| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Marc Tolbert (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SG - Alvin Betton (fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. SF - Jacob Surles (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Aaron Mart (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Jamie Hereford (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Craig Seager (fresh) SG - Richard Sangster (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Benjamin Rouse (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - James Cole (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. C - Frank Beyers (fresh) 11 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Ohio State | Jacob Surles inbounds the ball | 27-27 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 19:42 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton buries a 3pt jumper from straight away on a great pass from Marc Tolbert | 30-27 |
| 19:25 | Northern Illinois University | Jamie Hereford takes the ball from James Cole | 30-27 |
| 19:01 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert is hacked by James Cole - foul #1 on James Cole, team foul #1 | 30-27 |
| 18:44 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford misses the easy layup | 30-27 |
| 18:43 | Northern Illinois University | Benjamin Rouse gets the rebound | 30-27 |
| 18:14 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager scores on a 3 from straight away | 30-30 |
| 17:58 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton travels with the ball | 30-30 |
| 17:35 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager is hacked by Alvin Betton - foul #2 on Alvin Betton, team foul #1 | 30-30 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir (PF) James Cole | |
| 17:06 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster comes up short on the fadeaway from the right block but he's hacked by Alvin Betton - foul #3 on Alvin Betton, team foul #2 | 30-30 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Allan Biggs (SG), Kyle Puente (SF) Alvin Betton, Jacob Surles | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Perry (SF) Benjamin Rouse | |
| 17:06 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster makes the 1st free throw | 30-31 |
| 17:06 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster makes the 2nd free throw | 30-32 |
| 16:45 | Ohio State | Frank Beyers swats the layup by Jamie Hereford | 30-32 |
| 16:43 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert tips it but misses | 30-32 |
| 16:41 | Ohio State | Aaron Mart hits the follow up shot | 32-32 |
| 16:20 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers misses long on a runner from the right block but he's fouled by Jamie Hereford - foul #1 on Jamie Hereford, team foul #3 | 32-32 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer (PF), Robert Green (C) Aaron Mart, Jamie Hereford | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff (PG), Danny Wales (SG) Craig Seager, Richard Sangster | |
| 16:20 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers makes the 1st free throw | 32-33 |
| 16:20 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers misses the 2nd free throw | 32-33 |
| 16:20 | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer grabs the board | 32-33 |
| 16:09 | Ohio State | Robert Green hits a turnaround from the baseline on a nice dish by Marc Tolbert | 34-33 |
| 15:59 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff's pass is intercepted by Allan Biggs | 34-33 |
| 15:56 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs hits the finger roll | 36-33 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Marc Tolbert (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 ast. SG - Allan Biggs (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Kyle Puente (fresh) PF - Timothy Schweizer (fresh) 3 reb. C - Robert Green (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Howard Ratliff (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Danny Wales (fresh) SF - Daniel Perry (fresh) PF - Dennis Weir (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Frank Beyers (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 15:36 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers is called for a pushoff foul - foul #3 on Frank Beyers, team foul #2 | 36-33 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Alvin Betton (PG), Jacob Surles (SF) Marc Tolbert, Kyle Puente | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Benjamin Rouse (SF), James Cole (PF), Gerald Dean (C) Daniel Perry, Dennis Weir, Frank Beyers | |
| 15:11 | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer connects on the fadeaway from close range on a great pass from Alvin Betton | 38-33 |
| 14:52 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff clanks a 3 from the right corner | 38-33 |
| 14:51 | Ohio State | Robert Green grabs the board | 38-33 |
| 14:35 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs misses short on an open 3pt shot from the right wing | 38-33 |
| 14:33 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Howard Ratliff | 38-33 |
| 14:28 | Northern Illinois University | Danny Wales is hacked by Allan Biggs - foul #2 on Allan Biggs, team foul #4 | 38-33 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Aaron Mart (PF), Jamie Hereford (C) Timothy Schweizer, Robert Green | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager (PG), Richard Sangster (SG) Howard Ratliff, Danny Wales | |
| 14:13 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager comes up short on the 3 pointer from straight away | 38-33 |
| 14:11 | Ohio State | Aaron Mart snags the defensive board | 38-33 |
| 14:07 | Ohio State | Craig Seager takes the ball from Jacob Surles | 38-33 |
| 13:50 | Northern Illinois University | A charge is called on Richard Sangster - foul #1 on Richard Sangster, team foul #3 | 38-33 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert (PG), Kyle Puente (SF) Allan Biggs, Jacob Surles | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir (PF), Frank Beyers (C) James Cole, Gerald Dean | |
| 13:31 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton splits the doubleteam and buries a runner from the baseline and he's hacked by Richard Sangster - foul #2 on Richard Sangster, team foul #4 | 40-33 |
| 13:31 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton makes the free throw | 41-33 |
| 13:14 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster lays it up and in | 41-35 |
| 12:58 | Ohio State | Aaron Mart comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 41-35 |
