |
| 10:29 | Central Michigan | David Havel's fadeaway is rejected by Patrick Matthews | 8-12 |
| 10:28 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel tips it home | 8-14 |
| 10:20 | Northern Illinois University | Luis Johnson can't connect on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 8-14 |
| 10:18 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie can't tip it in | 8-14 |
| 10:17 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie pulls down the offensive rebound | 8-14 |
| 09:55 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie slams it home set up by George Thompson | 10-14 |
| 09:41 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 10-14 |
| 09:40 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Dale Beattie | 10-14 |
| 09:35 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie drills a pull-up jumper from the right side | 12-14 |
| 09:20 | Central Michigan | Richard Greer can't finish the layup | 12-14 |
| 09:19 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters gets the offensive rebound | 12-14 |
| 09:08 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel misses short on a 3 from the left corner | 12-14 |
| 09:06 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie gets the rebound | 12-14 |
| 09:00 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Levron misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 12-14 |
| 08:59 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel grabs the defensive rebound | 12-14 |
| 08:53 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters misses short on a runner near the basket but he's hacked by Patrick Matthews - foul #2 on Patrick Matthews, team foul #7 | 12-14 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Smith (PG), Kenneth Zimmerman (PF), Jeffrey Morris (C) George Thompson, Dale Beattie, Patrick Matthews | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Brian Robey (PG), Zlatko Gostomski (SG), Ruben Harrill (C) David Dunkel, Richard Greer, Lowell Cantrell | |
| 08:53 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters misses the 1st free throw | 12-14 |
| 08:53 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters misses the 2nd free throw | 12-14 |
| 08:53 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zimmerman snags the defensive board | 12-14 |
| 08:28 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zimmerman's pass is intercepted by Zlatko Gostomski | 12-14 |
| 08:16 | Central Michigan | David Havel hits a 3pt jumper from the right corner on a great pass from Brian Robey | 12-17 |
| 07:59 | Northern Illinois University | John Smith misses short on a floater from the left wing but he's fouled by David Havel - foul #1 on David Havel, team foul #5 | 12-17 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Tom Aguayo (SG), Rudolph Hock (C) Timothy Levron, Luis Johnson | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | David Dunkel (PG), Richard Greer (SG) Zlatko Gostomski, David Havel | |
| 07:59 | Northern Illinois University | John Smith makes the 1st free throw | 13-17 |
| 07:59 | Northern Illinois University | John Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 14-17 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - John Smith (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Tom Aguayo (fresh) SF - Jeffrey Morris (fresh) PF - Kenneth Zimmerman (fresh) 3 reb. C - Rudolph Hock (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - David Dunkel (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Greer (fresh) SF - Brian Robey (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Walker Butters (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Ruben Harrill (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| 07:45 | Central Michigan | John Smith takes the ball from Walker Butters | 14-17 |
| 07:41 | Northern Illinois University | Tom Aguayo lays it in on a great pass from John Smith | 16-17 |
| 07:19 | Central Michigan | The pull-up jumper by David Dunkel is blocked by Rudolph Hock | 16-17 |
| 07:17 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Kenneth Zimmerman | 16-17 |
| 07:10 | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey Morris misses long on a pull-up jumper from the right side | 16-17 |
| 07:09 | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey Morris tips it back up and in | 18-17 |
| 06:48 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters buries a runner in the paint on a nice dish by David Dunkel | 18-19 |
| 06:28 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zimmerman misses short on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 18-19 |
| 06:26 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters grabs the defensive rebound | 18-19 |
| 06:08 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel can't connect on a shot from the right wing but the foul's on Rudolph Hock - foul #1 on Rudolph Hock, team foul #8 | 18-19 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Levron (SG), Luis Johnson (SF), Dale Beattie (PF) Tom Aguayo, Kenneth Zimmerman, Rudolph Hock | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | David Havel (SF), Richard Wright (PF), Lowell Cantrell (C) Richard Greer, Walker Butters, Ruben Harrill | |
| 06:08 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel makes the 1st free throw | 18-20 |
| 06:08 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel makes the 2nd free throw | 18-21 |
| 05:47 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie misses long on a fadeaway from the left side but the foul's on David Dunkel - foul #1 on David Dunkel, team foul #6 | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock (C) Jeffrey Morris | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Zlatko Gostomski (SG) David Dunkel | |
| 05:47 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie makes the 1st free throw | 19-21 |
| 05:47 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie makes the 2nd free throw | 20-21 |
| 05:28 | Central Michigan | David Havel makes the jumper from the right side set up by Richard Wright and he's fouled by Luis Johnson - foul #2 on Luis Johnson, team foul #9 | 20-23 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Cole Oliver (SF) Luis Johnson | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 05:28 | Central Michigan | David Havel makes the free throw | 20-24 |
| 05:12 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Wright takes the ball from Cole Oliver | 20-24 |
| 05:05 | Central Michigan | Brian Robey comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 20-24 |
| 05:04 | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock gets the rebound | 20-24 |
| 04:59 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Levron scores on a pull-up jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Dale Beattie | 22-24 |
