| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Marc Tolbert (fresh) SG - Alvin Betton (fresh) SF - Kyle Puente (fresh) PF - Aaron Mart (fresh) C - Jamie Hereford (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fresh) SG - John Garrison (fresh) SF - Kenneth Mount (fresh) PF - James Owens (fresh) C - Graig Gilliland (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Kenneth Mount wins the tip | 0-0 |
| 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 motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 19:39 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland splits the doubleteam but misses short on a floater near the basket | 0-0 |
| 19:38 | Illinois | Kenneth Mount grabs the offensive rebound | 0-0 |
| 19:20 | Illinois | Kyle Puente takes the ball from Graig Gilliland after a doubleteam | 0-0 |
| 19:17 | Ohio State | Kyle Puente lays it in | 2-0 |
| 18:48 | Illinois | John Garrison hits the front of the rim on the floater from the left side | 2-0 |
| 18:46 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford gets the rebound | 2-0 |
| 18:25 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford knocks in the fadeaway from the right block set up by Kyle Puente | 4-0 |
| 18:11 | Illinois | John Garrison buries a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 4-3 |
| 17:50 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert is open and scores on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Alvin Betton | 6-3 |
| 17:44 | Illinois | Clifton Peters is called for the illegal screen in the backcourt - foul #1 on Clifton Peters, team foul #1 | 6-3 |
| 17:26 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton scores on a 3pt shot from the left wing set up by Marc Tolbert | 9-3 |
| 17:10 | Illinois | Aaron Mart is called for the reach on Clifton Peters - foul #1 on Aaron Mart, team foul #1 | 9-3 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred Zeh (PG), Jack Robinson (SG), Ralph Williams (SF), Jeremy Santucci (PF), Logan Powers (C) Clifton Peters, John Garrison, Kenneth Mount, James Owens, Graig Gilliland | |
| 16:41 | Illinois | Jeremy Santucci misses long on a driving attempt from the left block but he's hacked by Aaron Mart - foul #2 on Aaron Mart, team foul #2 | 9-3 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer (PF), Daniel Gilbreath (C) Aaron Mart, Jamie Hereford | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 16:41 | Illinois | Jeremy Santucci makes the 1st free throw | 9-4 |
| 16:41 | Illinois | Jeremy Santucci makes the 2nd free throw | 9-5 |
| 16:13 | Ohio State | Jeremy Santucci blocks the short jumper by Alvin Betton | 9-5 |
| 16:11 | Illinois | Logan Powers grabs the board | 9-5 |
| 15:42 | Illinois | Jeremy Santucci buries a runner from the baseline and the foul's on Timothy Schweizer - foul #1 on Timothy Schweizer, team foul #3 | 9-7 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Roy Nixon (PG), Allan Biggs (SG), James Milligan (SF), Jamie Hereford (C) Marc Tolbert, Alvin Betton, Kyle Puente, Daniel Gilbreath | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG), John Garrison (SG), Kenneth Mount (SF), Graig Gilliland (C) Fred Zeh, Jack Robinson, Ralph Williams, Logan Powers | |
| 15:42 | Illinois | Jeremy Santucci misses the free throw | 9-7 |
| 15:42 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford grabs the defensive rebound | 9-7 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Roy Nixon (fresh) SG - Allan Biggs (fresh) SF - James Milligan (fresh) PF - Timothy Schweizer (fresh) C - Jamie Hereford (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fresh) SG - John Garrison (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Kenneth Mount (fresh) PF - Jeremy Santucci (fresh) 4 pts. C - Graig Gilliland (fresh) | |
| 15:32 | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer is called for 10 seconds | 9-7 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Owens (PF) Jeremy Santucci | |
| 15:21 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland misses the driving attempt from the baseline but he's fouled by Jamie Hereford - foul #1 on Jamie Hereford, team foul #4 | 9-7 |
| 15:21 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland misses the 1st free throw | 9-7 |
| 15:21 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland makes the 2nd free throw | 9-8 |
| 14:52 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the right wing but the foul's on Kenneth Mount - foul #1 on Kenneth Mount, team foul #2 | 9-8 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jack Robinson (SG), Ralph Williams (SF) John Garrison, Kenneth Mount | |
