| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Bobby Smith (fresh) SG - Mark Moshier (fresh) SF - William O'Connell (fresh) PF - Shawn Williams (fresh) C - Claude Bennett (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Ricky Tyre (fresh) SG - John Shockley (fresh) SF - Eugene Houghton (fresh) PF - Leland Laffey (fresh) C - William Beatty (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northern Illinois University | William Beatty wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| 19:41 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley clanks a 3 pointer from the left wing | 0-0 |
| 19:39 | Northern Illinois University | William Beatty grabs the offensive board | 0-0 |
| 19:25 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley connects on the jumper from close range set up by Eugene Houghton | 0-2 |
| 19:05 | Syracuse | William O'Connell misses long on a jumper from the left side | 0-2 |
| 19:03 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Ricky Tyre | 0-2 |
| 18:59 | Northern Illinois University | Eugene Houghton buries a runner near the basket | 0-4 |
| 18:42 | Syracuse | The short jumper by William O'Connell is denied by Leland Laffey | 0-4 |
| 18:41 | Northern Illinois University | Ricky Tyre grabs the board | 0-4 |
| 18:24 | Northern Illinois University | Leland Laffey loses the dribble to Claude Bennett | 0-4 |
| 17:58 | Syracuse | Mark Moshier misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 0-4 |
| 17:57 | Syracuse | Claude Bennett tips it home | 2-4 |
| 17:40 | Northern Illinois University | William Beatty hits a runner from close range on a great pass from Ricky Tyre | 2-6 |
| 17:17 | Syracuse | Ricky Tyre takes the ball from Shawn Williams | 2-6 |
| 16:57 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley scores on a fadeaway from the right wing and he's fouled by Mark Moshier - foul #1 on Mark Moshier, team foul #1 | 2-8 |
| 16:57 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley makes the free throw | 2-9 |
| 16:28 | Syracuse | William O'Connell comes up short on the floater from the baseline but the foul's on Eugene Houghton - foul #1 on Eugene Houghton, team foul #1 | 2-9 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams (SG), Michael Mosley (SF), Edward Williams (C) John Shockley, Eugene Houghton, William Beatty | |
| 16:28 | Syracuse | William O'Connell makes the 1st free throw | 3-9 |
| 16:28 | Syracuse | William O'Connell makes the 2nd free throw | 4-9 |
| 16:17 | Northern Illinois University | Leland Laffey's floater is tipped away by Claude Bennett | 4-9 |
| 16:15 | Syracuse | The rebound goes to Bobby Smith | 4-9 |
| 16:08 | Syracuse | Mark Moshier misses the jumper from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Edward Williams - foul #1 on Edward Williams, team foul #2 | 4-9 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Lamothe (SF), Fred Aldridge (PF) Ricky Tyre, Leland Laffey | |
| 16:08 | Syracuse | Mark Moshier makes the 1st free throw | 5-9 |
| 16:08 | Syracuse | Mark Moshier misses the 2nd free throw | 5-9 |
| 16:08 | Northern Illinois University | Edward Williams grabs the defensive rebound | 5-9 |
| 15:39 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley makes the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane and he's hacked by Mark Moshier - foul #2 on Mark Moshier, team foul #2 | 5-11 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Edward Rentz (SG), John Harrison (C) Mark Moshier, Claude Bennett | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 15:39 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley makes the free throw | 5-12 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Bobby Smith (fresh) SG - Edward Rentz (fresh) SF - William O'Connell (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Shawn Williams (fresh) C - John Harrison (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Michael Mosley (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Mark Williams (fresh) SF - Thomas Lamothe (fresh) PF - Fred Aldridge (fresh) C - Edward Williams (fresh) | |
| 15:10 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 5-12 |
| 15:08 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams pulls down the rebound | 5-12 |
| 15:04 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 5-12 |
| 15:03 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Thomas Lamothe | 5-12 |
| 14:55 | Northern Illinois University | Fred Aldridge misses badly on a jumper from just outside the lane | 5-12 |
| 14:54 | Syracuse | William O'Connell grabs the defensive rebound | 5-12 |
