| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Joey Carr (fresh) SG - Patrick Davis (fresh) SF - Michael Southworth (fresh) PF - Ronald Watlington (fresh) C - Kyle Wilson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - Antonio Delacruz (fresh) SG - Elliot Louis (fresh) SF - Steven Gray (fresh) PF - Nicholas Richardson (fresh) C - Augustine Conti (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois State | Illinois State is playing a flex offense and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| 19:48 | Northern Iowa | Michael Southworth knocks in the jump hook from close range set up by Joey Carr | 2-0 |
| 19:36 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson misses the lay-in | 2-0 |
| 19:34 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti tips it but misses | 2-0 |
| 19:32 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis grabs the defensive rebound | 2-0 |
| 19:05 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis clanks a jumper in the paint but he's fouled by Elliot Louis - foul #1 on Elliot Louis, team foul #1 | 2-0 |
| 19:05 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis makes the 1st free throw | 3-0 |
| 19:05 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis misses the 2nd free throw | 3-0 |
| 19:05 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson gets the rebound | 3-0 |
| 18:48 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson buries a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 3-3 |
| 18:35 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Watlington misses the jumper from just outside the lane | 3-3 |
| 18:34 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti grabs the defensive rebound | 3-3 |
| 18:23 | Illinois State | Elliot Louis is whistled for traveling | 3-3 |
| 18:03 | Northern Iowa | Joey Carr connects on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Ronald Watlington | 5-3 |
| 17:57 | Illinois State | Elliot Louis throws a bad pass out of bounds | 5-3 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens (PG), Paul Bruce (SF), Timothy Solomon (C) Joey Carr, Michael Southworth, Kyle Wilson | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Glenn Davis (C) Augustine Conti | |
| 17:28 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce hits the easy wide open finger roll | 7-3 |
| 17:10 | Illinois State | The short jumper by Nicholas Richardson is denied by Ronald Watlington | 7-3 |
| 17:09 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Paul Bruce | 7-3 |
| 16:40 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis misses badly on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 7-3 |
| 16:38 | Illinois State | Steven Gray grabs the board | 7-3 |
| 16:09 | Illinois State | Antonio Delacruz travels with the ball | 7-3 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Joey Carr (PG), Michael Southworth (SG), Kyle Wilson (C) Jack Mertens, Patrick Davis, Timothy Solomon | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Robert Perras (PG), Harvey Hudkins (SG), Carlos Halter (SF), Augustine Conti (C) Antonio Delacruz, Elliot Louis, Steven Gray, Glenn Davis | |
| 15:49 | Northern Iowa | Joey Carr misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 7-3 |
| 15:48 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce gets the offensive rebound | 7-3 |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Joey Carr (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Michael Southworth (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Paul Bruce (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ronald Watlington (tiring) C - Kyle Wilson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - Robert Perras (fresh) SG - Harvey Hudkins (fresh) SF - Carlos Halter (fresh) PF - Nicholas Richardson (fairly fresh) 3 pts. C - Augustine Conti (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 15:21 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce scores on a shot from the left side on a great pass from Joey Carr | 9-3 |
| 15:03 | Illinois State | Robert Perras misses the shot from the left block but he's hacked by Joey Carr - foul #1 on Joey Carr, team foul #1 | 9-3 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis (SG), Timothy Solomon (PF) Paul Bruce, Ronald Watlington | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Zlatko Broski (SF) Nicholas Richardson | |
| 15:03 | Illinois State | Robert Perras makes the 1st free throw | 9-4 |
| 15:03 | Illinois State | Robert Perras misses the 2nd free throw | 9-4 |
| 15:03 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon pulls down the rebound | 9-4 |
| 14:49 | Northern Iowa | Joey Carr knocks in the fadeaway from the left side set up by Patrick Davis | 11-4 |
| 14:27 | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins misses the 3 pointer from the right corner | 11-4 |
| 14:25 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon pulls down the rebound | 11-4 |
| 14:02 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon can't connect on a turnaround from the left block | 11-4 |
| 14:01 | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins grabs the board | 11-4 |
| 13:46 | Illinois State | Carlos Halter misses the turnaround from the baseline | 11-4 |
| 13:44 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson snags the defensive board | 11-4 |
