| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Zachary Zmek (fresh) 5 pts. SG - John Wade (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Richard Kump (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Zachary Shepard (fresh) 4 pts. 2 blk. C - Corey Twomey (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ruben Mauricio (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Richard Cook (fresh) 10 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Robert Williams (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. PF - John Matthews (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. C - Ronald Lacey (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Ohio State | Richard Kump inbounds the ball | 31-33 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:31 | Ohio State | Corey Twomey misses long on a shot from the free throw line | 31-33 |
| 19:30 | Illinois | John Matthews snags the defensive board | 31-33 |
| 19:06 | Illinois | Richard Cook splits the doubleteam and buries a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 31-36 |
| 19:04 | Ohio State | Richard Cook steps in front of the Zachary Zmek pass in the backcourt | 31-36 |
| 19:01 | Illinois | Richard Cook dunks the ball | 31-38 |
| 18:38 | Ohio State | Richard Cook steals the ball from Zachary Shepard | 31-38 |
| 18:20 | Illinois | Richard Cook misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 31-38 |
| 18:18 | Ohio State | Corey Twomey grabs the board | 31-38 |
| 18:06 | Ohio State | John Wade misses the lay-in over the doubleteam | 31-38 |
| 18:04 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Robert Williams | 31-38 |
| 17:43 | Illinois | Robert Williams can't connect on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 31-38 |
| 17:42 | Ohio State | Corey Twomey gets the rebound | 31-38 |
| 17:23 | Ohio State | Corey Twomey comes up short on the floater from the right side but the foul's on Ronald Lacey - foul #2 on Ronald Lacey, team foul #1 | 31-38 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Brandon Stevens (SG) Zachary Zmek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Allan Reese (C) Ronald Lacey | |
| 17:23 | Ohio State | Corey Twomey makes the 1st free throw | 32-38 |
| 17:23 | Ohio State | Corey Twomey makes the 2nd free throw | 33-38 |
| 16:57 | Illinois | Robert Williams loses the ball out of bounds | 33-38 |
| Subs | Ohio State | James Stuart (PF), Raymond Johnson (C) Zachary Shepard, Corey Twomey | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ricky Wright (PG) Ruben Mauricio | |
| 16:43 | Ohio State | Brandon Stevens loses the ball out of bounds | 33-38 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Charles Stewart (PG) John Wade | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dennis Moore (SF) Robert Williams | |
| 16:37 | Illinois | Ricky Wright is fouled in the backcourt by Charles Stewart - foul #1 on Charles Stewart, team foul #1 | 33-38 |
| 16:22 | Illinois | Charles Stewart takes the ball from Allan Reese | 33-38 |
| 16:18 | Ohio State | Brandon Stevens lays it in set up by Charles Stewart | 35-38 |
| 15:58 | Illinois | John Matthews drills a 3 pointer from the right corner on a great pass from Dennis Moore | 35-41 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Charles Stewart (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - Brandon Stevens (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Richard Kump (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - James Stuart (fresh) 6 pts. C - Raymond Johnson (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ricky Wright (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Richard Cook (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 2 ast. 4 stl. SF - Dennis Moore (fresh) 5 pts. PF - John Matthews (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. C - Allan Reese (fresh) | |
| 15:36 | Ohio State | Charles Stewart is called for a moving pick - foul #2 on Charles Stewart, team foul #2 | 35-41 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek (PG), John Wade (SG), Floyd Hardy (SF), Zachary Shepard (PF) Charles Stewart, Brandon Stevens, Richard Kump, James Stuart | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ruben Mauricio (PG), David Hollier (SG), Robert Williams (SF), Brock Lozada (PF), Ronald Lacey (C) Ricky Wright, Richard Cook, Dennis Moore, John Matthews, Allan Reese | |
| 15:14 | Illinois | Brock Lozada can't finish the layup | 35-41 |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Ronald Lacey tips it but misses | 35-41 |
