| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randy Nix (fresh) 8 pts. 4 ast. SF - Terrance Davis (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Richard Traynor (fresh) C - Cecil Shelley (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth Zembower (fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. SG - Harold Hearn (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Jackson (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Otto Walters (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - Ryan Watterson (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson inbounds the ball | 36-47 |
| Game Plan | Ball State | Ball State is playing a triangle offense and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| 19:48 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 36-47 |
| 19:46 | Ball State | The rebound goes to Richard Traynor | 36-47 |
| 19:32 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley connects on the 3 from straight away set up by Donald Cooley | 39-47 |
| 19:25 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson's floater is tipped away by Cecil Shelley | 39-47 |
| 19:24 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters snags the offensive board | 39-47 |
| 19:19 | Northern Illinois University | Randy Nix is called for the reach on Kenneth Zembower - foul #2 on Randy Nix, team foul #1 | 39-47 |
| 18:58 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn can't connect on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 39-47 |
| 18:56 | Ball State | The rebound goes to Cecil Shelley | 39-47 |
| 18:49 | Ball State | Donald Cooley's pass is intercepted by Kenneth Zembower in the backcourt | 39-47 |
| 18:35 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 39-47 |
| 18:34 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Otto Walters | 39-47 |
| 18:23 | Northern Illinois University | Cecil Shelley picks off the pass by Otto Walters | 39-47 |
| 18:08 | Ball State | Randy Nix scores on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Donald Cooley | 41-47 |
| 17:46 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 41-47 |
| 17:44 | Ball State | Terrance Davis snags the defensive board | 41-47 |
| 17:30 | Ball State | Richard Traynor can't connect on a runner near the basket | 41-47 |
| 17:29 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley pulls down the offensive rebound | 41-47 |
| 17:21 | Ball State | Donald Cooley misses badly on a jumper from the left wing | 41-47 |
| 17:19 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters snags the defensive board | 41-47 |
| 17:15 | Northern Illinois University | Cecil Shelley swats the layup by Kenneth Zembower | 41-47 |
| 17:14 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson grabs the offensive board | 41-47 |
| 17:00 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters is hacked by Randy Nix - foul #3 on Randy Nix, team foul #2 | 41-47 |
| Subs | Ball State | Todd Parker (PG), Dean Durham (SG), Blake Ratcliff (SF), Hubert Stephens (PF) Donald Cooley, Randy Nix, Terrance Davis, Richard Traynor | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado (SF), Joe Thurman (PF) James Jackson, Otto Walters | |
| 16:42 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn makes the fadeaway jumper from the left side set up by Joe Thurman | 41-49 |
| 16:16 | Ball State | Dean Durham loses the ball out of bounds | 41-49 |
| Subs | Ball State | Tyler Arocho (C) Cecil Shelley | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Justin Huizenga (PG), Erwin Taylor (SF) Kenneth Zembower, Ryan Watterson | |
| 16:00 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 41-49 |
| 15:58 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn tips it in | 41-51 |
| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Todd Parker (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Dean Durham (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Blake Ratcliff (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Hubert Stephens (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - Tyler Arocho (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Justin Huizenga (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Harold Hearn (fresh) 14 pts. 1 ast. SF - Erwin Taylor (fresh) PF - Francis Rosado (fresh) 3 pts. C - Joe Thurman (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 15:44 | Ball State | Blake Ratcliff comes up short on the jumper from the free throw line | 41-51 |
| 15:42 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn gets the rebound | 41-51 |
| 15:37 | Northern Illinois University | Erwin Taylor knocks in the driving attempt from the left block set up by Joe Thurman | 41-53 |
| 15:17 | Ball State | Todd Parker's fadeaway is rejected by Francis Rosado | 41-53 |
| 15:15 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn grabs the board | 41-53 |
| 15:11 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn hits a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane set up by Justin Huizenga | 41-55 |
| 15:04 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens blows the layup | 41-55 |
| 15:03 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Joe Thurman | 41-55 |
| 14:58 | Northern Illinois University | Erwin Taylor's layup is rejected by Tyler Arocho | 41-55 |
| 14:57 | Ball State | Blake Ratcliff pulls down the rebound | 41-55 |
| 14:44 | Ball State | Tyler Arocho's layup is rejected by Joe Thurman | 41-55 |