| 13:42 | Northern Iowa | Zlatko Broski steps in front of the Kyle Wilson pass in the backcourt | 11-4 |
| 13:29 | Illinois State | Carlos Halter is hacked by Kyle Wilson - foul #1 on Kyle Wilson, team foul #2 | 11-4 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens (PG), Paul Bruce (SF), Ronald Watlington (PF) Joey Carr, Michael Southworth, Timothy Solomon | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Antonio Delacruz (PG), Elliot Louis (SG), Steven Gray (SF), Glenn Davis (PF) Robert Perras, Harvey Hudkins, Zlatko Broski, Carlos Halter | |
| 13:16 | Illinois State | Elliot Louis knocks in the 3pt shot from straight away on a nice dish by Glenn Davis | 11-7 |
| 13:12 | Northern Iowa | Augustine Conti steals the ball from Kyle Wilson in the backcourt | 11-7 |
| 13:02 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti comes up short on the 3 pointer from straight away | 11-7 |
| 13:00 | Illinois State | Glenn Davis tips it home | 11-9 |
| 12:38 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson throws it down | 13-9 |
| 12:19 | Illinois State | Elliot Louis drills a driving attempt in the lane on a great pass from Antonio Delacruz and he's fouled by Kyle Wilson - foul #2 on Kyle Wilson, team foul #3 | 13-11 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Joey Carr (SG), Timothy Solomon (C) Patrick Davis, Kyle Wilson | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson (PF) Augustine Conti | |
| 12:19 | Illinois State | Elliot Louis makes the free throw | 13-12 |
| 12:15 | Northern Iowa | Steven Gray is called for the reach on Paul Bruce in the backcourt - foul #1 on Steven Gray, team foul #2 | 13-12 |
| 11:52 | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens misses long on a shot near the basket but he's hacked by Antonio Delacruz - foul #1 on Antonio Delacruz, team foul #3 | 13-12 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins (SG), Zlatko Broski (SF), Carlos Halter (C) Elliot Louis, Steven Gray, Glenn Davis | |
| 11:52 | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens makes the 1st free throw | 14-12 |
| 11:52 | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens makes the 2nd free throw | 15-12 |
| 11:31 | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins misses short on a jumper from the right wing | 15-12 |
| 11:29 | Illinois State | The offensive rebound goes to Zlatko Broski | 15-12 |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Jack Mertens (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - Joey Carr (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - Paul Bruce (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ronald Watlington (tiring) C - Timothy Solomon (fairly fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - Antonio Delacruz (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Harvey Hudkins (fresh) SF - Zlatko Broski (fresh) PF - Nicholas Richardson (fairly fresh) 3 pts. C - Carlos Halter (fresh) | |
| 11:11 | Illinois State | Zlatko Broski connects on the 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Antonio Delacruz | 15-15 |
| 11:07 | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens is hacked by Antonio Delacruz in the backcourt - foul #2 on Antonio Delacruz, team foul #4 | 15-15 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Leo Kalinowski (PG), Patrick Davis (SG), Michael Southworth (SF) Jack Mertens, Joey Carr, Paul Bruce | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Robert Perras (PG) Antonio Delacruz | |
| 10:57 | Northern Iowa | Leo Kalinowski knocks in the fadeaway from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Michael Southworth | 17-15 |
| 10:44 | Illinois State | Carlos Halter can't connect on a jumper from close range but the foul's on Timothy Solomon - foul #1 on Timothy Solomon, team foul #4 | 17-15 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Elliot Louis (SG), Steven Gray (SF) Harvey Hudkins, Zlatko Broski | |
| 10:44 | Illinois State | Carlos Halter makes the 1st free throw | 17-16 |
| 10:44 | Illinois State | Carlos Halter misses the 2nd free throw | 17-16 |
| 10:44 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Watlington grabs the defensive rebound | 17-16 |
| 10:24 | Northern Iowa | Michael Southworth makes the shot from the baseline on a great pass from Patrick Davis | 19-16 |
| 10:13 | Illinois State | Robert Perras misses short on a floater from the right block | 19-16 |
| 10:11 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Watlington grabs the defensive rebound | 19-16 |
| 09:52 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the left side but he's fouled by Nicholas Richardson - foul #1 on Nicholas Richardson, team foul #5 | 19-16 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Joey Carr (PG), Paul Bruce (SF) Leo Kalinowski, Ronald Watlington | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Glenn Davis (PF), Augustine Conti (C) Nicholas Richardson, Carlos Halter | |
| 09:52 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon misses the 1st free throw | 19-16 |
| 09:52 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon misses the 2nd free throw | 19-16 |
| 09:52 | Illinois State | Steven Gray pulls down the rebound | 19-16 |
| 09:32 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti loses the dribble to Patrick Davis | 19-16 |
