| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Adrian Mendenhall (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Arnold Cogan (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Gary Howard (fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Griffith (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Henry Teachout (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth McCarren (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Hankerson (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Steve Ward (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Mark Atkinson (fresh) 3 pf. C - Brian Hunter (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward inbounds the ball | 29-36 |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:35 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren is denied on a dunk by John Griffith | 29-36 |
| 19:33 | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward hits the follow up shot | 29-38 |
| 19:19 | Kent State | John Griffith misses long on a jumpshot from the right wing | 29-38 |
| 19:17 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren gets the rebound | 29-38 |
| 19:03 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Atkinson misses the lay-in but the foul's on Adrian Mendenhall - foul #2 on Adrian Mendenhall, team foul #1 | 29-38 |
| 19:03 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Atkinson misses the 1st free throw | 29-38 |
| 19:03 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Atkinson misses the 2nd free throw | 29-38 |
| 19:03 | Kent State | John Griffith snags the defensive board | 29-38 |
| 18:58 | Kent State | John Hankerson is called for the reach on Arnold Cogan - foul #3 on John Hankerson, team foul #1 | 29-38 |
| 18:39 | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall misses badly on a shot from the left wing but the foul's on Kenneth McCarren - foul #1 on Kenneth McCarren, team foul #2 | 29-38 |
| 18:39 | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall makes the 1st free throw | 30-38 |
| 18:39 | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall misses the 2nd free throw | 30-38 |
| 18:39 | Northern Illinois University | Brian Hunter gets the rebound | 30-38 |
| 18:20 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Howard blocks the jumper by John Hankerson | 30-38 |
| 18:19 | Kent State | The rebound goes to John Griffith | 30-38 |
| 18:11 | Kent State | John Griffith lays it in set up by Adrian Mendenhall | 32-38 |
| 17:50 | Northern Illinois University | Henry Teachout blocks the short jumper by Kenneth McCarren | 32-38 |
| 17:48 | Kent State | Henry Teachout snags the defensive board | 32-38 |
| 17:33 | Kent State | John Griffith comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 32-38 |
| 17:32 | Kent State | John Griffith grabs the offensive rebound | 32-38 |
| 17:21 | Kent State | Kenneth McCarren steps in front of the John Griffith pass | 32-38 |
| 17:18 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren blows the layup | 32-38 |
| 17:17 | Kent State | John Griffith pulls down the rebound | 32-38 |
| 17:01 | Kent State | Henry Teachout is called for traveling | 32-38 |
| Subs | Kent State | William Purvis (PG), Fred Hillhouse (SG), Donald Hampton (PF) Adrian Mendenhall, Arnold Cogan, John Griffith | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Peter Hines (SG), Charles Whitten (SF), Jessie Zuercher (PF), Jeffrey King (C) John Hankerson, Steve Ward, Mark Atkinson, Brian Hunter | |
| 16:33 | Northern Illinois University | Peter Hines buries a shot from the right wing | 32-40 |
| 16:08 | Kent State | Fred Hillhouse comes up short on the shot from the free throw line but he's hacked by Jeffrey King - foul #1 on Jeffrey King, team foul #3 | 32-40 |
| Subs | Kent State | Danny Axford (SF), Nelson Collins (C) Gary Howard, Henry Teachout | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Tom Holt (PG) Kenneth McCarren | |
| 16:08 | Kent State | Fred Hillhouse makes the 1st free throw | 33-40 |
| 16:08 | Kent State | Fred Hillhouse makes the 2nd free throw | 34-40 |
| 15:43 | Northern Illinois University | Jessie Zuercher's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 34-40 |
| Subs | Kent State | John Griffith (PF) Nelson Collins | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson (SG), Brian Hunter (C) Charles Whitten, Jeffrey King | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - William Purvis (fresh) SG - Fred Hillhouse (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Danny Axford (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - John Griffith (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. C - Donald Hampton (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Tom Holt (fresh) 6 pts. SG - John Hankerson (fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. SF - Peter Hines (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Jessie Zuercher (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. C - Brian Hunter (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 15:31 | Kent State | Donald Hampton's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 34-40 |