| 14:43 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens snags the offensive board | 41-55 |
| 14:32 | Ball State | Hubert Stephens banks in the layup | 43-55 |
| 14:09 | Northern Illinois University | Joe Thurman's pass is intercepted by Dean Durham | 43-55 |
| 13:52 | Ball State | Todd Parker makes the pull-up jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Hubert Stephens and the foul's on Harold Hearn - foul #2 on Harold Hearn, team foul #1 | 45-55 |
| Subs | Ball State | Randy Nix (SG), Terrance Davis (SF), Richard Traynor (PF), Cecil Shelley (C) Dean Durham, Blake Ratcliff, Hubert Stephens, Tyler Arocho | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower (PG), Robert Keltner (SG), James Jackson (SF), Otto Walters (PF), Ryan Watterson (C) Justin Huizenga, Harold Hearn, Erwin Taylor, Francis Rosado, Joe Thurman | |
| 13:52 | Ball State | Todd Parker makes the free throw | 46-55 |
| 13:29 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower clanks a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 46-55 |
| 13:27 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley grabs the board | 46-55 |
| 13:07 | Ball State | Terrance Davis misses the pull-up jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by Kenneth Zembower - foul #1 on Kenneth Zembower, team foul #2 | 46-55 |
| Subs | Ball State | Donald Cooley (PG) Todd Parker | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 13:07 | Ball State | Terrance Davis misses the 1st free throw | 46-55 |
| 13:07 | Ball State | Terrance Davis makes the 2nd free throw | 47-55 |
| 12:46 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson is fouled on the floor by Terrance Davis - foul #3 on Terrance Davis, team foul #3 | 47-55 |
| 12:35 | Northern Illinois University | The short jumper by Ryan Watterson is denied by Cecil Shelley | 47-55 |
| 12:33 | Ball State | The rebound goes to Cecil Shelley | 47-55 |
| 12:16 | Ball State | Donald Cooley hits a jump hook from close range on a nice dish by Richard Traynor | 49-55 |
| 12:11 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner buries a driving attempt from the left block on a great pass from Kenneth Zembower | 49-57 |
| 12:02 | Ball State | Donald Cooley misses short on a jumper from the right wing but he's hacked by Kenneth Zembower - foul #2 on Kenneth Zembower, team foul #3 | 49-57 |
| 12:02 | Ball State | Donald Cooley makes the 1st free throw | 50-57 |
| 12:02 | Ball State | Donald Cooley makes the 2nd free throw | 51-57 |
| 11:35 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson makes the jumper near the basket on a nice dish by James Jackson and he's fouled by Cecil Shelley - foul #1 on Cecil Shelley, team foul #4 | 51-59 |
| 11:35 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson makes the free throw | 51-60 |
| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. SG - Randy Nix (fresh) 10 pts. 4 ast. 3 pf. SF - Terrance Davis (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. PF - Richard Traynor (fresh) 2 reb. C - Cecil Shelley (fresh) 7 pts. 8 reb. 4 blk. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth Zembower (fresh) 12 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SG - Robert Keltner (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - James Jackson (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Otto Walters (fresh) 5 pts. 7 reb. C - Ryan Watterson (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| 11:19 | Ball State | Randy Nix scores on a floater from the left wing | 53-60 |
| 11:02 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters misses the easy layup | 53-60 |
| 11:01 | Ball State | The rebound goes to Cecil Shelley | 53-60 |
| 10:55 | Ball State | Randy Nix hits a 3pt attempt from the left wing on a nice dish by Terrance Davis | 56-60 |
| 10:51 | Northern Illinois University | Donald Cooley is called for the reach on Kenneth Zembower in the backcourt - foul #1 on Donald Cooley, team foul #5 | 56-60 |
| Subs | Ball State | Todd Parker (SF), Hubert Stephens (PF) Terrance Davis, Richard Traynor | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn (SG), Francis Rosado (SF), Joe Thurman (PF) Robert Keltner, James Jackson, Otto Walters | |
| 10:42 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson makes the shot in the lane on a nice dish by Francis Rosado | 56-62 |
| 10:35 | Ball State | Todd Parker knocks in the floater from the right side on a great pass from Donald Cooley | 58-62 |
| 10:13 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson is called for traveling | 58-62 |
| Subs | Ball State | Dean Durham (SG), Blake Ratcliff (SF), Tyler Arocho (C) Donald Cooley, Randy Nix, Cecil Shelley | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Justin Huizenga (PG), Erwin Taylor (SF) Kenneth Zembower, Ryan Watterson | |
| 09:53 | Ball State | Todd Parker misses the easy layup | 58-62 |
| 09:52 | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado pulls down the rebound | 58-62 |
| 09:47 | Northern Illinois University | Justin Huizenga clanks a 3 pointer from the left corner | 58-62 |
| 09:46 | Ball State | Blake Ratcliff grabs the board | 58-62 |
| 09:44 | Ball State | Todd Parker is hacked by Justin Huizenga in the backcourt - foul #2 on Justin Huizenga, team foul #4 | 58-62 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner (SG), James Jackson (SF), Otto Walters (PF) Justin Huizenga, Erwin Taylor, Francis Rosado | |
