| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 7 pts. SG - Richard Kruse (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) 4 reb. C - Arthur Drown (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Leroy Wheat (fresh) 4 pts. SG - George Graves (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SF - Thomas Lanski (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. PF - Charles Owens (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - James Willson (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard inbounds the ball | 27-23 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 19:31 | Illinois | Brian Shea misses the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 27-23 |
| 19:30 | Ohio State | James Willson grabs the defensive rebound | 27-23 |
| 19:11 | Ohio State | Charles Owens misses badly on a shot from the left wing | 27-23 |
| 19:09 | Ohio State | Thomas Lanski tips it home | 27-25 |
| 18:40 | Illinois | Arthur Drown's pass is intercepted by Leroy Wheat | 27-25 |
| 18:37 | Ohio State | George Graves hits the finger roll set up by Leroy Wheat | 27-27 |
| 18:12 | Illinois | Arthur Drown loses the dribble to Charles Owens | 27-27 |
| 17:44 | Ohio State | James Willson blows the layup | 27-27 |
| 17:43 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Richard Kruse | 27-27 |
| 17:23 | Illinois | Brian Shea connects on the 3 pointer from the right wing set up by Richard Kruse | 30-27 |
| 16:54 | Ohio State | George Graves can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 30-27 |
| 16:52 | Illinois | Arthur Drown grabs the board | 30-27 |
| 16:34 | Illinois | Arthur Drown buries a floater near the basket | 32-27 |
| 16:19 | Ohio State | James Willson can't connect on a jumpshot from the left wing | 32-27 |
| 16:18 | Illinois | Arthur Drown grabs the board | 32-27 |
| 15:53 | Illinois | Arthur Drown misses the floater from close range | 32-27 |
| 15:52 | Ohio State | The rebound goes to Leroy Wheat | 32-27 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fairly fresh) 10 pts. SG - Richard Kruse (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SF - Eddie Gerhard (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Samuel Birdsell (fairly fresh) 4 reb. C - Arthur Drown (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Leroy Wheat (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - George Graves (fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SF - Thomas Lanski (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. PF - Charles Owens (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - James Willson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:32 | Ohio State | George Graves drills a 3pt shot from the right wing set up by Charles Owens | 32-30 |
| 15:14 | Illinois | George Graves picks off the pass by Brian Shea | 32-30 |
| 14:48 | Ohio State | James Willson buries a runner from the baseline | 32-32 |
| 14:33 | Illinois | Brian Shea connects on the 3pt jumper from the left corner set up by Samuel Birdsell | 35-32 |
| 14:12 | Ohio State | George Graves drills a 3 pointer from the left wing on a nice dish by Thomas Lanski | 35-35 |
| 13:51 | Illinois | Charles Owens is called for the reach on Arthur Drown - foul #1 on Charles Owens, team foul #1 | 35-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Staton (PG), Shane Ferguson (SG), Rickey Anderson (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF), Henry Lambright (C) Brian Shea, Richard Kruse, Eddie Gerhard, Samuel Birdsell, Arthur Drown | |
| Subs | Ohio State | Wesley Boyd (PG), David Allen (PF), William Williams (C) Leroy Wheat, Charles Owens, James Willson | |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Scott Staton misses badly on a floater from the right side | 35-35 |
| 13:40 | Illinois | Scott Staton can't tip it in | 35-35 |
| 13:38 | Ohio State | Wesley Boyd snags the defensive board | 35-35 |
| 13:15 | Ohio State | Thomas Lanski misses the 3pt shot from straight away | 35-35 |
| 13:13 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Henry Lambright | 35-35 |
| 12:44 | Illinois | Henry Lambright scores on a jump hook from the right block | 37-35 |
| 12:24 | Ohio State | George Graves is hacked by Ryan Linkous - foul #3 on Ryan Linkous, team foul #1 | 37-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (PG) Scott Staton | |
| Subs | Ohio State | Richard Austin (SF) Thomas Lanski | |
| 12:09 | Ohio State | George Graves hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 37-35 |
| 12:08 | Ohio State | David Allen grabs the offensive rebound | 37-35 |
