| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Shaun Sampson (fresh) SG - Orval Gavin (fresh) SF - Daniel Peake (fresh) PF - James Allen (fresh) C - Gary Lyons (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - John Brigham (fresh) SG - Samuel Kardos (fresh) SF - James Bonilla (fresh) PF - Willy Thomas (fresh) C - Cory Henderson (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons 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 | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+1) | |
| 19:42 | Northern Illinois University | Samuel Kardos picks off the pass by Daniel Peake | 0-0 |
| 19:39 | Kent State | James Bonilla banks in the layup set up by Samuel Kardos | 0-2 |
| 19:25 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Peake can't connect on a shot from close range | 0-2 |
| 19:24 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons grabs the offensive board | 0-2 |
| 19:11 | Northern Illinois University | Samuel Kardos is called for the reach on Daniel Peake - foul #1 on Samuel Kardos, team foul #1 | 0-2 |
| 18:58 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Peake is hacked by James Bonilla - foul #1 on James Bonilla, team foul #2 | 0-2 |
| 18:39 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Peake is called for a charge - foul #1 on Daniel Peake, team foul #1 | 0-2 |
| 18:17 | Kent State | John Brigham misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 0-2 |
| 18:15 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen grabs the board | 0-2 |
| 18:09 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson scores on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing set up by Daniel Peake | 2-2 |
| 17:43 | Kent State | Samuel Kardos can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 2-2 |
| 17:41 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Peake snags the defensive board | 2-2 |
| 17:36 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 2-2 |
| 17:34 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen snags the offensive board | 2-2 |
| 17:21 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons misses short on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 2-2 |
| 17:20 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen hits the follow up shot | 4-2 |
| 17:01 | Kent State | Samuel Kardos misses long on a floater from the right wing | 4-2 |
| 16:59 | Kent State | James Bonilla misses the tip | 4-2 |
| 16:57 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons grabs the defensive rebound | 4-2 |
| 16:53 | Northern Illinois University | Orval Gavin clanks a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 4-2 |
| 16:52 | Kent State | Cory Henderson gets the rebound | 4-2 |
| 16:34 | Kent State | Cory Henderson knocks in the floater from the baseline on a nice dish by Samuel Kardos | 4-4 |
| 16:10 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons misses short on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Samuel Kardos - foul #2 on Samuel Kardos, team foul #3 | 4-4 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | James Shaw (PG), John Packard (SG), Melvin Parker (PF) Shaun Sampson, Orval Gavin, James Allen | |
| Subs | Kent State | Erik Turnbull (SG), Kyle Wheeler (PF) Samuel Kardos, Willy Thomas | |
| 16:10 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons makes the 1st free throw | 5-4 |
| 16:10 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons makes the 2nd free throw | 6-4 |
| 15:43 | Kent State | The short jumper by James Bonilla is denied by Melvin Parker | 6-4 |
| 15:42 | Kent State | Cory Henderson tips it home | 6-6 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - James Shaw (fresh) SG - John Packard (fresh) SF - Daniel Peake (fresh) PF - Melvin Parker (fresh) C - Gary Lyons (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - John Brigham (fairly fresh) SG - Erik Turnbull (fresh) SF - James Bonilla (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Kyle Wheeler (fresh) C - Cory Henderson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 15:36 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Peake comes up short on the 3 from straight away | 6-6 |
| 15:34 | Kent State | Cory Henderson pulls down the rebound | 6-6 |
| 15:05 | Kent State | James Bonilla hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 6-6 |
| 15:03 | Northern Illinois University | James Shaw snags the defensive board | 6-6 |
| 14:36 | Northern Illinois University | James Shaw loses the dribble to James Bonilla | 6-6 |
| 14:12 | Kent State | Gary Lyons takes the ball from John Brigham | 6-6 |
| 13:45 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Peake scores on a 3pt attempt from the right wing set up by John Packard | 9-6 |
| 13:18 | Kent State | James Bonilla hits a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 9-9 |
| 12:49 | Northern Illinois University | John Packard misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 9-9 |
| 12:47 | Kent State | James Bonilla pulls down the rebound | 9-9 |
| 12:42 | Kent State | John Brigham is fouled in the backcourt by John Packard - foul #1 on John Packard, team foul #2 | 9-9 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson (PG), Orval Gavin (SG), James Allen (PF), Shawn Cornette (C) James Shaw, Daniel Peake, Melvin Parker, Gary Lyons | |
| Subs | Kent State | Mark Green (PG), Donald Cromer (SG), Willy Thomas (PF), Raymond Degen (C) John Brigham, Erik Turnbull, Kyle Wheeler, Cory Henderson | |
| 12:21 | Kent State | Mark Green misses long on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 9-9 |
| 12:19 | Kent State | Raymond Degen pulls down the offensive rebound | 9-9 |
| 11:52 | Kent State | Donald Cromer misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 9-9 |