| 09:21 | Ball State | Todd Parker clanks a jumper from close range | 58-62 |
| 09:20 | Ball State | Tyler Arocho snags the offensive board | 58-62 |
| 09:05 | Ball State | Dean Durham connects on the 3 from the left wing on a great pass from Todd Parker | 61-62 |
| 08:50 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters loses the ball out of bounds | 61-62 |
| Subs | Ball State | Donald Cooley (PG), Randy Nix (SG), Terrance Davis (SF), Richard Traynor (PF), Cecil Shelley (C) Todd Parker, Dean Durham, Blake Ratcliff, Hubert Stephens, Tyler Arocho | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower (PG), Ryan Watterson (C) Harold Hearn, Joe Thurman | |
| 08:35 | Ball State | Terrance Davis throws a bad pass out of bounds | 61-62 |
| 08:15 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson hits the finger roll on a great pass from Otto Walters and he's fouled by Cecil Shelley - foul #2 on Cecil Shelley, team foul #6 | 61-64 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn (SG) Robert Keltner | |
| 08:15 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson misses the free throw | 61-64 |
| 08:15 | Ball State | Richard Traynor grabs the board | 61-64 |
| 08:00 | Ball State | Randy Nix knocks in the 3 pointer from straight away | 64-64 |
| 07:45 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson misses the turnaround from the baseline but he's fouled by Cecil Shelley - foul #3 on Cecil Shelley, team foul #7 | 64-64 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Francis Rosado (SF), Joe Thurman (PF) James Jackson, Otto Walters | |
| 07:45 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson makes the 1st free throw | 64-65 |
| 07:45 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson makes the 2nd free throw | 64-66 |
| 07:32 | Ball State | Kenneth Zembower is called for the reach on Donald Cooley - foul #3 on Kenneth Zembower, team foul #5 | 64-66 |
| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fresh) 8 pts. 4 ast. SG - Randy Nix (fresh) 18 pts. 4 ast. 3 pf. SF - Terrance Davis (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. PF - Richard Traynor (fresh) 3 reb. C - Cecil Shelley (fresh) 7 pts. 9 reb. 4 blk. 2 stl. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth Zembower (fresh) 12 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - Harold Hearn (fresh) 16 pts. 1 ast. SF - Francis Rosado (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. PF - Joe Thurman (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Ryan Watterson (fresh) 9 pts. | |
| 07:19 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley's pass is intercepted by Harold Hearn | 64-66 |
| 07:03 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson blows the layup | 64-66 |
| 07:02 | Ball State | Randy Nix pulls down the rebound | 64-66 |
| 06:44 | Ball State | Donald Cooley buries a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 66-66 |
| 06:26 | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 66-66 |
| 06:24 | Ball State | The rebound goes to Cecil Shelley | 66-66 |
| 06:07 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Donald Cooley and the foul's on Ryan Watterson - foul #3 on Ryan Watterson, team foul #6 | 68-66 |
| Subs | Ball State | Todd Parker (PG), Blake Ratcliff (SF), Hubert Stephens (PF) Donald Cooley, Terrance Davis, Richard Traynor | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner (SG), James Jackson (SF), Otto Walters (PF) Kenneth Zembower, Francis Rosado, Ryan Watterson | |
| 06:07 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley makes the free throw | 69-66 |
| 05:54 | Northern Illinois University | Hubert Stephens picks off the pass by Robert Keltner | 69-66 |
| 05:34 | Ball State | Todd Parker clanks a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 69-66 |
| 05:33 | Ball State | Blake Ratcliff can't tip it in | 69-66 |
| 05:32 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley tips it back up and in | 71-66 |
| 05:17 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson drills a 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by Harold Hearn | 71-69 |
| 05:08 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 71-69 |
| 05:07 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson gets the rebound | 71-69 |
| 05:03 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson comes up short on the floater from the left block | 71-69 |
| 05:02 | Ball State | Randy Nix snags the defensive board | 71-69 |
| 04:48 | Ball State | Blake Ratcliff clanks a 3 pointer from the right corner | 71-69 |
| 04:47 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley tips it back up and in | 73-69 |
| 04:31 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner makes the jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Harold Hearn | 73-71 |
| 04:08 | Ball State | Todd Parker knocks in the 3pt jumper from straight away on a nice dish by Randy Nix | 76-71 |
| 04:06 | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 76-71 |
| Subs | Ball State | Donald Cooley (PG), Terrance Davis (SF), Richard Traynor (PF) Todd Parker, Blake Ratcliff, Hubert Stephens | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower (PG), Ryan Watterson (C) Harold Hearn, Joe Thurman | |
| 04:04 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson buries a fadeaway from close range | 76-73 |
| 03:57 | Ball State | Randy Nix's floater is tipped away by Otto Walters | 76-73 |
