| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - James Brown (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SG - Jason Wallace (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Philip Mance (fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. PF - James Thompson (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. C - Robert Tandy (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gary Allshouse (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Nathan Stringer (fresh) SF - Frank Aker (fresh) 5 pts. PF - David Stoltzfus (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. C - David Williams (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Frank Aker inbounds the ball | 30-29 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| 19:47 | Illinois | Jason Wallace steps in front of the Nathan Stringer pass | 30-29 |
| 19:41 | Ohio State | James Brown connects on the shot from the left wing | 32-29 |
| 19:30 | Illinois | Gary Allshouse is fouled on the floor by Philip Mance - foul #2 on Philip Mance, team foul #1 | 32-29 |
| 19:16 | Illinois | Nathan Stringer comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 32-29 |
| 19:14 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy snags the defensive board | 32-29 |
| 18:45 | Ohio State | Philip Mance comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 32-29 |
| 18:43 | Illinois | David Williams grabs the defensive rebound | 32-29 |
| 18:22 | Illinois | The short jumper by Frank Aker is denied by James Thompson | 32-29 |
| 18:21 | Ohio State | Philip Mance pulls down the rebound | 32-29 |
| 17:59 | Ohio State | James Brown can't connect on a jumper from the right side | 32-29 |
| 17:58 | Illinois | David Williams snags the defensive board | 32-29 |
| 17:44 | Illinois | James Thompson steals the ball from Nathan Stringer | 32-29 |
| 17:15 | Ohio State | James Brown misses the easy layup | 32-29 |
| 17:13 | Illinois | David Williams gets the rebound | 32-29 |
| 17:03 | Illinois | Frank Aker's pass is intercepted by Robert Tandy | 32-29 |
| 16:34 | Ohio State | James Thompson misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 32-29 |
| 16:33 | Ohio State | The offensive rebound goes to Robert Tandy | 32-29 |
| 16:11 | Ohio State | James Thompson misses short on a turnaround in the paint | 32-29 |
| 16:10 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy grabs the offensive board | 32-29 |
| 15:56 | Ohio State | James Brown is called for traveling | 32-29 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Philip Corson (SG) Jason Wallace | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gary Chambers (PG), Edward Hohl (SG), Allan Varley (SF), Kelly Nichols (C) Gary Allshouse, Nathan Stringer, Frank Aker, David Williams | |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - James Brown (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 2 ast. SG - Philip Corson (fresh) SF - Philip Mance (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. PF - James Thompson (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Robert Tandy (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gary Chambers (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Edward Hohl (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Allan Varley (fresh) 2 reb. PF - David Stoltzfus (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. C - Kelly Nichols (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 15:40 | Illinois | Allan Varley clanks a jumpshot from the free throw line | 32-29 |
| 15:39 | Ohio State | James Thompson grabs the defensive rebound | 32-29 |
| 15:26 | Ohio State | Philip Mance loses the ball out of bounds | 32-29 |
| 14:57 | Illinois | Allan Varley drills a jumper from the baseline | 32-31 |
| 14:28 | Ohio State | James Thompson is hacked by David Stoltzfus - foul #2 on David Stoltzfus, team foul #1 | 32-31 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gary Allshouse (PG), David Williams (C) Gary Chambers, David Stoltzfus | |
| 14:07 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy throws it down set up by James Brown | 34-31 |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Philip Mance is called for the reach on Gary Allshouse - foul #3 on Philip Mance, team foul #2 | 34-31 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Jason Wallace (SG) Philip Corson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathan Stringer (SG), Frank Aker (PF) Edward Hohl, David Williams | |
| 13:29 | Illinois | Frank Aker is hacked by James Thompson - foul #1 on James Thompson, team foul #3 | 34-31 |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Kelly Nichols lays it in set up by Gary Allshouse | 34-33 |
| 12:51 | Ohio State | Philip Mance connects on the 3 pointer from straight away set up by James Brown | 37-33 |
| 12:24 | Illinois | Nathan Stringer misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 37-33 |
| 12:22 | Ohio State | The rebound goes to Jason Wallace | 37-33 |
| 11:53 | Ohio State | Philip Mance clanks a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 37-33 |