| 11:51 | Kent State | Raymond Degen pulls down the offensive rebound | 9-9 |
| 11:29 | Kent State | James Bonilla misses badly on a jumper from the left block | 9-9 |
| 11:27 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen grabs the defensive rebound | 9-9 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Shaun Sampson (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Orval Gavin (fresh) SF - John Packard (fairly fresh) PF - James Allen (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Shawn Cornette (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Mark Green (fresh) SG - Donald Cromer (fresh) SF - James Bonilla (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Willy Thomas (fresh) C - Raymond Degen (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 11:23 | Northern Illinois University | John Packard buries a turnaround in the paint on a great pass from James Allen and he's fouled by James Bonilla - foul #2 on James Bonilla, team foul #4 | 11-9 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Melvin Parker (C) Shawn Cornette | |
| Subs | Kent State | Erik Turnbull (SG), Kyle Wheeler (SF) Donald Cromer, James Bonilla | |
| 11:23 | Northern Illinois University | John Packard makes the free throw | 12-9 |
| 11:07 | Kent State | Raymond Degen makes the driving attempt in the lane on a nice dish by Mark Green | 12-11 |
| 10:53 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 12-11 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | William Lundy (SF) John Packard | |
| Subs | Kent State | | |
| 10:38 | Kent State | Erik Turnbull misses long on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 12-11 |
| 10:36 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen grabs the board | 12-11 |
| 10:29 | Northern Illinois University | Raymond Degen denies the turnaround by Orval Gavin | 12-11 |
| 10:28 | Kent State | Kyle Wheeler grabs the defensive rebound | 12-11 |
| 10:05 | Kent State | Erik Turnbull connects on the floater in the lane on a great pass from Raymond Degen | 12-13 |
| 09:48 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson is alone and drills a floater from the left wing | 14-13 |
| 09:35 | Kent State | Kyle Wheeler misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 14-13 |
| 09:34 | Northern Illinois University | Orval Gavin grabs the board | 14-13 |
| 09:27 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson is hacked by Kyle Wheeler - foul #1 on Kyle Wheeler, team foul #5 | 14-13 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Peake (SF), Shawn Cornette (PF), Gary Lyons (C) William Lundy, James Allen, Melvin Parker | |
| Subs | Kent State | John Brigham (PG), Donald Cromer (SG), Cory Henderson (C) Mark Green, Kyle Wheeler, Raymond Degen | |
| 09:15 | Northern Illinois University | Orval Gavin comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 14-13 |
| 09:14 | Kent State | Willy Thomas gets the rebound | 14-13 |
| 08:51 | Kent State | Donald Cromer is hacked by Gary Lyons - foul #1 on Gary Lyons, team foul #3 | 14-13 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | James Shaw (PG), John Packard (SG) Shaun Sampson, Orval Gavin | |
| Subs | Kent State | | |
| 08:34 | Kent State | John Brigham hits a 3 from the left wing set up by Willy Thomas | 14-16 |
| 08:13 | Northern Illinois University | Cory Henderson takes the ball from Gary Lyons | 14-16 |
| 07:45 | Kent State | Donald Cromer loses the ball out of bounds | 14-16 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson (PG), Orval Gavin (SG), James Allen (PF) James Shaw, John Packard, Shawn Cornette | |
| Subs | Kent State | Mark Green (SG), Kyle Wheeler (SF), Raymond Degen (PF) Donald Cromer, Erik Turnbull, Willy Thomas | |
| 07:24 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons misses the jumper in the paint | 14-16 |
| 07:23 | Kent State | Raymond Degen snags the defensive board | 14-16 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Shaun Sampson (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Orval Gavin (fresh) SF - Daniel Peake (fresh) 3 pts. PF - James Allen (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. C - Gary Lyons (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - John Brigham (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Mark Green (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Kyle Wheeler (fresh) PF - Raymond Degen (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Cory Henderson (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 07:05 | Kent State | Raymond Degen is called for the illegal screen - foul #1 on Raymond Degen, team foul #6 | 14-16 |
| 06:57 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons is fouled on the floor by Cory Henderson - foul #1 on Cory Henderson, team foul #7 | 14-16 |
| 06:57 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons makes the 1st free throw | 15-16 |
| 06:57 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons makes the 2nd free throw | 16-16 |
| 06:29 | Kent State | Kyle Wheeler misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 16-16 |
| 06:28 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Peake grabs the defensive rebound | 16-16 |
| 06:24 | Northern Illinois University | Orval Gavin drills a runner from close range set up by Shaun Sampson | 18-16 |
| 06:03 | Kent State | Cory Henderson misses the floater from just outside the lane but the foul's on Daniel Peake - foul #2 on Daniel Peake, team foul #4 | 18-16 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | James Shaw (PG), John Packard (SF), Melvin Parker (C) Shaun Sampson, Daniel Peake, Gary Lyons | |
| Subs | Kent State | Donald Cromer (PG), Erik Turnbull (SG) John Brigham, Mark Green | |
| 06:03 | Kent State | Cory Henderson makes the 1st free throw | 18-17 |