| 03:55 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters gets the rebound | 76-73 |
| 03:34 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson buries a floater from just outside the lane set up by Kenneth Zembower and he's fouled by Terrance Davis - foul #4 on Terrance Davis, team foul #8 | 76-75 |
| 03:34 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson misses the free throw | 76-75 |
| 03:34 | Ball State | Richard Traynor snags the defensive board | 76-75 |
| Lineup | Ball State | PG - Donald Cooley (fresh) 10 pts. 5 ast. SG - Randy Nix (fresh) 18 pts. 5 ast. 3 pf. SF - Terrance Davis (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. PF - Richard Traynor (fresh) 4 reb. C - Cecil Shelley (fresh) 14 pts. 12 reb. 4 blk. 2 stl. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Kenneth Zembower (fresh) 12 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - Robert Keltner (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - James Jackson (fresh) 14 pts. 4 reb. PF - Otto Walters (fresh) 5 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. C - Ryan Watterson (fresh) 9 pts. 3 pf. | |
| 03:13 | Ball State | Richard Traynor misses badly on a floater from the left wing | 76-75 |
| 03:12 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner grabs the defensive rebound | 76-75 |
| 03:08 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower misses long on a shot from just outside the lane | 76-75 |
| 03:07 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters misses the tip | 76-75 |
| 03:05 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner tips it home | 76-77 |
| 02:50 | Ball State | Randy Nix makes the 3 from the left corner | 79-77 |
| 02:46 | Northern Illinois University | Cecil Shelley steps in front of the Robert Keltner pass | 79-77 |
| 02:39 | Ball State | Terrance Davis misses the floater from just outside the lane | 79-77 |
| 02:37 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson grabs the board | 79-77 |
| 02:31 | Northern Illinois University | Kenneth Zembower comes up short on the jump hook from the baseline | 79-77 |
| 02:30 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson tips it home | 79-79 |
| 02:13 | Ball State | Terrance Davis's layup is rejected by Ryan Watterson | 79-79 |
| 02:12 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters pulls down the rebound | 79-79 |
| 01:48 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters is fouled on the floor by Richard Traynor - foul #3 on Richard Traynor, team foul #9 | 79-79 |
| 01:48 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters misses the 1st free throw | 79-79 |
| 01:48 | Ball State | Richard Traynor gets the rebound | 79-79 |
| 01:28 | Ball State | Ryan Watterson blocks the short jumper by Cecil Shelley | 79-79 |
| 01:27 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson grabs the defensive rebound | 79-79 |
| 01:21 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Traynor swats the dunk try by Otto Walters | 79-79 |
| 01:20 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters tips it home | 79-81 |
| 01:02 | Ball State | Cecil Shelley clanks a 3 from straight away | 79-81 |
| 01:00 | Ball State | The offensive rebound goes to Terrance Davis | 79-81 |
| 00:40 | Ball State | Richard Traynor is fouled on the floor by Otto Walters - foul #2 on Otto Walters, team foul #7 | 79-81 |
| 00:40 | Ball State | Richard Traynor misses the 1st free throw | 79-81 |
| 00:40 | Northern Illinois University | Ryan Watterson grabs the defensive rebound | 79-81 |
| Game Plan | Ball State | Ball State is playing a triangle offense and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| 00:12 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner is hacked by Terrance Davis - foul #5 on Terrance Davis, team foul #10 | 79-81 |
| Subs | Ball State | Todd Parker (SF) Terrance Davis | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| 00:12 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner misses the 1st free throw | 79-81 |
| 00:12 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Keltner misses the 2nd free throw | 79-81 |
| 00:12 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters grabs the offensive board | 79-81 |
| Game Plan | Ball State | Ball State is playing a triangle offense and intentionally fouling (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| 00:09 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters is fouled on the floor by Todd Parker - foul #3 on Todd Parker, team foul #11 | 79-81 |
| 00:09 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters makes the 1st free throw | 79-82 |
| 00:09 | Northern Illinois University | Otto Walters makes the 2nd free throw | 79-83 |
| Game Plan | Ball State | Ball State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| 00:03 | Ball State | Kenneth Zembower steals it from Cecil Shelley | 79-83 |
| 00:01 | Northern Illinois University | Donald Cooley is called for the reach on James Jackson in the backcourt - foul #2 on Donald Cooley, team foul #12 | 79-83 |
| Subs | Ball State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Harold Hearn (SG) Robert Keltner | |
| 00:01 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson misses the 1st free throw | 79-83 |
| 00:01 | Northern Illinois University | James Jackson misses the 2nd free throw | 79-83 |
| 00:01 | Ball State | The rebound goes to Randy Nix | 79-83 |
| 00:00 | Ball State | Randy Nix comes up short on the fullcourt shot | 79-83 |