| 15:10 | Ohio State | The rebound goes to Raymond Johnson | 35-41 |
| 14:59 | Ohio State | John Wade makes the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 38-41 |
| 14:30 | Illinois | Brock Lozada misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 38-41 |
| 14:29 | Illinois | Brock Lozada snags the offensive board | 38-41 |
| 14:12 | Illinois | Robert Williams makes the 3 from the right wing on a nice dish by Ronald Lacey | 38-44 |
| 14:08 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek is fouled in the backcourt by Ruben Mauricio - foul #3 on Ruben Mauricio, team foul #2 | 38-44 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Richard Kump (SF), Corey Twomey (C) Floyd Hardy, Raymond Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Cook (SG), John Matthews (PF), Allan Reese (C) David Hollier, Brock Lozada, Ronald Lacey | |
| 13:50 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard misses the runner near the basket | 38-44 |
| 13:49 | Ohio State | Corey Twomey can't tip it in | 38-44 |
| 13:47 | Illinois | John Matthews pulls down the rebound | 38-44 |
| 13:20 | Illinois | Richard Cook shoots over the doubleteam and knocks in the 3pt shot from straight away on a great pass from Robert Williams | 38-47 |
| 13:05 | Ohio State | John Wade shoots over the doubleteam and knocks in the 3pt shot from the right wing set up by Zachary Shepard | 41-47 |
| 12:43 | Illinois | Richard Cook evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 41-47 |
| 12:42 | Ohio State | The rebound goes to Richard Kump | 41-47 |
| 12:36 | Ohio State | John Wade loses the ball out of bounds | 41-47 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Charles Stewart (PG), Brandon Stevens (SG), James Stuart (PF) Zachary Zmek, John Wade, Zachary Shepard | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ricky Wright (PG), Dennis Moore (SF), Ronald Lacey (C) Ruben Mauricio, Robert Williams, Allan Reese | |
| 12:13 | Illinois | Ronald Lacey throws a bad pass out of bounds | 41-47 |
| 11:57 | Ohio State | Brandon Stevens scores on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 44-47 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Charles Stewart (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - Brandon Stevens (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Richard Kump (fresh) 3 reb. PF - James Stuart (fresh) 6 pts. C - Corey Twomey (fresh) 8 pts. 8 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ricky Wright (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Richard Cook (fresh) 18 pts. 2 ast. 4 stl. SF - Dennis Moore (fresh) 5 pts. PF - John Matthews (fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. C - Ronald Lacey (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:39 | Illinois | James Stuart picks off the pass by Richard Cook | 44-47 |
| 11:30 | Ohio State | Ricky Wright is called for the reach on Charles Stewart - foul #1 on Ricky Wright, team foul #3 | 44-47 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Raymond Johnson (C) Corey Twomey | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 11:18 | Ohio State | James Stuart misses the lay-in but the foul's on John Matthews - foul #2 on John Matthews, team foul #4 | 44-47 |
| Subs | Ohio State | John Wade (PG) Charles Stewart | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ruben Mauricio (PG), David Hollier (SG), Robert Williams (SF) Ricky Wright, Richard Cook, Dennis Moore | |
| 11:18 | Ohio State | James Stuart makes the 1st free throw | 45-47 |
| 11:18 | Ohio State | James Stuart makes the 2nd free throw | 46-47 |
| 11:00 | Illinois | John Matthews travels with the ball | 46-47 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek (PG), Zachary Shepard (PF) Brandon Stevens, James Stuart | |
| Subs | Illinois | Allan Reese (C) Ronald Lacey | |
| 10:48 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard misses long on a jumpshot from the right side | 46-47 |
| 10:47 | Illinois | The rebound goes to John Matthews | 46-47 |
| 10:33 | Illinois | David Hollier misses short on a shot from the left wing | 46-47 |
| 10:31 | Ohio State | Raymond Johnson pulls down the rebound | 46-47 |
| 10:04 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 46-47 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Floyd Hardy (SF), Corey Twomey (C) Richard Kump, Raymond Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Cook (SG), Brock Lozada (PF) David Hollier, John Matthews | |
| 09:37 | Illinois | Floyd Hardy steals the ball from Brock Lozada | 46-47 |
| 09:16 | Ohio State | Allan Reese denies the turnaround by Floyd Hardy | 46-47 |