| 14:33 | Syracuse | William O'Connell misses the floater from the free throw line | 5-12 |
| 14:32 | Syracuse | John Harrison can't tip it in | 5-12 |
| 14:31 | Northern Illinois University | Fred Aldridge grabs the board | 5-12 |
| 14:26 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 5-12 |
| 14:25 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith gets the rebound | 5-12 |
| 14:05 | Syracuse | Shawn Williams misses the easy layup but he's fouled by Edward Williams - foul #2 on Edward Williams, team foul #3 | 5-12 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Craig Holley (PG), Claude Bennett (C) Bobby Smith, John Harrison | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Ricky Tyre (PG), John Shockley (SG), Eugene Houghton (SF), Leland Laffey (PF), William Beatty (C) Michael Mosley, Mark Williams, Thomas Lamothe, Fred Aldridge, Edward Williams | |
| 14:05 | Syracuse | Shawn Williams makes the 1st free throw | 6-12 |
| 14:05 | Syracuse | Shawn Williams misses the 2nd free throw | 6-12 |
| 14:05 | Northern Illinois University | William Beatty snags the defensive board | 6-12 |
| 13:47 | Northern Illinois University | Ricky Tyre can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 6-12 |
| 13:45 | Syracuse | Claude Bennett grabs the board | 6-12 |
| 13:38 | Syracuse | Claude Bennett hits the finger roll set up by William O'Connell | 8-12 |
| 13:13 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley is fouled on the floor by Edward Rentz - foul #1 on Edward Rentz, team foul #3 | 8-12 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Gary Lee (PF) Shawn Williams | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 12:57 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Holley steps in front of the Ricky Tyre pass | 8-12 |
| 12:31 | Syracuse | Edward Rentz clanks a turnaround in the paint but he's hacked by Leland Laffey - foul #1 on Leland Laffey, team foul #4 | 8-12 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Bobby Smith (PG) Craig Holley | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 12:31 | Syracuse | Edward Rentz makes the 1st free throw | 9-12 |
| 12:31 | Syracuse | Edward Rentz makes the 2nd free throw | 10-12 |
| 12:14 | Northern Illinois University | Bobby Smith is called for the reach on John Shockley - foul #1 on Bobby Smith, team foul #4 | 10-12 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Craig Holley (SG) Edward Rentz | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 11:56 | Northern Illinois University | Ricky Tyre hits a jumpshot from the left wing on a nice dish by William Beatty | 10-14 |
| 11:34 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith clanks a 3 pointer from straight away | 10-14 |
| 11:32 | Syracuse | William O'Connell tips it back up and in | 12-14 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Bobby Smith (fresh) SG - Craig Holley (fresh) SF - William O'Connell (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Gary Lee (fresh) C - Claude Bennett (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Ricky Tyre (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Shockley (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Eugene Houghton (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Leland Laffey (fresh) C - William Beatty (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:21 | Northern Illinois University | William Beatty buries a jump hook near the basket | 12-16 |
| 11:06 | Syracuse | Gary Lee connects on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Craig Holley | 14-16 |
| 11:01 | Northern Illinois University | Eugene Houghton misses short on a fadeaway from the right side | 14-16 |
| 11:00 | Syracuse | Gary Lee grabs the board | 14-16 |
| 10:31 | Syracuse | Gary Lee clanks a 3pt shot from the left corner but the foul's on Ricky Tyre - foul #1 on Ricky Tyre, team foul #5 | 14-16 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Edward Rentz (SG), Edward Thomason (SF), John Harrison (C) Craig Holley, William O'Connell, Claude Bennett | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams (PG), Michael Mosley (SG), Thomas Lamothe (SF), Fred Aldridge (PF), Justin Buch (C) Ricky Tyre, John Shockley, Eugene Houghton, Leland Laffey, William Beatty | |
| 10:31 | Syracuse | Gary Lee makes the 1st free throw | 15-16 |
| 10:31 | Syracuse | Gary Lee misses the 2nd free throw | 15-16 |
| 10:31 | Syracuse | Gary Lee makes the 3rd free throw | 16-16 |
| 10:13 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 16-16 |
| 10:12 | Syracuse | Gary Lee grabs the board | 16-16 |
| 09:47 | Syracuse | John Harrison drills a fadeaway from the free throw line set up by Edward Rentz | 18-16 |