| 14:52 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs misses the 1st free throw | 9-8 |
| 14:52 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs makes the 2nd free throw | 10-8 |
| 14:31 | Illinois | Timothy Schweizer is called for the reach on James Owens - foul #2 on Timothy Schweizer, team foul #5 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Aaron Mart (PF) Timothy Schweizer | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred Zeh (PG), Logan Powers (C) Clifton Peters, Graig Gilliland | |
| 14:08 | Illinois | James Owens comes up short on the jump hook near the basket but the foul's on Aaron Mart - foul #3 on Aaron Mart, team foul #6 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert (PG), Alvin Betton (SG), Kyle Puente (SF), Daniel Gilbreath (C) Roy Nixon, Allan Biggs, Aaron Mart, Jamie Hereford | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 14:08 | Illinois | James Owens misses the 1st free throw | 10-8 |
| 14:08 | Illinois | James Owens makes the 2nd free throw | 10-9 |
| 14:06 | Ohio State | James Milligan's pass is intercepted by Fred Zeh in the backcourt | 10-9 |
| 13:49 | Illinois | Fred Zeh comes up short on the jumper from just outside the lane | 10-9 |
| 13:48 | Illinois | Logan Powers grabs the offensive rebound | 10-9 |
| 13:32 | Illinois | Fred Zeh makes the pull-up jumper from the right side and he's hacked by James Milligan - foul #1 on James Milligan, team foul #7 | 10-11 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer (PF) James Milligan | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Garrison (SG), Kenneth Mount (SF), Jeremy Santucci (PF), Graig Gilliland (C) Jack Robinson, Ralph Williams, James Owens, Logan Powers | |
| 13:32 | Illinois | Fred Zeh makes the free throw | 10-12 |
| 13:19 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton misses long on a jump hook in the paint but he's fouled by Fred Zeh - foul #1 on Fred Zeh, team foul #3 | 10-12 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Allan Biggs (SG) Timothy Schweizer | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG) Fred Zeh | |
| 13:19 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton makes the 1st free throw | 11-12 |
| 13:19 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton makes the 2nd free throw | 12-12 |
| 12:59 | Illinois | Kenneth Mount drills a floater from the left block set up by Clifton Peters | 12-14 |
| 12:33 | Ohio State | Kyle Puente can't connect on a fadeaway from the left wing | 12-14 |
| 12:31 | Illinois | Jeremy Santucci gets the rebound | 12-14 |
| 12:08 | Illinois | John Garrison misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 12-14 |
| 12:07 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Jeremy Santucci | 12-14 |
| 11:40 | Illinois | Clifton Peters hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 12-14 |
| 11:38 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton grabs the defensive rebound | 12-14 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Marc Tolbert (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Allan Biggs (fresh) 1 pts. SF - Kyle Puente (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Alvin Betton (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. C - Daniel Gilbreath (fairly fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - John Garrison (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Kenneth Mount (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Jeremy Santucci (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Graig Gilliland (fairly fresh) 1 pts. | |
| 11:35 | Ohio State | Clifton Peters is called for the reach on Kyle Puente in the backcourt - foul #2 on Clifton Peters, team foul #4 | 12-14 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Roy Nixon (SG), James Milligan (SF), Timothy Schweizer (PF), Jamie Hereford (C) Allan Biggs, Kyle Puente, Alvin Betton, Daniel Gilbreath | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred Zeh (PG), Jack Robinson (SG), Ralph Williams (SF), James Owens (PF), Logan Powers (C) Clifton Peters, John Garrison, Kenneth Mount, Jeremy Santucci, Graig Gilliland | |
| 11:08 | Ohio State | James Milligan clanks a shot from close range but he's hacked by Ralph Williams - foul #1 on Ralph Williams, team foul #5 | 12-14 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Kyle Puente (SF) Timothy Schweizer | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 11:08 | Ohio State | James Milligan misses the 1st free throw | 12-14 |
| 11:08 | Ohio State | James Milligan makes the 2nd free throw | 13-14 |