| 11:50 | Ohio State | Richard Austin is hacked by Shane Ferguson - foul #1 on Shane Ferguson, team foul #2 | 37-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard (SF) Rickey Anderson | |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Richard Kruse (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Shane Ferguson (fresh) SF - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. C - Henry Lambright (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Wesley Boyd (fresh) SG - George Graves (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Richard Austin (fresh) PF - David Allen (fresh) 2 pts. 2 blk. C - William Williams (fresh) | |
| 11:33 | Ohio State | George Graves misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 37-35 |
| 11:31 | Ohio State | Wesley Boyd pulls down the offensive rebound | 37-35 |
| 11:26 | Ohio State | Ryan Linkous steals the ball from George Graves | 37-35 |
| 11:10 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard comes up short on the fadeaway from the right wing | 37-35 |
| 11:08 | Ohio State | Richard Austin snags the defensive board | 37-35 |
| 10:45 | Ohio State | George Graves drills a 3 from the right corner | 37-38 |
| 10:20 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard loses the dribble to William Williams | 37-38 |
| 09:59 | Ohio State | Wesley Boyd misses short on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 37-38 |
| 09:58 | Ohio State | William Williams snags the offensive board | 37-38 |
| 09:31 | Ohio State | George Graves misses the 3 from the right corner | 37-38 |
| 09:29 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard gets the rebound | 37-38 |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Richard Kruse drills a pull-up jumper from the left side | 39-38 |
| 08:53 | Ohio State | George Graves buries a 3 pointer from the left wing on a great pass from William Williams | 39-41 |
| 08:46 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard blows the layup | 39-41 |
| 08:44 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard tips it but misses | 39-41 |
| 08:43 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Richard Kruse | 39-41 |
| 08:15 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson's pass is intercepted by Wesley Boyd | 39-41 |
| 07:54 | Ohio State | Richard Austin comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the right wing | 39-41 |
| 07:53 | Illinois | Henry Lambright grabs the defensive rebound | 39-41 |
| 07:42 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous is whistled for traveling | 39-41 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Scott Staton (SG), Rickey Anderson (SF), Samuel Birdsell (PF), Arthur Drown (C) Richard Kruse, Shane Ferguson, Eddie Gerhard, Ryan Linkous, Henry Lambright | |
| Subs | Ohio State | Leroy Wheat (PG), Thomas Lanski (SF), Charles Owens (PF), James Willson (C) Wesley Boyd, Richard Austin, David Allen, William Williams | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 13 pts. SG - Scott Staton (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Rickey Anderson (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) 4 reb. C - Arthur Drown (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Leroy Wheat (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - George Graves (tiring) 17 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Thomas Lanski (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. PF - Charles Owens (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - James Willson (fresh) 9 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:22 | Ohio State | James Willson misses long on a floater in the paint but the foul's on Arthur Drown - foul #1 on Arthur Drown, team foul #3 | 39-41 |
| 07:22 | Ohio State | James Willson makes the 1st free throw | 39-42 |
| 07:22 | Ohio State | James Willson makes the 2nd free throw | 39-43 |
| 06:56 | Illinois | Scott Staton misses short on a jumper from the left wing but the foul's on George Graves - foul #2 on George Graves, team foul #2 | 39-43 |
| 06:56 | Illinois | Scott Staton makes the 1st free throw | 40-43 |
| 06:56 | Illinois | Scott Staton misses the 2nd free throw | 40-43 |
| 06:56 | Ohio State | The rebound goes to James Willson | 40-43 |
| 06:27 | Ohio State | George Graves misses badly on a 3 from the right corner | 40-43 |
| 06:25 | Illinois | Arthur Drown snags the defensive board | 40-43 |
| 06:01 | Illinois | Brian Shea hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right wing | 40-43 |
| 05:59 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell tips it in | 42-43 |
| 05:45 | Ohio State | Leroy Wheat scores on a 3pt jumper from the right wing set up by George Graves | 42-46 |
| 05:40 | Illinois | Scott Staton drills a fadeaway from the right side on a great pass from Rickey Anderson | 44-46 |
| 05:11 | Ohio State | Arthur Drown blocks the short jumper by James Willson | 44-46 |
| 05:10 | Illinois | Arthur Drown grabs the board | 44-46 |
| 05:10 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 44-46 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (SG), Eddie Gerhard (SF), Henry Lambright (C) Scott Staton, Rickey Anderson, Arthur Drown | |
