| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Wesley Hanna (fresh) SG - Craig Seager (fresh) SF - Ray Shepard (fresh) PF - Thomas Greenwood (fresh) C - Frank Beyers (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Gilbert McIver (fresh) SG - John Lane (fresh) SF - Michael Barry (fresh) PF - Cody Belcher (fresh) C - Justin Smiley (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Central Michigan | Central Michigan is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+4) | |
| 19:45 | Northern Illinois University | John Lane is called for the reach on Ray Shepard - foul #1 on John Lane, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:29 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna clanks a 3 from the right corner | 0-0 |
| 19:28 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager grabs the offensive rebound | 0-0 |
| 19:11 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Justin Smiley - foul #1 on Justin Smiley, team foul #2 | 0-0 |
| 19:11 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna makes the 1st free throw | 1-0 |
| 19:11 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna makes the 2nd free throw | 2-0 |
| 18:52 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley makes the driving attempt from close range | 2-2 |
| 18:47 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager misses badly on the uncontested 3 pointer from the left corner | 2-2 |
| 18:45 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna tips it back up and in | 4-2 |
| 18:25 | Central Michigan | Frank Beyers swats the short shot by Justin Smiley | 4-2 |
| 18:24 | Northern Illinois University | Ray Shepard grabs the board | 4-2 |
| 18:15 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers hits the easy wide open finger roll set up by Ray Shepard out of the doubleteam | 6-2 |
| 18:05 | Central Michigan | Cody Belcher connects on the floater from the left block | 6-4 |
| 18:01 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna's pass is intercepted by John Lane in the backcourt | 6-4 |
| 17:52 | Central Michigan | Michael Barry is hacked by Ray Shepard - foul #1 on Ray Shepard, team foul #1 | 6-4 |
| 17:33 | Central Michigan | John Lane makes the pull-up jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Gilbert McIver | 6-6 |
| 17:13 | Northern Illinois University | Ray Shepard misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 6-6 |
| 17:11 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood tips it in | 8-6 |
| 17:01 | Central Michigan | Cody Belcher misses short on a floater from the left wing | 8-6 |
| 16:59 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager snags the defensive board | 8-6 |
| 16:53 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 8-6 |
| 16:52 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley pulls down the rebound | 8-6 |
| 16:35 | Central Michigan | Cody Belcher throws a bad pass out of bounds | 8-6 |
| 16:11 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna tries to split the doubleteam and is called for the offensive foul - foul #1 on Wesley Hanna, team foul #2 | 8-6 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda (SG), Dennis Weir (PF), Gerald Dean (C) Craig Seager, Thomas Greenwood, Frank Beyers | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 15:49 | Central Michigan | Michael Barry loses the dribble to Wesley Hanna | 8-6 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Wesley Hanna (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SG - Justin Seda (fresh) SF - Ray Shepard (fairly fresh) PF - Dennis Weir (fresh) C - Gerald Dean (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Gilbert McIver (fresh) 1 ast. SG - John Lane (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Michael Barry (fresh) PF - Cody Belcher (fresh) 2 pts. C - Justin Smiley (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 15:44 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda can't connect on a runner from the left block | 8-6 |
| 15:42 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley grabs the defensive rebound | 8-6 |
| 15:36 | Central Michigan | Gilbert McIver is fouled on the floor by Dennis Weir - foul #1 on Dennis Weir, team foul #3 | 8-6 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff (SG), Richard Sangster (SF) Wesley Hanna, Ray Shepard | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan (SG), Tony Davis (C) John Lane, Justin Smiley | |
| 15:28 | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 8-6 |
| 15:27 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff gets the rebound | 8-6 |
| 15:08 | Northern Illinois University | Gerald Dean's layup is rejected by Tony Davis | 8-6 |
| 15:06 | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir pulls down the offensive rebound | 8-6 |
| 14:55 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda makes the floater from the right block set up by Richard Sangster | 10-6 |
| 14:44 | Central Michigan | Cody Belcher double dribbles | 10-6 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager (SG), Thomas Greenwood (PF), Frank Beyers (C) Howard Ratliff, Dennis Weir, Gerald Dean | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Paul Lawrence (SF) Michael Barry | |
| 14:21 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager can't connect on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 10-6 |
| 14:20 | Central Michigan | Tony Davis gets the rebound | 10-6 |
| 14:02 | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan misses short on a 3 from the left corner | 10-6 |
| 14:00 | Central Michigan | The offensive rebound goes to Tony Davis | 10-6 |
| 13:45 | Central Michigan | Gilbert McIver misses short on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 10-6 |
| 13:43 | Central Michigan | Cody Belcher tips it back up and in | 10-8 |
| 13:21 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers drills a fadeaway from the baseline set up by Justin Seda | 12-8 |
| 13:05 | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan drills a 3pt shot from the left wing | 12-11 |
| 12:55 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda misses the shot in the lane but he's hacked by Cody Belcher - foul #1 on Cody Belcher, team foul #3 | 12-11 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna (PG), Ray Shepard (SF), Dennis Weir (PF) Craig Seager, Richard Sangster, Thomas Greenwood | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | John Lane (SG), Michael Barry (SF), Justin Smiley (C) Benjamin Homan, Paul Lawrence, Tony Davis | |