| 09:32 | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Lamothe connects on the fadeaway from the right wing set up by Michael Mosley | 18-18 |
| 09:17 | Syracuse | Gary Lee's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 18-18 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Craig Holley (PG), Shawn Williams (PF) Bobby Smith, Gary Lee | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Ricky Tyre (PG), Leland Laffey (PF) Thomas Lamothe, Justin Buch | |
| 08:53 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley can't finish the layup but the foul's on John Harrison - foul #1 on John Harrison, team foul #5 | 18-18 |
| Subs | Syracuse | William O'Connell (SF) Edward Thomason | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley (SG) Mark Williams | |
| 08:53 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley makes the 1st free throw | 18-19 |
| 08:53 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley makes the 2nd free throw | 18-20 |
| 08:31 | Syracuse | William O'Connell throws a bad pass out of bounds | 18-20 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Claude Bennett (C) John Harrison | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Eugene Houghton (SF) Michael Mosley | |
| 08:17 | Northern Illinois University | Eugene Houghton makes the driving attempt from close range on a great pass from John Shockley | 18-22 |
| 07:51 | Syracuse | Eugene Houghton is called for the reach on William O'Connell - foul #2 on Eugene Houghton, team foul #6 | 18-22 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Bobby Smith (PG) Craig Holley | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams (SF), William Beatty (C) Eugene Houghton, Fred Aldridge | |
| 07:33 | Syracuse | Edward Rentz is hacked by John Shockley - foul #1 on John Shockley, team foul #7 | 18-22 |
| 07:33 | Syracuse | Edward Rentz makes the 1st free throw | 19-22 |
| 07:33 | Syracuse | Edward Rentz makes the 2nd free throw | 20-22 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Bobby Smith (fresh) SG - Edward Rentz (fresh) 4 pts. SF - William O'Connell (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Shawn Williams (fresh) 1 pts. C - Claude Bennett (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Ricky Tyre (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Shockley (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Mark Williams (fresh) PF - Leland Laffey (fresh) C - William Beatty (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:23 | Northern Illinois University | The jump hook by Ricky Tyre is blocked by Shawn Williams | 20-22 |
| 07:21 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams gets the offensive rebound | 20-22 |
| 07:08 | Northern Illinois University | Ricky Tyre scores on a 3pt shot from straight away | 20-25 |
| 06:40 | Syracuse | William O'Connell scores on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 22-25 |
| 06:19 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley hits the front of the rim on the shot from the left block but the foul's on Claude Bennett - foul #1 on Claude Bennett, team foul #6 | 22-25 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Mark Moshier (SG), Edward Thomason (SF), John Harrison (C) Edward Rentz, William O'Connell, Claude Bennett | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley (SF), Fred Aldridge (PF) Ricky Tyre, Leland Laffey | |
| 06:19 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley makes the 1st free throw | 22-26 |
| 06:19 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley makes the 2nd free throw | 22-27 |
| 05:52 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith knocks in the 3pt jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Edward Thomason | 25-27 |
| 05:49 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 25-27 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Thomas Lamothe (SF), Justin Buch (C) John Shockley, William Beatty | |
| 05:31 | Syracuse | Mark Moshier misses short on a 3 from the left corner | 25-27 |
| 05:29 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Justin Buch | 25-27 |
| 05:23 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Buch is fouled on the floor by Bobby Smith - foul #2 on Bobby Smith, team foul #7 | 25-27 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Gary Lee (PF) Shawn Williams | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 05:23 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Buch makes the 1st free throw | 25-28 |
| 05:23 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Buch makes the 2nd free throw | 25-29 |