| 04:35 | Central Michigan | Richard Wright clanks a jumper from the free throw line | 22-24 |
| 04:34 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie grabs the board | 22-24 |
| 04:22 | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock is fouled on the floor by Brian Robey - foul #1 on Brian Robey, team foul #7 | 22-24 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey Morris (SF), Kenneth Zimmerman (C) John Smith, Cole Oliver | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | David Dunkel (PG), Richard Greer (SG), Walker Butters (PF), Ruben Harrill (C) Brian Robey, Zlatko Gostomski, Richard Wright, Lowell Cantrell | |
| 04:22 | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock makes the 1st free throw | 23-24 |
| 04:22 | Northern Illinois University | Rudolph Hock misses the 2nd free throw | 23-24 |
| 04:22 | Central Michigan | David Havel pulls down the rebound | 23-24 |
| 04:16 | Central Michigan | David Havel is called for traveling | 23-24 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | George Thompson (PG) Rudolph Hock | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 03:58 | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey Morris misses the easy layup but he's hacked by David Havel - foul #2 on David Havel, team foul #8 | 23-24 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Patrick Matthews (C) Kenneth Zimmerman | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Neal Niblett (PG), Zachary Kessler (C) David Dunkel, Ruben Harrill | |
| 03:58 | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey Morris makes the 1st free throw | 24-24 |
| 03:58 | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey Morris makes the 2nd free throw | 25-24 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - George Thompson (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Timothy Levron (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Jeffrey Morris (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Dale Beattie (fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. C - Patrick Matthews (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Neal Niblett (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Richard Greer (fresh) SF - David Havel (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - Walker Butters (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. C - Zachary Kessler (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:40 | Central Michigan | David Havel knocks in the fadeaway from the left block on a nice dish by Neal Niblett | 25-26 |
| 03:35 | Northern Illinois University | George Thompson is hacked by David Havel - foul #3 on David Havel, team foul #9 | 25-26 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Tom Aguayo (SG), Luis Johnson (SF), Kenneth Zimmerman (PF) Timothy Levron, Jeffrey Morris, Dale Beattie | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Brian Robey (SF) David Havel | |
| 03:35 | Northern Illinois University | George Thompson misses the 1st free throw | 25-26 |
| 03:35 | Central Michigan | Zachary Kessler gets the rebound | 25-26 |
| 03:22 | Central Michigan | Brian Robey misses badly on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 25-26 |
| 03:21 | Northern Illinois University | Luis Johnson grabs the board | 25-26 |
| 03:16 | Northern Illinois University | Luis Johnson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 25-26 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Smith (PG) Tom Aguayo | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 03:01 | Central Michigan | Brian Robey makes the jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Neal Niblett | 25-28 |
| 02:39 | Northern Illinois University | John Smith misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 25-28 |
| 02:37 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters snags the defensive board | 25-28 |
| 02:29 | Central Michigan | Brian Robey drills a 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Neal Niblett | 25-31 |
| 02:00 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zimmerman can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 25-31 |
| 01:59 | Central Michigan | Richard Greer grabs the board | 25-31 |
| 01:44 | Central Michigan | Neal Niblett is hacked by John Smith - foul #2 on John Smith, team foul #10 | 25-31 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Levron (SG), Dale Beattie (PF) George Thompson, Kenneth Zimmerman | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Ruben Harrill (SF) Richard Greer | |
| 01:44 | Central Michigan | Neal Niblett makes the 1st free throw | 25-32 |
| 01:44 | Central Michigan | Neal Niblett makes the 2nd free throw | 25-33 |
| 01:26 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 25-33 |
| 01:24 | Northern Illinois University | Patrick Matthews hits the follow up shot | 27-33 |
| 01:13 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters hits the finger roll set up by Brian Robey | 27-35 |
| 01:07 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie blows the layup but he's fouled by Ruben Harrill - foul #1 on Ruben Harrill, team foul #10 | 27-35 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | David Dunkel (PG), Zlatko Gostomski (SG), Richard Wright (C) Neal Niblett, Brian Robey, Zachary Kessler | |
| 01:07 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie misses the 1st free throw | 27-35 |
| 01:07 | Northern Illinois University | Dale Beattie misses the 2nd free throw | 27-35 |
| 01:07 | Central Michigan | The rebound goes to Walker Butters | 27-35 |
| 00:55 | Central Michigan | Ruben Harrill misses the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 27-35 |
| 00:53 | Central Michigan | Zlatko Gostomski tips it but misses | 27-35 |
| 00:52 | Central Michigan | Walker Butters tips it but misses | 27-35 |
| 00:51 | Northern Illinois University | Patrick Matthews pulls down the rebound | 27-35 |
| 00:46 | Northern Illinois University | Luis Johnson hits a jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Timothy Levron and he's hacked by Ruben Harrill - foul #2 on Ruben Harrill, team foul #11 | 29-35 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey Morris (C) Patrick Matthews | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Lowell Cantrell (C) Walker Butters | |
| 00:46 | Northern Illinois University | Luis Johnson misses the free throw | 29-35 |
| 00:46 | Central Michigan | Richard Wright snags the defensive board | 29-35 |
| 00:25 | Central Michigan | David Dunkel hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 29-35 |
| 00:23 | Central Michigan | Ruben Harrill grabs the offensive board | 29-35 |
| 00:01 | Central Michigan | Richard Wright misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 29-35 |
| 00:00 | Northern Illinois University | John Smith grabs the board | 29-35 |