| 12:55 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda misses the 1st free throw | 12-11 |
| 12:55 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda makes the 2nd free throw | 13-11 |
| 12:48 | Central Michigan | Gilbert McIver connects on the driving attempt in the lane | 13-13 |
| 12:32 | Northern Illinois University | Ray Shepard splits the doubleteam and buries a 3pt attempt from the right wing set up by Frank Beyers | 16-13 |
| 12:12 | Central Michigan | Michael Barry misses badly on a jumpshot from the right side | 16-13 |
| 12:11 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda pulls down the rebound | 16-13 |
| 12:05 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Barry steps in front of the Ray Shepard pass as he passes out of a doubleteam | 16-13 |
| 11:44 | Central Michigan | Wesley Hanna steals it from Gilbert McIver | 16-13 |
| 11:39 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna lays it in | 18-13 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Wesley Hanna (fresh) 6 pts. 2 stl. SG - Justin Seda (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ray Shepard (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Dennis Weir (fresh) C - Frank Beyers (fairly fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Gilbert McIver (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Lane (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Michael Barry (fresh) PF - Cody Belcher (tiring) 4 pts. C - Justin Smiley (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:14 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley clanks a shot in the lane but the foul's on Wesley Hanna - foul #2 on Wesley Hanna, team foul #4 | 18-13 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager (PG), Howard Ratliff (SG), Thomas Greenwood (PF), Gerald Dean (C) Wesley Hanna, Justin Seda, Dennis Weir, Frank Beyers | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan (PG), Tony Davis (PF) Gilbert McIver, Cody Belcher | |
| 11:14 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley makes the 1st free throw | 18-14 |
| 11:14 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley makes the 2nd free throw | 18-15 |
| 10:59 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood misses badly on a driving attempt from close range but the foul's on Tony Davis - foul #1 on Tony Davis, team foul #4 | 18-15 |
| 10:59 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood makes the 1st free throw | 19-15 |
| 10:59 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood misses the 2nd free throw | 19-15 |
| 10:59 | Central Michigan | Tony Davis snags the defensive board | 19-15 |
| 10:37 | Central Michigan | Howard Ratliff picks off the pass by Benjamin Homan | 19-15 |
| 10:19 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 19-15 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Harold Beasley (SG), Wekesa Suleiman (C) John Lane, Justin Smiley | |
| 09:58 | Central Michigan | Michael Barry buries a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 19-17 |
| 09:39 | Northern Illinois University | Ray Shepard misses badly on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 19-17 |
| 09:37 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Craig Seager | 19-17 |
| 09:32 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff is called for traveling | 19-17 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster (SF) Ray Shepard | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Paul Lawrence (SF) Michael Barry | |
| 09:17 | Central Michigan | Harold Beasley is called for traveling | 19-17 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir (PF) Gerald Dean | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Gilbert McIver (PG), Cody Belcher (PF) Harold Beasley, Tony Davis | |
| 09:00 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager loses the dribble to Paul Lawrence | 19-17 |
| 08:52 | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 19-17 |
| 08:51 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood pulls down the rebound | 19-17 |
| 08:36 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 19-17 |
| 08:34 | Central Michigan | Wekesa Suleiman pulls down the rebound | 19-17 |
| 08:10 | Central Michigan | Cody Belcher loses the ball out of bounds | 19-17 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda (PG), Ray Shepard (SF), Frank Beyers (C) Howard Ratliff, Richard Sangster, Thomas Greenwood | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | John Lane (SG), Michael Barry (SF), Justin Smiley (C) Benjamin Homan, Paul Lawrence, Wekesa Suleiman | |
| 07:56 | Northern Illinois University | Ray Shepard makes the contested shot from the baseline | 21-17 |
| 07:34 | Central Michigan | Dennis Weir steals it from Justin Smiley | 21-17 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Justin Seda (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Craig Seager (fairly fresh) SF - Ray Shepard (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Dennis Weir (fresh) C - Frank Beyers (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Gilbert McIver (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Lane (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Michael Barry (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Cody Belcher (tiring) 4 pts. C - Justin Smiley (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:13 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers is open but comes up short on the fadeaway near the basket | 21-17 |
| 07:12 | Central Michigan | Michael Barry grabs the defensive rebound | 21-17 |
| 06:56 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley misses the easy layup | 21-17 |
| 06:55 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers grabs the board | 21-17 |
| 06:31 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Smiley steals it from Frank Beyers | 21-17 |
| 06:17 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley drills a turnaround from the right block | 21-19 |
| 05:48 | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir comes up short on the floater from the left block | 21-19 |
| 05:46 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley gets the rebound | 21-19 |
| 05:40 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley can't connect on a jumper from close range but he's fouled by Craig Seager - foul #1 on Craig Seager, team foul #5 | 21-19 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna (PG), Howard Ratliff (SG), Richard Sangster (SF), Thomas Greenwood (PF), Gerald Dean (C) Justin Seda, Craig Seager, Ray Shepard, Dennis Weir, Frank Beyers | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan (PG), Harold Beasley (SG), Tony Davis (PF) Gilbert McIver, John Lane, Cody Belcher | |