| Subs | Ohio State | Wesley Boyd (SG) George Graves | |
| 04:50 | Illinois | Richard Kruse knocks in the 3pt attempt from the right wing on a great pass from Brian Shea | 47-46 |
| 04:28 | Ohio State | Charles Owens hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the right block | 47-46 |
| 04:27 | Illinois | Henry Lambright grabs the defensive rebound | 47-46 |
| 04:12 | Illinois | Charles Owens steals the ball from Brian Shea | 47-46 |
| 03:50 | Ohio State | Charles Owens dunks the ball on a great pass from Leroy Wheat and he's fouled by Samuel Birdsell - foul #1 on Samuel Birdsell, team foul #4 | 47-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Ohio State | George Graves (SG) Wesley Boyd | |
| 03:50 | Ohio State | Charles Owens makes the free throw | 47-49 |
| 03:47 | Illinois | Brian Shea throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 47-49 |
| 03:31 | Ohio State | Charles Owens is whistled for a carry | 47-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Ohio State | William Williams (C) James Willson | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 13 pts. 1 ast. SG - Richard Kruse (fresh) 10 pts. 2 ast. SF - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. C - Henry Lambright (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Leroy Wheat (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - George Graves (fairly fresh) 17 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Thomas Lanski (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. PF - Charles Owens (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 3 stl. C - William Williams (fresh) | |
| 03:11 | Illinois | Leroy Wheat steals the ball from Henry Lambright | 47-49 |
| 03:05 | Ohio State | Thomas Lanski clanks a 3 from the left corner | 47-49 |
| 03:04 | Ohio State | George Graves misses the tip | 47-49 |
| 03:03 | Illinois | Henry Lambright snags the defensive board | 47-49 |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard buries a fadeaway jumper from the right wing and he's hacked by William Williams - foul #3 on William Williams, team foul #3 | 49-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Shane Ferguson (SG) Brian Shea | |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard makes the free throw | 50-49 |
| 02:20 | Ohio State | Charles Owens makes the pull-up jumper from the right side set up by William Williams | 50-51 |
| 01:53 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard can't connect on a fadeaway from the left wing | 50-51 |
| 01:51 | Ohio State | Charles Owens gets the rebound | 50-51 |
| 01:44 | Ohio State | Thomas Lanski scores on a jumper from the free throw line on a great pass from George Graves and he's fouled by Eddie Gerhard - foul #1 on Eddie Gerhard, team foul #5 | 50-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG) Shane Ferguson | |
| Subs | Ohio State | James Willson (C) William Williams | |
| 01:44 | Ohio State | Thomas Lanski makes the free throw | 50-54 |
| 01:28 | Illinois | Henry Lambright's pass is intercepted by Thomas Lanski | 50-54 |
| 00:59 | Ohio State | Eddie Gerhard takes the ball from Leroy Wheat | 50-54 |
| 00:55 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard misses the dunk attempt | 50-54 |
| 00:54 | Illinois | Henry Lambright tips it in | 52-54 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:28 | Ohio State | James Willson connects on the floater from close range | 52-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Brian Shea clanks a 3pt shot from the left wing | 52-56 |
| 00:22 | Ohio State | Thomas Lanski grabs the defensive rebound | 52-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:21 | Ohio State | Richard Kruse is called for the reach on Thomas Lanski in the backcourt - foul #1 on Richard Kruse, team foul #6 | 52-56 |
| 00:18 | Ohio State | Eddie Gerhard is called for the reach on Leroy Wheat - foul #2 on Eddie Gerhard, team foul #7 | 52-56 |
| 00:18 | Ohio State | Leroy Wheat makes the 1st free throw | 52-57 |
| 00:18 | Ohio State | Leroy Wheat makes the 2nd free throw | 52-58 |
| 00:12 | Illinois | Brian Shea clanks a 3 from the left wing | 52-58 |
| 00:10 | Ohio State | Charles Owens grabs the defensive rebound | 52-58 |
| 00:09 | Ohio State | Charles Owens is hacked by Brian Shea in the backcourt - foul #1 on Brian Shea, team foul #8 | 52-58 |
| 00:09 | Ohio State | Charles Owens misses the 1st free throw | 52-58 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell snags the defensive board | 52-58 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Richard Kruse misses short on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 52-58 |
| 00:02 | Ohio State | James Willson grabs the board | 52-58 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Ohio State | James Willson runs out the clock | 52-58 |