| 12:56 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford hits the follow up shot | 43-35 |
| 12:54 | Northern Illinois University | Marc Tolbert picks off the pass by Craig Seager in the backcourt | 43-35 |
| 12:32 | Ohio State | Kyle Puente misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 43-35 |
| 12:31 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Dennis Weir | 43-35 |
| 12:05 | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 43-35 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Allan Biggs (SG), Jacob Surles (SF) Alvin Betton, Kyle Puente | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Perry (SF), James Cole (PF) Benjamin Rouse, Dennis Weir | |
| 11:41 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 43-35 |
| 11:40 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Perry pulls down the rebound | 43-35 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Marc Tolbert (fresh) 6 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Allan Biggs (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Jacob Surles (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Aaron Mart (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. C - Jamie Hereford (fresh) 10 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Craig Seager (fresh) 3 pts. 2 stl. SG - Richard Sangster (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Daniel Perry (fresh) PF - James Cole (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. C - Frank Beyers (fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 11:34 | Northern Illinois University | Marc Tolbert is called for the reach on Craig Seager in the backcourt - foul #2 on Marc Tolbert, team foul #5 | 43-35 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer (PF), Robert Green (C) Aaron Mart, Jamie Hereford | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff (PG), Danny Wales (SG), Gerald Dean (C) Craig Seager, Richard Sangster, Frank Beyers | |
| 11:24 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 43-35 |
| 11:22 | Northern Illinois University | The offensive rebound goes to Danny Wales | 43-35 |
| 10:53 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff misses short on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 43-35 |
| 10:52 | Ohio State | Timothy Schweizer grabs the defensive rebound | 43-35 |
| 10:25 | Ohio State | Allan Biggs misses badly on a fadeaway from the right side | 43-35 |
| 10:24 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Daniel Perry | 43-35 |
| 09:55 | Northern Illinois University | James Cole hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Howard Ratliff | 43-37 |
| 09:33 | Ohio State | Robert Green is denied on a layup by James Cole | 43-37 |
| 09:31 | Northern Illinois University | James Cole grabs the defensive rebound | 43-37 |
| 09:24 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff misses long on a floater from the free throw line but he's fouled by Robert Green - foul #3 on Robert Green, team foul #6 | 43-37 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Alvin Betton (PG), Kyle Puente (SF), Aaron Mart (PF), Jamie Hereford (C) Marc Tolbert, Jacob Surles, Timothy Schweizer, Robert Green | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster (SG), Benjamin Rouse (SF), Dennis Weir (PF), Frank Beyers (C) Danny Wales, Daniel Perry, James Cole, Gerald Dean | |
| 09:24 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff makes the 1st free throw | 43-38 |
| 09:24 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff makes the 2nd free throw | 43-39 |
| 09:05 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford scores on a floater in the paint on a nice dish by Alvin Betton | 45-39 |
| 08:44 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers misses short on a jump hook in the lane | 45-39 |
| 08:43 | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir grabs the offensive board | 45-39 |
| 08:28 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers is called for a backcourt violation | 45-39 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert (PG) Allan Biggs | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager (PG) Howard Ratliff | |
| 08:16 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford scores on a jumper near the basket on a great pass from Aaron Mart | 47-39 |
| 07:57 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers hits the front of the rim on the runner from the left block but he's fouled by Jamie Hereford - foul #2 on Jamie Hereford, team foul #7 | 47-39 |
| 07:57 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers makes the 1st free throw | 47-40 |
| 07:57 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers makes the 2nd free throw | 47-41 |
| 07:32 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert hits a pull-up jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Alvin Betton | 49-41 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Marc Tolbert (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Alvin Betton (fresh) 14 pts. 6 ast. 3 pf. SF - Kyle Puente (fresh) PF - Aaron Mart (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. C - Jamie Hereford (fresh) 14 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Craig Seager (fresh) 3 pts. 2 stl. SG - Richard Sangster (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Benjamin Rouse (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Dennis Weir (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Frank Beyers (fresh) 14 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 07:04 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager makes the pull-up jumper from the right side | 49-43 |
| 06:44 | Ohio State | Benjamin Rouse steps in front of the Jamie Hereford pass | 49-43 |
| 06:39 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager lays it up and in on a great pass from Benjamin Rouse | 49-45 |
| 06:20 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 49-45 |
| 06:18 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford tips it in | 51-45 |
| 06:00 | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir lays it in and he's hacked by Kyle Puente - foul #1 on Kyle Puente, team foul #8 | 51-47 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Allan Biggs (SG), Jacob Surles (SF), Timothy Schweizer (PF), Robert Green (C) Alvin Betton, Kyle Puente, Aaron Mart, Jamie Hereford | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Danny Wales (SG), Daniel Perry (SF), Gerald Dean (C) Richard Sangster, Benjamin Rouse, Frank Beyers | |
| 06:00 | Northern Illinois University | Dennis Weir makes the free throw | 51-48 |