| 10:45 | Illinois | The jump hook by Fred Zeh is blocked by James Milligan | 13-14 |
| 10:43 | Illinois | James Owens hits the follow up shot | 13-16 |
| 10:24 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford is by himself and knocks in the turnaround in the lane | 15-16 |
| 10:06 | Illinois | Ralph Williams is whistled for a charge - foul #2 on Ralph Williams, team foul #6 | 15-16 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Allan Biggs (SG), Timothy Schweizer (PF) Marc Tolbert, Kyle Puente | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Garrison (SG), Jeremy Santucci (SF) Jack Robinson, Ralph Williams | |
| 09:38 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs misses the 3pt shot from the left corner | 15-16 |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Jeremy Santucci pulls down the rebound | 15-16 |
| 09:16 | Illinois | James Owens misses badly on a floater from the left wing | 15-16 |
| 09:14 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford grabs the defensive rebound | 15-16 |
| 08:45 | Ohio State | Roy Nixon misses long on an open 3pt shot from the right wing | 15-16 |
| 08:43 | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer grabs the offensive rebound | 15-16 |
| 08:17 | Ohio State | James Milligan's pass is intercepted by Jeremy Santucci | 15-16 |
| 07:56 | Illinois | John Garrison clanks a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 15-16 |
| 07:54 | Ohio State | James Milligan grabs the board | 15-16 |
| 07:52 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs is fouled in the backcourt by Fred Zeh - foul #2 on Fred Zeh, team foul #7 | 15-16 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert (PG), Alvin Betton (SG), Kyle Puente (SF), Daniel Gilbreath (C) Roy Nixon, James Milligan, Timothy Schweizer, Jamie Hereford | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jack Robinson (SG), Kenneth Mount (SF), Graig Gilliland (C) Fred Zeh, Jeremy Santucci, Logan Powers | |
| 07:52 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs makes the 1st free throw | 16-16 |
| 07:52 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs makes the 2nd free throw | 17-16 |
| 07:28 | Illinois | Jack Robinson is hacked by Alvin Betton - foul #1 on Alvin Betton, team foul #8 | 17-16 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Aaron Mart (PF) Allan Biggs | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 07:28 | Illinois | Jack Robinson makes the 1st free throw | 17-17 |
| 07:28 | Illinois | Jack Robinson misses the 2nd free throw | 17-17 |
| 07:28 | Ohio State | Daniel Gilbreath gets the rebound | 17-17 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Marc Tolbert (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Alvin Betton (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Kyle Puente (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Aaron Mart (fresh) 3 pf. C - Daniel Gilbreath (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Garrison (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - Jack Robinson (fresh) 1 pts. SF - Kenneth Mount (fresh) 2 pts. PF - James Owens (fairly fresh) 3 pts. C - Graig Gilliland (fresh) 1 pts. | |
| 07:10 | Ohio State | Kyle Puente misses long on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 17-17 |
| 07:09 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton tips it in | 19-17 |
| 06:47 | Illinois | Daniel Gilbreath steals it from James Owens | 19-17 |
| 06:21 | Ohio State | Kenneth Mount swats the short shot by Marc Tolbert | 19-17 |
| 06:20 | Illinois | James Owens pulls down the rebound | 19-17 |
| 05:55 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland splits the doubleteam and buries a driving attempt from close range | 19-19 |
| 05:52 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert is fouled in the backcourt by John Garrison - foul #1 on John Garrison, team foul #8 | 19-19 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Allan Biggs (SG), Jamie Hereford (C) Aaron Mart, Daniel Gilbreath | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG), Fred Zeh (SG), Ralph Williams (SF), Jeremy Santucci (PF) John Garrison, Jack Robinson, Kenneth Mount, James Owens | |
| 05:52 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert makes the 1st free throw | 20-19 |
| 05:52 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert makes the 2nd free throw | 21-19 |
| 05:23 | Illinois | Clifton Peters can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 21-19 |
| 05:22 | Ohio State | The rebound goes to Kyle Puente | 21-19 |