| 09:15 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce throws a bad pass out of bounds | 19-16 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens (PG) Patrick Davis | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins (PG), Zlatko Broski (SF) Robert Perras, Steven Gray | |
| 08:56 | Illinois State | Timothy Solomon denies the turnaround by Glenn Davis | 19-16 |
| 08:55 | Northern Iowa | Michael Southworth snags the defensive board | 19-16 |
| 08:26 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon is open and scores on a shot in the paint and he's hacked by Glenn Davis - foul #1 on Glenn Davis, team foul #6 | 21-16 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Ronald Watlington (PF) Michael Southworth | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Steven Gray (SF), Nicholas Richardson (PF) Elliot Louis, Glenn Davis | |
| 08:26 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon misses the free throw | 21-16 |
| 08:26 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson grabs the board | 21-16 |
| 08:08 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti misses short on a runner from the left block | 21-16 |
| 08:07 | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens grabs the board | 21-16 |
| 07:46 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon comes up short on the shot from the right wing | 21-16 |
| 07:45 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Solomon tips it but misses | 21-16 |
| 07:44 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson grabs the board | 21-16 |
| 07:22 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson loses the ball out of bounds | 21-16 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Leo Kalinowski (PG), Patrick Davis (SG), Michael Southworth (SF) Jack Mertens, Joey Carr, Paul Bruce | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Robert Perras (PG), Elliot Louis (SG), Glenn Davis (PF), Carlos Halter (C) Harvey Hudkins, Zlatko Broski, Nicholas Richardson, Augustine Conti | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Leo Kalinowski (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Patrick Davis (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 ast. SF - Michael Southworth (fairly fresh) 4 pts. PF - Ronald Watlington (tiring) 2 reb. C - Timothy Solomon (tiring) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - Robert Perras (fresh) 1 pts. SG - Elliot Louis (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Steven Gray (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - Glenn Davis (fresh) 2 pts. C - Carlos Halter (fresh) 1 pts. | |
| 06:53 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis is whistled for a carry | 21-16 |
| 06:35 | Illinois State | Steven Gray scores on a fadeaway from the right side set up by Robert Perras | 21-18 |
| 06:17 | Northern Iowa | Carlos Halter picks off the pass by Leo Kalinowski | 21-18 |
| 06:00 | Illinois State | Robert Perras is whistled for a carry | 21-18 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Joey Carr (PG), Paul Bruce (SF) Leo Kalinowski, Timothy Solomon | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Zlatko Broski (SF), Nicholas Richardson (PF) Steven Gray, Glenn Davis | |
| 05:54 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 21-18 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens (PG) Patrick Davis | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins (SG) Elliot Louis | |
| 05:41 | Illinois State | Zlatko Broski misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 21-18 |
| 05:39 | Illinois State | The offensive rebound goes to Harvey Hudkins | 21-18 |
| 05:19 | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins misses the fadeaway from the right side | 21-18 |
| 05:18 | Illinois State | Carlos Halter tips it in | 21-20 |
| 04:53 | Northern Iowa | Michael Southworth connects on the fadeaway from the right wing | 23-20 |
| 04:24 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson buries a shot from the right block and he's fouled by Ronald Watlington - foul #1 on Ronald Watlington, team foul #5 | 23-22 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Leo Kalinowski (PG), Patrick Davis (SG), Timothy Solomon (PF) Jack Mertens, Joey Carr, Ronald Watlington | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Elliot Louis (SG), Steven Gray (SF), Augustine Conti (C) Harvey Hudkins, Zlatko Broski, Carlos Halter | |
| 04:24 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson makes the free throw | 23-23 |
| 04:00 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce comes up short on the runner in the paint but he's hacked by Robert Perras - foul #1 on Robert Perras, team foul #7 | 23-23 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson (C) Michael Southworth | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Antonio Delacruz (PG), Glenn Davis (PF) Robert Perras, Nicholas Richardson | |
| 04:00 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce makes the 1st free throw | 24-23 |
| 04:00 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce misses the 2nd free throw | 24-23 |
| 04:00 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti gets the rebound | 24-23 |
| 03:35 | Illinois State | Elliot Louis misses the 3pt attempt from straight away | 24-23 |
| 03:33 | Northern Iowa | Paul Bruce grabs the board | 24-23 |