| 11:51 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Kelly Nichols | 37-33 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - James Brown (tiring) 10 pts. 4 ast. SG - Jason Wallace (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. SF - Philip Mance (tiring) 13 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. PF - James Thompson (tiring) 3 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Robert Tandy (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gary Allshouse (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Nathan Stringer (fresh) SF - Allan Varley (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Frank Aker (fresh) 5 pts. C - Kelly Nichols (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 11:36 | Illinois | Allan Varley can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 37-33 |
| 11:34 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy gets the rebound | 37-33 |
| 11:16 | Ohio State | James Thompson loses the ball out of bounds | 37-33 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Philip Corson (PG), Patrick Ferrell (PF) James Brown, James Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Hohl (SG), Domingo Trujillo (SF), David Stoltzfus (PF), David Williams (C) Nathan Stringer, Allan Varley, Frank Aker, Kelly Nichols | |
| 10:55 | Illinois | Jason Wallace is called for the reach on David Williams - foul #2 on Jason Wallace, team foul #4 | 37-33 |
| 10:49 | Illinois | Robert Tandy blocks the short jumper by Gary Allshouse | 37-33 |
| 10:48 | Illinois | Edward Hohl tips it in | 37-35 |
| 10:19 | Ohio State | Jason Wallace is fouled on the floor by Gary Allshouse - foul #1 on Gary Allshouse, team foul #2 | 37-35 |
| Subs | Ohio State | James Brown (PG) Jason Wallace | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gary Chambers (PG) Gary Allshouse | |
| 09:58 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy misses long on a floater from the baseline | 37-35 |
| 09:56 | Ohio State | Patrick Ferrell snags the offensive board | 37-35 |
| 09:43 | Ohio State | James Brown comes up short on the shot from just outside the lane | 37-35 |
| 09:41 | Illinois | Domingo Trujillo snags the defensive board | 37-35 |
| 09:25 | Illinois | David Williams makes the fadeaway near the basket set up by Edward Hohl | 37-37 |
| 09:02 | Ohio State | Philip Mance can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 37-37 |
| 09:01 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy snags the offensive board | 37-37 |
| 08:43 | Ohio State | James Brown makes the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 39-37 |
| 08:23 | Illinois | Gary Chambers misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing but the foul's on James Brown - foul #1 on James Brown, team foul #5 | 39-37 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Jason Wallace (SG), James Thompson (PF) Philip Mance, Patrick Ferrell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathan Stringer (SG), Allan Varley (SF), Frank Aker (PF), Kelly Nichols (C) Edward Hohl, Domingo Trujillo, David Stoltzfus, David Williams | |
| 08:23 | Illinois | Gary Chambers makes the 1st free throw | 39-38 |
| 08:23 | Illinois | Gary Chambers makes the 2nd free throw | 39-39 |
| 08:05 | Ohio State | James Thompson buries a jumper from the left wing on a great pass from James Brown | 41-39 |
| 08:00 | Illinois | Gary Chambers misses the 3pt jumper from straight away | 41-39 |
| 07:58 | Illinois | Kelly Nichols hits the follow up shot | 41-41 |
| 07:38 | Ohio State | James Brown is hacked by Nathan Stringer - foul #3 on Nathan Stringer, team foul #3 | 41-41 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Philip Mance (SF) Philip Corson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gary Allshouse (PG) Gary Chambers | |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - James Brown (tiring) 12 pts. 5 ast. SG - Jason Wallace (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. SF - Philip Mance (tiring) 13 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. PF - James Thompson (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Robert Tandy (tiring) 7 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gary Allshouse (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Nathan Stringer (fresh) 3 pf. SF - Allan Varley (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Frank Aker (fresh) 5 pts. C - Kelly Nichols (fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 07:21 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy misses the easy layup | 41-41 |
| 07:19 | Illinois | Kelly Nichols snags the defensive board | 41-41 |
| 06:59 | Illinois | Frank Aker misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 41-41 |
| 06:58 | Illinois | Frank Aker tips it home | 41-43 |
| 06:29 | Ohio State | Jason Wallace throws a bad pass out of bounds | 41-43 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Philip Corson (PG), Patrick Ferrell (C) James Brown, Robert Tandy | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Williams (C) Allan Varley | |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Gary Allshouse is fouled on the floor by Philip Corson - foul #3 on Philip Corson, team foul #6 | 41-43 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Stoltzfus (PF) Kelly Nichols | |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Gary Allshouse is fouled on the floor by Jason Wallace - foul #3 on Jason Wallace, team foul #7 | 41-43 |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Gary Allshouse makes the 1st free throw | 41-44 |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Gary Allshouse makes the 2nd free throw | 41-45 |