| Subs | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall (PG) Fred Hillhouse | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward (SF), Mark Atkinson (PF) Peter Hines, Jessie Zuercher | |
| 15:15 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson throws a bad pass out of bounds | 34-40 |
| Subs | Kent State | Arnold Cogan (SG), Henry Teachout (C) William Purvis, Donald Hampton | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 15:07 | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 34-40 |
| 15:06 | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward gets the rebound | 34-40 |
| 14:37 | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward's floater is tipped away by Henry Teachout | 34-40 |
| 14:36 | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall grabs the board | 34-40 |
| 14:18 | Kent State | Arnold Cogan is whistled for traveling | 34-40 |
| Subs | Kent State | Gary Howard (SF), Donald Hampton (PF) Danny Axford, John Griffith | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren (PG) Tom Holt | |
| 13:54 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren scores on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 34-42 |
| 13:42 | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall comes up short on the 3 from the left wing | 34-42 |
| 13:40 | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward snags the defensive board | 34-42 |
| 13:20 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson is hacked by Arnold Cogan - foul #2 on Arnold Cogan, team foul #2 | 34-42 |
| Subs | Kent State | William Purvis (PG), Fred Hillhouse (SG), John Griffith (PF) Adrian Mendenhall, Arnold Cogan, Henry Teachout | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Peter Hines (SG), Charles Whitten (SF), Jessie Zuercher (PF), Jeffrey King (C) John Hankerson, Steve Ward, Mark Atkinson, Brian Hunter | |
| 12:55 | Northern Illinois University | Charles Whitten can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 34-42 |
| 12:54 | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey King can't tip it in | 34-42 |
| 12:52 | Kent State | Donald Hampton pulls down the rebound | 34-42 |
| 12:47 | Kent State | Gary Howard can't connect on a jumper from the right wing | 34-42 |
| 12:46 | Northern Illinois University | Jeffrey King pulls down the rebound | 34-42 |
| 12:18 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren misses the floater from the free throw line | 34-42 |
| 12:17 | Kent State | Donald Hampton grabs the board | 34-42 |
| 12:13 | Kent State | Gary Howard misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 34-42 |
| 12:12 | Northern Illinois University | Jessie Zuercher grabs the board | 34-42 |
| 11:57 | Northern Illinois University | John Griffith steals the ball from Peter Hines | 34-42 |
| 11:43 | Kent State | William Purvis connects on the pull-up jumper from the left side and he's fouled by Peter Hines - foul #2 on Peter Hines, team foul #4 | 36-42 |
| Subs | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall (PG), Henry Teachout (C) Fred Hillhouse, John Griffith | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson (SG), Brian Hunter (C) Charles Whitten, Jeffrey King | |
| 11:43 | Kent State | William Purvis makes the free throw | 37-42 |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Adrian Mendenhall (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SG - William Purvis (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Gary Howard (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Donald Hampton (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Henry Teachout (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth McCarren (fresh) 14 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Hankerson (fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. SF - Peter Hines (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Jessie Zuercher (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Brian Hunter (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 11:20 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren misses the easy layup | 37-42 |
| 11:19 | Kent State | Donald Hampton snags the defensive board | 37-42 |
| 11:06 | Kent State | Jessie Zuercher is called for the reach on Donald Hampton - foul #1 on Jessie Zuercher, team foul #5 | 37-42 |
| Subs | Kent State | Arnold Cogan (SG), Danny Axford (SF), Nelson Collins (PF) William Purvis, Gary Howard, Donald Hampton | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward (SF), Mark Atkinson (PF) Peter Hines, Jessie Zuercher | |
| 10:57 | Kent State | Nelson Collins can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 37-42 |