| 03:04 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson comes up short on the jumper from the baseline but he's fouled by Augustine Conti - foul #1 on Augustine Conti, team foul #8 | 24-23 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Joey Carr (PG), Michael Southworth (SF), Ronald Watlington (PF) Leo Kalinowski, Paul Bruce, Timothy Solomon | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson (PF) Glenn Davis | |
| 03:04 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson makes the 1st free throw | 25-23 |
| 03:04 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson misses the 2nd free throw | 25-23 |
| 03:04 | Illinois State | The rebound goes to Nicholas Richardson | 25-23 |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Joey Carr (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Patrick Davis (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 ast. SF - Michael Southworth (tiring) 6 pts. PF - Ronald Watlington (tired) 2 reb. C - Kyle Wilson (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois State | PG - Antonio Delacruz (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Elliot Louis (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - Steven Gray (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Nicholas Richardson (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - Augustine Conti (tiring) 3 reb. | |
| 02:51 | Illinois State | Ronald Watlington denies the turnaround by Elliot Louis | 25-23 |
| 02:49 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis pulls down the rebound | 25-23 |
| 02:43 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Watlington's layup is rejected by Nicholas Richardson | 25-23 |
| 02:42 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson gets the rebound | 25-23 |
| 02:20 | Illinois State | Antonio Delacruz can't connect on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 25-23 |
| 02:18 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Michael Southworth | 25-23 |
| 02:11 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson clanks a turnaround in the paint | 25-23 |
| 02:09 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson can't tip it in | 25-23 |
| 02:08 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti grabs the defensive rebound | 25-23 |
| 02:00 | Illinois State | Joey Carr is called for the reach on Antonio Delacruz - foul #2 on Joey Carr, team foul #6 | 25-23 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Jack Mertens (PG), Paul Bruce (SF) Patrick Davis, Michael Southworth | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins (SG), Zlatko Broski (SF), Glenn Davis (PF), Carlos Halter (C) Elliot Louis, Steven Gray, Nicholas Richardson, Augustine Conti | |
| 01:50 | Illinois State | Joey Carr picks off the pass by Zlatko Broski | 25-23 |
| 01:22 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson drills a runner from the left block | 27-23 |
| 01:08 | Illinois State | Ronald Watlington is called for the reach on Harvey Hudkins - foul #2 on Ronald Watlington, team foul #7 | 27-23 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis (SG), Timothy Solomon (PF) Joey Carr, Ronald Watlington | |
| Subs | Illinois State | | |
| 01:08 | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins misses the 1st free throw | 27-23 |
| 01:08 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson gets the rebound | 27-23 |
| 01:06 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis is hacked by Harvey Hudkins in the backcourt - foul #1 on Harvey Hudkins, team foul #9 | 27-23 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson (PF) Glenn Davis | |
| 01:06 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis makes the 1st free throw | 28-23 |
| 01:06 | Northern Iowa | Patrick Davis makes the 2nd free throw | 29-23 |
| 00:50 | Illinois State | Harvey Hudkins can't connect on a 3 from straight away | 29-23 |
| 00:48 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson tips it in | 29-25 |
| 00:35 | Northern Iowa | Kyle Wilson is whistled for traveling | 29-25 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Michael Southworth (SF) Paul Bruce | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Steven Gray (SF) Zlatko Broski | |
| 00:19 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson misses the lay-in but the foul's on Jack Mertens - foul #1 on Jack Mertens, team foul #8 | 29-25 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Elliot Louis (SG), Augustine Conti (C) Harvey Hudkins, Carlos Halter | |
| 00:19 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson makes the 1st free throw | 29-26 |
| 00:19 | Illinois State | Nicholas Richardson makes the 2nd free throw | 29-27 |
| 00:04 | Northern Iowa | Michael Southworth misses short on a jump hook from the baseline but he's fouled by Steven Gray - foul #2 on Steven Gray, team foul #10 | 29-27 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Leo Kalinowski (PG) Jack Mertens | |
| Subs | Illinois State | Robert Perras (PG), Glenn Davis (PF) Antonio Delacruz, Nicholas Richardson | |
| 00:04 | Northern Iowa | Michael Southworth misses the 1st free throw | 29-27 |
| 00:04 | Northern Iowa | Michael Southworth misses the 2nd free throw | 29-27 |
| 00:04 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti gets the rebound | 29-27 |
| 00:00 | Illinois State | Augustine Conti hits the front of the rim on the halfcourt shot | 29-27 |