| 05:43 | Ohio State | Philip Mance scores on a 3 pointer from the right corner on a great pass from James Thompson | 44-45 |
| 05:24 | Illinois | David Stoltzfus misses the dunk but he's fouled by Jason Wallace - foul #4 on Jason Wallace, team foul #8 | 44-45 |
| Subs | Ohio State | James Brown (PG) Philip Mance | |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Hohl (SG), Allan Varley (SF) Nathan Stringer, Frank Aker | |
| 05:24 | Illinois | David Stoltzfus makes the 1st free throw | 44-46 |
| 05:24 | Illinois | David Stoltzfus makes the 2nd free throw | 44-47 |
| 05:04 | Ohio State | Jason Wallace's pass is intercepted by Edward Hohl | 44-47 |
| 05:01 | Illinois | Gary Allshouse hits the finger roll on a great pass from Edward Hohl | 44-49 |
| 04:34 | Ohio State | James Brown buries a jumper from the right wing | 46-49 |
| 04:12 | Illinois | Edward Hohl hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 46-49 |
| 04:11 | Illinois | David Stoltzfus grabs the offensive rebound | 46-49 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | David Stoltzfus's pass is intercepted by Philip Corson | 46-49 |
| 03:33 | Ohio State | James Brown scores on a floater from just outside the lane | 48-49 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - James Brown (tiring) 16 pts. 5 ast. SG - Jason Wallace (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. 4 pf. SF - Philip Corson (fresh) 3 pf. PF - James Thompson (tiring) 5 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Patrick Ferrell (fairly fresh) 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gary Allshouse (fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - Edward Hohl (fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SF - Allan Varley (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - David Stoltzfus (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. C - David Williams (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 03:16 | Illinois | Jason Wallace is called for the reach on Edward Hohl - foul #5 on Jason Wallace, team foul #9 | 48-49 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Philip Mance (SF), Robert Tandy (C) Jason Wallace, Patrick Ferrell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathan Stringer (SG), Frank Aker (PF), Kelly Nichols (C) Gary Allshouse, David Stoltzfus, David Williams | |
| 03:16 | Illinois | Edward Hohl misses the 1st free throw | 48-49 |
| 03:16 | Ohio State | James Thompson grabs the board | 48-49 |
| 03:03 | Ohio State | James Brown scores on a shot in the paint on a nice dish by Philip Mance and the foul's on Edward Hohl - foul #2 on Edward Hohl, team foul #4 | 50-49 |
| 03:03 | Ohio State | James Brown makes the free throw | 51-49 |
| 03:01 | Illinois | James Brown steals the ball from Edward Hohl in the backcourt | 51-49 |
| 02:36 | Ohio State | Philip Mance hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the right corner | 51-49 |
| 02:35 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Kelly Nichols | 51-49 |
| 02:35 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 51-49 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Patrick Ferrell (PF) James Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gary Allshouse (PG), David Williams (C) Edward Hohl, Allan Varley | |
| 02:17 | Illinois | Gary Allshouse hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from straight away | 51-49 |
| 02:16 | Ohio State | Philip Mance snags the defensive board | 51-49 |
| 02:16 | Ohio State | Ohio State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 51-49 |
| Subs | Ohio State | James Thompson (PF) Patrick Ferrell | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Stoltzfus (PF) Kelly Nichols | |
| 01:47 | Ohio State | Philip Mance hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right corner | 51-49 |
| 01:46 | Illinois | David Williams pulls down the rebound | 51-49 |
| 01:41 | Illinois | Frank Aker can't connect on a shot near the basket but the foul's on Robert Tandy - foul #2 on Robert Tandy, team foul #10 | 51-49 |
| 01:41 | Illinois | Frank Aker misses the 1st free throw | 51-49 |
| 01:41 | Illinois | Frank Aker misses the 2nd free throw | 51-49 |
| 01:41 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy gets the rebound | 51-49 |
| 01:16 | Ohio State | Philip Mance misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 51-49 |
| 01:15 | Ohio State | Robert Tandy hits the follow up shot | 53-49 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | David Stoltzfus banks in the layup set up by Frank Aker | 53-51 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| 00:38 | Ohio State | Philip Corson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 53-51 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | David Stoltzfus hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Gary Allshouse and he's hacked by James Thompson - foul #2 on James Thompson, team foul #11 | 53-53 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | David Stoltzfus misses the free throw | 53-53 |
| 00:21 | Ohio State | Philip Mance snags the defensive board | 53-53 |
| 00:00 | Ohio State | James Thompson lays it up and in | 55-53 |