| 05:40 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley misses the 1st free throw | 21-19 |
| 05:40 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley makes the 2nd free throw | 21-20 |
| 05:11 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster can't connect on a jumper from the left side | 21-20 |
| 05:09 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna snags the offensive board | 21-20 |
| 04:48 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna makes the contested 3pt jumper from straight away on a nice dish by Howard Ratliff | 24-20 |
| 04:36 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley misses long on a shot from just outside the lane | 24-20 |
| 04:35 | Central Michigan | Tony Davis pulls down the offensive rebound | 24-20 |
| 04:20 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 24-20 |
| 04:19 | Central Michigan | Harold Beasley gets the offensive rebound | 24-20 |
| 04:06 | Central Michigan | Justin Smiley hits a floater from the left block | 24-22 |
| 03:53 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster scores on a jump hook from the baseline on a nice dish by Wesley Hanna | 26-22 |
| 03:36 | Central Michigan | Michael Barry misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 26-22 |
| 03:34 | Northern Illinois University | Gerald Dean grabs the defensive rebound | 26-22 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Wesley Hanna (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Howard Ratliff (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Richard Sangster (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. PF - Thomas Greenwood (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. C - Gerald Dean (fairly fresh) | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Benjamin Homan (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Harold Beasley (fresh) SF - Michael Barry (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Tony Davis (fresh) 4 reb. C - Justin Smiley (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:28 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster misses the dunk but he's fouled by Michael Barry - foul #1 on Michael Barry, team foul #5 | 26-22 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda (SG), Frank Beyers (C) Howard Ratliff, Gerald Dean | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | John Lane (SG), Paul Lawrence (SF), Wekesa Suleiman (C) Harold Beasley, Michael Barry, Justin Smiley | |
| 03:28 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster makes the 1st free throw | 27-22 |
| 03:28 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster makes the 2nd free throw | 28-22 |
| 03:09 | Central Michigan | Paul Lawrence makes the jumpshot from the right side on a nice dish by John Lane | 28-24 |
| 02:45 | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 28-24 |
| 02:44 | Central Michigan | Wekesa Suleiman grabs the defensive rebound | 28-24 |
| 02:27 | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan makes the 3 pointer from the right corner | 28-27 |
| 02:00 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood is fouled on the floor by Tony Davis - foul #2 on Tony Davis, team foul #6 | 28-27 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager (SG), Ray Shepard (SF), Dennis Weir (PF) Wesley Hanna, Richard Sangster, Thomas Greenwood | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Gilbert McIver (PG), Cody Belcher (PF) Benjamin Homan, Tony Davis | |
| 01:47 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers's dunk attempt is rejected by Cody Belcher | 28-27 |
| 01:46 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Craig Seager | 28-27 |
| 01:19 | Northern Illinois University | Ray Shepard works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 28-27 |
| 01:18 | Central Michigan | Cody Belcher pulls down the rebound | 28-27 |
| 01:06 | Central Michigan | Gilbert McIver can't connect on a fadeaway from the left side but he's hacked by Justin Seda - foul #1 on Justin Seda, team foul #6 | 28-27 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Michael Barry (SF) Paul Lawrence | |
| 01:06 | Central Michigan | Gilbert McIver misses the 1st free throw | 28-27 |
| 01:06 | Central Michigan | Gilbert McIver makes the 2nd free throw | 28-28 |
| 00:47 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda comes up short on the jumper from the free throw line | 28-28 |
| 00:46 | Northern Illinois University | Ray Shepard pulls down the offensive rebound | 28-28 |
| 00:41 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager is fouled on the floor by John Lane - foul #2 on John Lane, team foul #7 | 28-28 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Wesley Hanna (PG), Gerald Dean (C) Justin Seda, Frank Beyers | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Harold Beasley (SG) John Lane | |
| 00:41 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager misses the 1st free throw | 28-28 |
| 00:41 | Central Michigan | Cody Belcher grabs the defensive rebound | 28-28 |
| 00:24 | Central Michigan | Wesley Hanna is called for the reach on Harold Beasley - foul #3 on Wesley Hanna, team foul #7 | 28-28 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda (PG), Howard Ratliff (SG) Wesley Hanna, Craig Seager | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 00:24 | Central Michigan | Harold Beasley makes the 1st free throw | 28-29 |
| 00:24 | Central Michigan | Harold Beasley misses the 2nd free throw | 28-29 |
| 00:24 | Northern Illinois University | Gerald Dean gets the rebound | 28-29 |
| 00:05 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff is fouled on the floor by Michael Barry - foul #2 on Michael Barry, team foul #8 | 28-29 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Greenwood (PF) Dennis Weir | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Benjamin Homan (SG), Justin Smiley (C) Harold Beasley, Wekesa Suleiman | |
| 00:05 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff makes the 1st free throw | 29-29 |
| 00:05 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff makes the 2nd free throw | 30-29 |
| 00:01 | Central Michigan | Justin Seda steals it from Gilbert McIver | 30-29 |
| 00:00 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Seda misses long on a fullcourt shot | 30-29 |