| 09:14 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ruben Mauricio | 46-47 |
| 08:57 | Illinois | Richard Cook can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 46-47 |
| 08:55 | Ohio State | Corey Twomey gets the rebound | 46-47 |
| 08:34 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the right side but the foul's on Brock Lozada - foul #2 on Brock Lozada, team foul #5 | 46-47 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Charles Stewart (PG), Brandon Stevens (SG), Richard Kump (SF) Zachary Zmek, John Wade, Floyd Hardy | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ricky Wright (PG), Dennis Moore (SF), John Matthews (PF), Ronald Lacey (C) Ruben Mauricio, Robert Williams, Brock Lozada, Allan Reese | |
| 08:34 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard makes the 1st free throw | 47-47 |
| 08:34 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard makes the 2nd free throw | 48-47 |
| 08:07 | Illinois | Ronald Lacey is alone and drills a jump hook from the left block on a nice dish by Ricky Wright | 48-49 |
| 07:54 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard banks in the layup set up by Charles Stewart | 50-49 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Charles Stewart (fresh) 3 pts. 4 ast. SG - Brandon Stevens (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Richard Kump (fresh) 3 reb. PF - Zachary Shepard (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 blk. C - Corey Twomey (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 9 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ricky Wright (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Richard Cook (fresh) 18 pts. 2 ast. 4 stl. SF - Dennis Moore (fresh) 5 pts. PF - John Matthews (fresh) 10 pts. 5 reb. C - Ronald Lacey (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:41 | Illinois | Dennis Moore hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the right wing | 50-49 |
| 07:39 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard pulls down the rebound | 50-49 |
| 07:21 | Ohio State | Charles Stewart misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 50-49 |
| 07:19 | Illinois | Ronald Lacey gets the rebound | 50-49 |
| 06:54 | Illinois | Richard Cook shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 50-49 |
| 06:52 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard pulls down the rebound | 50-49 |
| 06:33 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard comes up short on the shot from the left side | 50-49 |
| 06:31 | Illinois | Ronald Lacey grabs the board | 50-49 |
| 06:25 | Illinois | John Matthews drills a jumper in the paint on a great pass from Ricky Wright | 50-51 |
| 06:08 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard makes the jumpshot from the free throw line | 52-51 |
| 05:45 | Illinois | Richard Kump takes the ball from Ricky Wright | 52-51 |
| 05:40 | Ohio State | Brandon Stevens dunks the ball on a nice dish by Richard Kump | 54-51 |
| 05:40 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 54-51 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek (PG), John Wade (SG), James Stuart (PF), Raymond Johnson (C) Charles Stewart, Brandon Stevens, Zachary Shepard, Corey Twomey | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ruben Mauricio (PG), Robert Williams (SF) Ricky Wright, Dennis Moore | |
| 05:13 | Illinois | Richard Cook shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 54-51 |
| 05:12 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek grabs the board | 54-51 |
| 05:03 | Ohio State | John Wade misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 54-51 |
| 05:01 | Ohio State | James Stuart pulls down the offensive rebound | 54-51 |
| 04:52 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek misses short on a driving attempt from close range | 54-51 |
| 04:51 | Illinois | John Matthews snags the defensive board | 54-51 |
| 04:33 | Illinois | Richard Cook connects on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 54-54 |
| 04:10 | Ohio State | Raymond Johnson comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 54-54 |
| 04:08 | Ohio State | Richard Kump tips it in | 56-54 |
| 03:48 | Illinois | Richard Cook shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 56-54 |