| 06:03 | Kent State | Cory Henderson makes the 2nd free throw | 18-18 |
| 05:52 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen clanks a 3 pointer from the left corner | 18-18 |
| 05:50 | Northern Illinois University | John Packard gets the offensive rebound | 18-18 |
| 05:42 | Northern Illinois University | Melvin Parker is wide open but clanks a 3 from straight away | 18-18 |
| 05:41 | Kent State | Cory Henderson grabs the board | 18-18 |
| 05:21 | Kent State | Donald Cromer misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 18-18 |
| 05:20 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Melvin Parker | 18-18 |
| 05:15 | Northern Illinois University | James Shaw buries a 3 from the right wing on a nice dish by James Allen | 21-18 |
| 04:55 | Kent State | Orval Gavin is called for the reach on Donald Cromer - foul #1 on Orval Gavin, team foul #5 | 21-18 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson (PG) Orval Gavin | |
| Subs | Kent State | John Brigham (PG), Willy Thomas (PF), Lee Mantz (C) Kyle Wheeler, Raymond Degen, Cory Henderson | |
| 04:41 | Kent State | Lee Mantz scores on a jump hook from close range | 21-20 |
| 04:36 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson is fouled on the floor by Donald Cromer - foul #1 on Donald Cromer, team foul #8 | 21-20 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons (C) James Allen | |
| Subs | Kent State | Mark Green (SG) Donald Cromer | |
| 04:36 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson makes the 1st free throw | 22-20 |
| 04:36 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson makes the 2nd free throw | 23-20 |
| 04:13 | Kent State | Willy Thomas is hacked by John Packard - foul #2 on John Packard, team foul #6 | 23-20 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | William Lundy (SF) John Packard | |
| Subs | Kent State | | |
| 03:53 | Kent State | Mark Green buries a 3pt shot from the left wing on a great pass from Erik Turnbull | 23-23 |
| 03:47 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 23-23 |
| 03:46 | Northern Illinois University | Melvin Parker hits the follow up shot | 25-23 |
| 03:19 | Kent State | Mark Green hits a 3pt jumper from the left wing on a great pass from John Brigham | 25-26 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Shaun Sampson (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - James Shaw (fresh) 3 pts. SF - William Lundy (fresh) PF - Melvin Parker (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Gary Lyons (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - John Brigham (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Mark Green (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Erik Turnbull (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Willy Thomas (fresh) C - Lee Mantz (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 02:56 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons drills a floater from the right side on a great pass from James Shaw | 27-26 |
| 02:28 | Kent State | John Brigham misses short on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 27-26 |
| 02:26 | Northern Illinois University | Gary Lyons gets the rebound | 27-26 |
| 02:21 | Northern Illinois University | William Lundy drills a 3 pointer from straight away on a nice dish by Shaun Sampson | 30-26 |
| 02:01 | Kent State | John Brigham hits a 3 pointer from the right wing set up by Erik Turnbull | 30-29 |
| 01:44 | Northern Illinois University | William Lundy misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 30-29 |
| 01:43 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Gary Lyons | 30-29 |
| 01:26 | Northern Illinois University | Shaun Sampson travels with the ball | 30-29 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Orval Gavin (SG), Daniel Peake (SF), James Allen (PF), Shawn Cornette (C) Shaun Sampson, James Shaw, Melvin Parker, Gary Lyons | |
| Subs | Kent State | Donald Cromer (PG), Samuel Kardos (SG), James Bonilla (SF), Kyle Wheeler (PF), Cory Henderson (C) John Brigham, Mark Green, Erik Turnbull, Willy Thomas, Lee Mantz | |
| 00:57 | Kent State | James Bonilla hits a shot from the right side on a nice dish by Donald Cromer | 30-31 |
| 00:44 | Northern Illinois University | Orval Gavin is hacked by Samuel Kardos - foul #3 on Samuel Kardos, team foul #9 | 30-31 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Frank Harris (PG) William Lundy | |
| Subs | Kent State | Erik Turnbull (SG) Samuel Kardos | |
| 00:44 | Northern Illinois University | Orval Gavin makes the 1st free throw | 31-31 |
| 00:44 | Northern Illinois University | Orval Gavin makes the 2nd free throw | 32-31 |
| 00:34 | Kent State | Erik Turnbull misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 32-31 |
| 00:32 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Harris pulls down the rebound | 32-31 |
| 00:25 | Northern Illinois University | Erik Turnbull is called for the reach on James Allen - foul #1 on Erik Turnbull, team foul #10 | 32-31 |
| 00:25 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen makes the 1st free throw | 33-31 |
| 00:25 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen misses the 2nd free throw | 33-31 |
| 00:25 | Kent State | Kyle Wheeler pulls down the rebound | 33-31 |
| 00:05 | Kent State | Erik Turnbull misses badly on a shot near the basket but the foul's on Orval Gavin - foul #2 on Orval Gavin, team foul #7 | 33-31 |
| 00:05 | Kent State | Erik Turnbull misses the 1st free throw | 33-31 |
| 00:05 | Kent State | Erik Turnbull makes the 2nd free throw | 33-32 |
| 00:01 | Northern Illinois University | James Allen misses short on a driving attempt in the paint | 33-32 |
| 00:00 | Northern Illinois University | The clock runs out | 33-32 |