| 04:59 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton is fouled on the floor by Ralph Williams - foul #3 on Ralph Williams, team foul #9 | 21-19 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Roy Nixon (PG) Marc Tolbert | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kenneth Mount (SF), Logan Powers (C) Ralph Williams, Graig Gilliland | |
| 04:59 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton makes the 1st free throw | 22-19 |
| 04:59 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton misses the 2nd free throw | 22-19 |
| 04:59 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Kenneth Mount | 22-19 |
| 04:37 | Illinois | Clifton Peters makes the 3 pointer from the right corner on a nice dish by Logan Powers | 22-22 |
| 04:17 | Ohio State | Roy Nixon hits a floater from the right wing set up by Allan Biggs | 24-22 |
| 03:53 | Illinois | Fred Zeh misses short on a jumper from just outside the lane | 24-22 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Clifton Peters tips it home | 24-24 |
| 03:45 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton knocks in the shot from the left block | 26-24 |
| 03:24 | Illinois | Allan Biggs is called for the reach on Kenneth Mount - foul #1 on Allan Biggs, team foul #9 | 26-24 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert (PG), James Milligan (SF), Timothy Schweizer (PF), Daniel Gilbreath (C) Allan Biggs, Kyle Puente, Alvin Betton, Jamie Hereford | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jack Robinson (SG), James Owens (PF), Graig Gilliland (C) Fred Zeh, Jeremy Santucci, Logan Powers | |
| 03:24 | Illinois | Kenneth Mount misses the 1st free throw | 26-24 |
| 03:24 | Ohio State | Daniel Gilbreath grabs the defensive rebound | 26-24 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Marc Tolbert (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Roy Nixon (fresh) 2 pts. SF - James Milligan (fresh) 1 pts. PF - Timothy Schweizer (fresh) C - Daniel Gilbreath (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jack Robinson (fresh) 1 pts. SF - Kenneth Mount (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - James Owens (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. C - Graig Gilliland (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| 02:56 | Ohio State | Graig Gilliland blocks the short jumper by Daniel Gilbreath | 26-24 |
| 02:54 | Ohio State | James Milligan hits the follow up shot | 28-24 |
| 02:31 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland is fouled on the floor by Daniel Gilbreath as he's doubleteamed - foul #1 on Daniel Gilbreath, team foul #10 | 28-24 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred Zeh (PG) Clifton Peters | |
| 02:31 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland misses the 1st free throw | 28-24 |
| 02:31 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland makes the 2nd free throw | 28-25 |
| 02:10 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert drills a pull-up jumper from the right wing | 30-25 |
| 01:55 | Illinois | Fred Zeh knocks in the fadeaway from just outside the lane | 30-27 |
| 01:35 | Ohio State | Graig Gilliland denies the turnaround by Daniel Gilbreath | 30-27 |
| 01:34 | Illinois | James Owens pulls down the rebound | 30-27 |
| 01:06 | Illinois | James Owens blows the layup | 30-27 |
| 01:04 | Ohio State | Daniel Gilbreath gets the rebound | 30-27 |
| 00:35 | Ohio State | The short jumper by Roy Nixon is denied by James Owens | 30-27 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Graig Gilliland grabs the board | 30-27 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | James Owens comes up short on the jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by James Milligan - foul #2 on James Milligan, team foul #11 | 30-27 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Alvin Betton (PG), Allan Biggs (SG), Kyle Puente (SF), Jamie Hereford (C) Marc Tolbert, Roy Nixon, James Milligan, Daniel Gilbreath | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG), John Garrison (SG), Jeremy Santucci (SF), Logan Powers (C) Fred Zeh, Jack Robinson, Kenneth Mount, Graig Gilliland | |
| 00:16 | Illinois | James Owens misses the 1st free throw | 30-27 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | James Owens makes the 2nd free throw | 30-28 |
| 00:03 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford misses the runner in the paint | 30-28 |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Clifton Peters grabs the defensive rebound | 30-28 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Clifton Peters misses long on a fullcourt shot | 30-28 |