| 10:56 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren gets the rebound | 37-42 |
| 10:35 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren scores on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 37-45 |
| 10:11 | Kent State | Henry Teachout connects on the driving attempt from the baseline and he's fouled by Mark Atkinson - foul #4 on Mark Atkinson, team foul #6 | 39-45 |
| Subs | Kent State | William Purvis (PG), John Griffith (PF) Adrian Mendenhall, Nelson Collins | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Tom Holt (PG) Kenneth McCarren | |
| 10:11 | Kent State | Henry Teachout makes the free throw | 40-45 |
| 09:48 | Northern Illinois University | Tom Holt can't finish the layup but he's fouled by William Purvis - foul #3 on William Purvis, team foul #3 | 40-45 |
| Subs | Kent State | Gary Howard (SF) Danny Axford | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Jessie Zuercher (C) Brian Hunter | |
| 09:48 | Northern Illinois University | Tom Holt misses the 1st free throw | 40-45 |
| 09:48 | Northern Illinois University | Tom Holt misses the 2nd free throw | 40-45 |
| 09:48 | Kent State | Gary Howard pulls down the rebound | 40-45 |
| 09:32 | Kent State | Gary Howard double dribbles | 40-45 |
| Subs | Kent State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Peter Hines (SG) John Hankerson | |
| 09:10 | Northern Illinois University | Tom Holt misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 40-45 |
| 09:09 | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward tips it in | 40-47 |
| 08:55 | Kent State | Peter Hines is called for the reach on Arnold Cogan - foul #3 on Peter Hines, team foul #7 | 40-47 |
| Subs | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall (PG) William Purvis | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren (PG), Charles Whitten (SF), Jeffrey King (C) Tom Holt, Steve Ward, Mark Atkinson | |
| 08:55 | Kent State | Arnold Cogan makes the 1st free throw | 41-47 |
| 08:55 | Kent State | Arnold Cogan makes the 2nd free throw | 42-47 |
| 08:28 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren knocks in the 3 from the left wing | 42-50 |
| 08:07 | Kent State | Arnold Cogan misses badly on a fadeaway from the right wing | 42-50 |
| 08:06 | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall tips it back up and in | 44-50 |
| 07:40 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren can't connect on a jumper from the left side | 44-50 |
| 07:38 | Kent State | John Griffith grabs the defensive rebound | 44-50 |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Adrian Mendenhall (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SG - Arnold Cogan (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Gary Howard (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Griffith (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. C - Henry Teachout (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth McCarren (fresh) 20 pts. 1 ast. SG - Peter Hines (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Charles Whitten (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Jessie Zuercher (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Jeffrey King (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 07:18 | Kent State | Henry Teachout lays it up and in on a great pass from Adrian Mendenhall | 46-50 |
| 07:00 | Northern Illinois University | Peter Hines makes the floater from the left side | 46-52 |
| 06:44 | Kent State | Arnold Cogan misses short on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 46-52 |
| 06:43 | Northern Illinois University | Charles Whitten pulls down the rebound | 46-52 |
| 06:21 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren clanks a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 46-52 |
| 06:19 | Kent State | The rebound goes to Arnold Cogan | 46-52 |
| 06:13 | Kent State | Arnold Cogan is fouled on the floor by Peter Hines - foul #4 on Peter Hines, team foul #8 | 46-52 |
| Subs | Kent State | William Purvis (PG), Danny Axford (SF), Donald Hampton (PF), Nelson Collins (C) Adrian Mendenhall, Gary Howard, John Griffith, Henry Teachout | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Tom Holt (PG), John Hankerson (SG), Steve Ward (SF), Mark Atkinson (PF), Brian Hunter (C) Kenneth McCarren, Peter Hines, Charles Whitten, Jessie Zuercher, Jeffrey King | |
| 06:13 | Kent State | Arnold Cogan makes the 1st free throw | 47-52 |
| 06:13 | Kent State | Arnold Cogan makes the 2nd free throw | 48-52 |
| 05:44 | Northern Illinois University | Donald Hampton steals the ball from Steve Ward | 48-52 |
| 05:25 | Kent State | Nelson Collins loses the dribble to John Hankerson | 48-52 |
| 05:21 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson dunks the ball | 48-54 |
| 04:57 | Kent State | Nelson Collins hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway near the basket but the foul's on Brian Hunter - foul #3 on Brian Hunter, team foul #9 | 48-54 |