| 05:45 | Ohio State | Robert Green misses short on a shot near the basket but he's fouled by Daniel Perry - foul #2 on Daniel Perry, team foul #5 | 51-48 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | James Cole (PF) Dennis Weir | |
| 05:45 | Ohio State | Robert Green makes the 1st free throw | 52-48 |
| 05:45 | Ohio State | Robert Green misses the 2nd free throw | 52-48 |
| 05:45 | Northern Illinois University | James Cole grabs the defensive rebound | 52-48 |
| 05:19 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Perry hits the front of the rim on the floater from the right block but he's fouled by Robert Green - foul #4 on Robert Green, team foul #9 | 52-48 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff (PG) Craig Seager | |
| 05:19 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Perry makes the 1st free throw | 52-49 |
| 05:19 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Perry makes the 2nd free throw | 52-50 |
| 04:57 | Ohio State | Robert Green comes up short on the driving attempt from the right block | 52-50 |
| 04:55 | Northern Illinois University | Daniel Perry grabs the defensive rebound | 52-50 |
| 04:49 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff knocks in the 3pt jumper from the right corner set up by Danny Wales | 52-53 |
| 04:43 | Ohio State | Jacob Surles is fouled on the floor by Danny Wales - foul #1 on Danny Wales, team foul #6 | 52-53 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Alvin Betton (PG), Aaron Mart (PF), Jamie Hereford (C) Marc Tolbert, Timothy Schweizer, Robert Green | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster (SG), Frank Beyers (C) Danny Wales, Gerald Dean | |
| 04:25 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford makes the jumper from the free throw line and the foul's on Frank Beyers - foul #4 on Frank Beyers, team foul #7 | 54-53 |
| Subs | Ohio State | | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Benjamin Rouse (SF) Daniel Perry | |
| 04:25 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford misses the free throw | 54-53 |
| 04:25 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers snags the defensive board | 54-53 |
| 04:19 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers drills a jumpshot from the right wing | 54-55 |
| 04:02 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford misses badly on a shot from the left wing | 54-55 |
| 04:00 | Ohio State | Aaron Mart tips it back up and in | 56-55 |
| 03:34 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff knocks in the driving attempt from the baseline | 56-57 |
| Lineup | Ohio State | PG - Alvin Betton (fresh) 14 pts. 6 ast. 3 pf. SG - Allan Biggs (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Jacob Surles (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Aaron Mart (fresh) 6 pts. 6 reb. C - Jamie Hereford (fresh) 18 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Howard Ratliff (fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Sangster (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Benjamin Rouse (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. PF - James Cole (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. C - Frank Beyers (fresh) 16 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. | |
| 03:05 | Ohio State | Benjamin Rouse blocks the short jumper by Jamie Hereford | 56-57 |
| 03:04 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers grabs the defensive rebound | 56-57 |
| 02:45 | Northern Illinois University | Howard Ratliff is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #2 on Howard Ratliff, team foul #8 | 56-57 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert (PG), Kyle Puente (SF), Timothy Schweizer (PF), Robert Green (C) Allan Biggs, Jacob Surles, Aaron Mart, Jamie Hereford | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager (PG), Danny Wales (SG), Daniel Perry (SF), Dennis Weir (PF) Howard Ratliff, Richard Sangster, Benjamin Rouse, James Cole | |
| 02:41 | Ohio State | Ohio State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 56-57 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Aaron Mart (PF), Jamie Hereford (C) Timothy Schweizer, Robert Green | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster (SG), Benjamin Rouse (SF) Danny Wales, Daniel Perry | |
| 02:31 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford comes up short on the floater from just outside the lane | 56-57 |
| 02:29 | Ohio State | Aaron Mart tips it back up and in | 58-57 |
| 02:01 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 58-57 |
| 02:00 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton gets the rebound | 58-57 |
| 01:53 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford buries a driving attempt from close range on a nice dish by Marc Tolbert | 60-57 |
| 01:48 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 60-57 |
| 01:47 | Ohio State | The rebound goes to Jamie Hereford | 60-57 |
| 01:34 | Ohio State | Jamie Hereford loses the dribble to Dennis Weir | 60-57 |
| 01:17 | Northern Illinois University | Craig Seager's pass is intercepted by Aaron Mart | 60-57 |
| 00:52 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert is hacked by Richard Sangster - foul #3 on Richard Sangster, team foul #9 | 60-57 |
| Subs | Ohio State | Jacob Surles (SF) Kyle Puente | |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | James Cole (PF) Dennis Weir | |
| 00:52 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert misses the 1st free throw | 60-57 |
| 00:52 | Northern Illinois University | James Cole snags the defensive board | 60-57 |
| 00:23 | Northern Illinois University | Frank Beyers knocks in the runner from the right block | 60-59 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:21 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton is hacked by Richard Sangster in the backcourt - foul #4 on Richard Sangster, team foul #10 | 60-59 |
| 00:21 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton misses the 1st free throw | 60-59 |
| 00:21 | Ohio State | Alvin Betton misses the 2nd free throw | 60-59 |
| 00:21 | Northern Illinois University | James Cole snags the defensive board | 60-59 |
| 00:03 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Sangster connects on the shot from the right wing on a great pass from Benjamin Rouse | 60-61 |
| 00:03 | Ohio State | Ohio State calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 3 full remaining) | 60-61 |
| Game Plan | Ohio State | Ohio State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Ohio State | Marc Tolbert misses badly on a halfcourt shot | 60-61 |