| 03:46 | Ohio State | Raymond Johnson pulls down the rebound | 56-54 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Zachary Zmek (fresh) 5 pts. SG - John Wade (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Richard Kump (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. PF - James Stuart (fresh) 8 pts. C - Raymond Johnson (fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ruben Mauricio (fresh) 3 ast. 3 pf. SG - Richard Cook (fairly fresh) 21 pts. 2 ast. 4 stl. SF - Robert Williams (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - John Matthews (fresh) 12 pts. 6 reb. C - Ronald Lacey (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 03:33 | Ohio State | John Wade clanks a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 56-54 |
| 03:32 | Illinois | Ronald Lacey pulls down the rebound | 56-54 |
| 03:12 | Illinois | John Matthews hits a wide open 3pt jumper from the right corner on a nice dish by Ruben Mauricio | 56-57 |
| 03:01 | Ohio State | Richard Kump misses badly on the uncontested 3pt jumper from the left wing | 56-57 |
| 03:00 | Ohio State | James Stuart hits the follow up shot | 58-57 |
| 02:32 | Illinois | John Matthews clanks a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 58-57 |
| 02:30 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek grabs the board | 58-57 |
| 02:30 | Ohio State | Ohio State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 58-57 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard (PF), Corey Twomey (C) James Stuart, Raymond Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Allan Reese (C) Ronald Lacey | |
| 02:02 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard misses the floater from the free throw line | 58-57 |
| 02:01 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek hits the follow up shot | 60-57 |
| 01:37 | Illinois | Robert Williams clanks a 3 from the right wing | 60-57 |
| 01:36 | Ohio State | John Wade grabs the board | 60-57 |
| 01:18 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek misses badly on a floater from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Richard Cook - foul #1 on Richard Cook, team foul #6 | 60-57 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ronald Lacey (C) Allan Reese | |
| 01:18 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek makes the 1st free throw | 61-57 |
| 01:18 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek makes the 2nd free throw | 62-57 |
| 00:55 | Illinois | Ronald Lacey is open and buries a driving attempt in the lane set up by Richard Cook out of the doubleteam | 62-59 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:35 | Ohio State | Richard Kump is fouled on the floor by John Matthews - foul #3 on John Matthews, team foul #7 | 62-59 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Kenneth Gent (PF) Zachary Shepard | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:35 | Ohio State | Richard Kump makes the 1st free throw | 63-59 |
| 00:35 | Ohio State | Richard Kump makes the 2nd free throw | 64-59 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Kenneth Gent is called for the reach on Ruben Mauricio - foul #1 on Kenneth Gent, team foul #3 | 64-59 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard (PF) Kenneth Gent | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:27 | Illinois | John Matthews knocks in the runner from close range | 64-61 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:26 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek is hacked by Ruben Mauricio in the backcourt - foul #4 on Ruben Mauricio, team foul #8 | 64-61 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Kenneth Gent (PF) Zachary Shepard | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:26 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek makes the 1st free throw | 65-61 |
| 00:26 | Ohio State | Zachary Zmek makes the 2nd free throw | 66-61 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | John Wade takes the ball from Richard Cook | 66-61 |
| 00:18 | Ohio State | Richard Kump lays it up and in set up by John Wade | 68-61 |
| 00:12 | Illinois | Robert Williams scores on a 3 from straight away | 68-64 |
| 00:10 | Ohio State | Richard Kump is hacked by Richard Cook in the backcourt - foul #2 on Richard Cook, team foul #9 | 68-64 |
| 00:10 | Ohio State | Richard Kump makes the 1st free throw | 69-64 |
| 00:10 | Ohio State | Richard Kump makes the 2nd free throw | 70-64 |
| 00:04 | Illinois | Kenneth Gent is called for the reach on Ruben Mauricio - foul #2 on Kenneth Gent, team foul #4 | 70-64 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard (PF) Kenneth Gent | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:02 | Illinois | John Matthews misses short on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 70-64 |
| 00:00 | Ohio State | Zachary Shepard gets the rebound | 70-64 |