| Subs | Kent State | Fred Hillhouse (SG) Arnold Cogan | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren (PG) Tom Holt | |
| 04:57 | Kent State | Nelson Collins makes the 1st free throw | 49-54 |
| 04:57 | Kent State | Nelson Collins misses the 2nd free throw | 49-54 |
| 04:57 | Kent State | Danny Axford gets the offensive rebound | 49-54 |
| 04:43 | Kent State | Danny Axford misses long on a pull-up jumper from the right side | 49-54 |
| 04:41 | Kent State | Donald Hampton hits the follow up shot | 51-54 |
| 04:22 | Northern Illinois University | Danny Axford steals the ball from Steve Ward | 51-54 |
| 04:00 | Kent State | Steve Ward steals the ball from Danny Axford | 51-54 |
| 03:55 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 51-54 |
| 03:53 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson snags the offensive board | 51-54 |
| 03:37 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson clanks a floater from the free throw line | 51-54 |
| 03:36 | Northern Illinois University | Brian Hunter pulls down the offensive rebound | 51-54 |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - William Purvis (fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. SG - Fred Hillhouse (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Danny Axford (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. PF - Nelson Collins (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. C - Donald Hampton (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth McCarren (fresh) 20 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Hankerson (fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. SF - Steve Ward (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. PF - Mark Atkinson (fresh) 4 pf. C - Brian Hunter (fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 03:24 | Northern Illinois University | Fred Hillhouse steps in front of the John Hankerson pass | 51-54 |
| 03:24 | Kent State | Kent State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 51-54 |
| Subs | Kent State | Adrian Mendenhall (PG), Gary Howard (SF), John Griffith (PF), Henry Teachout (C) Fred Hillhouse, Danny Axford, Nelson Collins, Donald Hampton | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 03:09 | Kent State | Gary Howard makes the 3 pointer from the right wing | 54-54 |
| 02:50 | Northern Illinois University | Brian Hunter can't connect on a jumper from the left side | 54-54 |
| 02:48 | Kent State | William Purvis snags the defensive board | 54-54 |
| 02:28 | Kent State | Henry Teachout comes up short on the runner from the baseline | 54-54 |
| 02:26 | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward pulls down the rebound | 54-54 |
| 02:04 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson's pass is intercepted by John Griffith | 54-54 |
| 01:46 | Kent State | John Griffith hits a jumper near the basket and he's fouled by Steve Ward - foul #1 on Steve Ward, team foul #10 | 56-54 |
| Subs | Kent State | Arnold Cogan (SG) William Purvis | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 01:46 | Kent State | John Griffith makes the free throw | 57-54 |
| 01:35 | Northern Illinois University | Brian Hunter makes the driving attempt near the basket on a nice dish by Steve Ward and he's hacked by Henry Teachout - foul #2 on Henry Teachout, team foul #4 | 57-56 |
| 01:35 | Northern Illinois University | Brian Hunter misses the free throw | 57-56 |
| 01:35 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Steve Ward | 57-56 |
| 01:26 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson is fouled on the floor by Arnold Cogan - foul #3 on Arnold Cogan, team foul #5 | 57-56 |
| 01:14 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren hits the front of the rim on the turnaround from the baseline | 57-56 |
| 01:12 | Kent State | John Griffith pulls down the rebound | 57-56 |
| 01:08 | Kent State | Kenneth McCarren steals the ball from Gary Howard | 57-56 |
| 01:05 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson lays it in on a great pass from Kenneth McCarren | 57-58 |
| 00:50 | Kent State | Henry Teachout connects on the jump hook near the basket on a great pass from Adrian Mendenhall | 59-58 |
| 00:46 | Northern Illinois University | John Hankerson clanks a jumper from the free throw line | 59-58 |
| 00:44 | Kent State | Henry Teachout gets the rebound | 59-58 |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 00:15 | Kent State | Henry Teachout clanks a jump hook near the basket | 59-58 |
| 00:13 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Brian Hunter | 59-58 |
| 00:06 | Northern Illinois University | Steve Ward is fouled on the floor by John Griffith - foul #1 on John Griffith, team foul #6 | 59-58 |
| 00:01 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth McCarren blows the layup | 59-58 |
| 00:00 | Kent State | Henry Teachout gets the rebound | 59-58 |