| 05:03 | Syracuse | John Harrison misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left side but he's fouled by Michael Mosley - foul #1 on Michael Mosley, team foul #8 | 25-29 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Craig Holley (PG), Claude Bennett (C) Bobby Smith, Gary Lee | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 05:03 | Syracuse | John Harrison makes the 1st free throw | 26-29 |
| 05:03 | Syracuse | John Harrison makes the 2nd free throw | 27-29 |
| 04:44 | Northern Illinois University | Fred Aldridge throws a bad pass out of bounds | 27-29 |
| Subs | Syracuse | William O'Connell (SF), Gary Lee (PF) Edward Thomason, John Harrison | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Ricky Tyre (PG), Leland Laffey (PF) Thomas Lamothe, Justin Buch | |
| 04:15 | Syracuse | Ricky Tyre takes the ball from Mark Moshier | 27-29 |
| 04:11 | Northern Illinois University | Ricky Tyre misses the lay-in | 27-29 |
| 04:09 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley tips it in | 27-31 |
| 03:40 | Syracuse | Mark Moshier drills a 3 from the left wing on a nice dish by William O'Connell | 30-31 |
| 03:36 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 30-31 |
| 03:34 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Fred Aldridge | 30-31 |
| 03:16 | Northern Illinois University | Leland Laffey throws a bad pass out of bounds | 30-31 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Bobby Smith (PG), Shawn Williams (PF), John Harrison (C) Craig Holley, Gary Lee, Claude Bennett | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley (SG), Eugene Houghton (SF), William Beatty (C) Mark Williams, Michael Mosley, Fred Aldridge | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Bobby Smith (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Mark Moshier (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SF - William O'Connell (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - Shawn Williams (fresh) 1 pts. C - John Harrison (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Ricky Tyre (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - John Shockley (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Eugene Houghton (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Leland Laffey (fresh) C - William Beatty (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 02:56 | Syracuse | Mark Moshier misses long on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 30-31 |
| 02:55 | Northern Illinois University | Eugene Houghton pulls down the rebound | 30-31 |
| 02:48 | Northern Illinois University | Leland Laffey comes up short on the floater near the basket | 30-31 |
| 02:47 | Syracuse | The rebound goes to Shawn Williams | 30-31 |
| 02:24 | Syracuse | Mark Moshier makes the 3 pointer from straight away on a great pass from Bobby Smith | 33-31 |
| 02:19 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley clanks a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 33-31 |
| 02:18 | Syracuse | Shawn Williams gets the rebound | 33-31 |
| 02:06 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith hits a 3pt attempt from the right corner on a nice dish by William O'Connell | 36-31 |
| 01:45 | Northern Illinois University | John Shockley's pass is intercepted by Bobby Smith | 36-31 |
| 01:42 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith banks in the layup | 38-31 |
| 01:29 | Northern Illinois University | William Beatty's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 38-31 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Edward Thomason (SF), Claude Bennett (C) William O'Connell, John Harrison | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams (PG), Fred Aldridge (PF) Ricky Tyre, Leland Laffey | |
| 01:10 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith misses badly on a jumper from the free throw line | 38-31 |
| 01:08 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams gets the rebound | 38-31 |
| 00:46 | Northern Illinois University | Claude Bennett steals it from William Beatty | 38-31 |
| 00:24 | Syracuse | Shawn Williams is called for traveling | 38-31 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Michael Mosley (SG), Thomas Lamothe (SF), Edward Williams (C) John Shockley, Eugene Houghton, William Beatty | |
| 00:03 | Northern Illinois University | Mark Williams misses the jumper from just outside the lane | 38-31 |
| 00:02 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith grabs the defensive rebound | 38-31 |
| 00:00 | Syracuse | Bobby Smith can't connect on a fullcourt shot | 38-31 |