| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Robert Forman (fresh) SG - Joseph Pagel (fresh) SF - Dwayne Williams (fresh) PF - Marshall Devinney (fresh) C - James Starkes (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Auburn | PG - Michael Diep (fresh) SG - Clifford Brubaker (fresh) SF - Alex Hutton (fresh) PF - Casey Nelson (fresh) C - Terry Fisher (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Auburn | Auburn is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| 19:43 | Northern Illinois University | Dwayne Williams drills a pull-up jumper from the left side on a great pass from Joseph Pagel | 2-0 |
| 19:29 | Auburn | Clifford Brubaker clanks a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 2-0 |
| 19:28 | Auburn | Terry Fisher gets the offensive rebound | 2-0 |
| 19:20 | Auburn | Robert Forman is called for the reach on Clifford Brubaker - foul #1 on Robert Forman, team foul #1 | 2-0 |
| 19:07 | Auburn | Terry Fisher is hacked by James Starkes - foul #1 on James Starkes, team foul #2 | 2-0 |
| 18:54 | Auburn | Terry Fisher's pass is intercepted by James Starkes | 2-0 |
| 18:47 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes loses the dribble to Michael Diep | 2-0 |
| 18:42 | Auburn | Alex Hutton hits the front of the rim on the floater from close range | 2-0 |
| 18:40 | Auburn | Terry Fisher grabs the offensive rebound | 2-0 |
| 18:29 | Auburn | Alex Hutton misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 2-0 |
| 18:27 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman snags the defensive board | 2-0 |
| 18:22 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman knocks in the 3pt jumper from the left corner on a nice dish by Dwayne Williams | 5-0 |
| 18:03 | Auburn | Casey Nelson misses badly on a floater from the right wing | 5-0 |
| 18:02 | Auburn | The offensive rebound goes to Casey Nelson | 5-0 |
| 17:43 | Auburn | Alex Hutton misses badly on a driving attempt from close range but the foul's on James Starkes - foul #2 on James Starkes, team foul #3 | 5-0 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner (C) James Starkes | |
| Subs | Auburn | | |
| 17:43 | Auburn | Alex Hutton misses the 1st free throw | 5-0 |
| 17:43 | Auburn | Alex Hutton makes the 2nd free throw | 5-1 |
| 17:29 | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner scores on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Marshall Devinney | 7-1 |
| 17:20 | Auburn | Clifford Brubaker makes the 3pt shot from the left wing | 7-4 |
| 17:14 | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner connects on the jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Dwayne Williams | 9-4 |
| 16:59 | Auburn | The short jumper by Clifford Brubaker is denied by Johnnie Turner | 9-4 |
| 16:58 | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney grabs the board | 9-4 |
| 16:54 | Northern Illinois University | Michael Diep steps in front of the Robert Forman pass in the backcourt | 9-4 |
| 16:53 | Auburn | Michael Diep blows the layup | 9-4 |
| 16:51 | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner grabs the board | 9-4 |
| 16:43 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 9-4 |
| 16:41 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel grabs the offensive rebound | 9-4 |
| 16:25 | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner misses short on a fadeaway from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Terry Fisher - foul #1 on Terry Fisher, team foul #1 | 9-4 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears (SF) Dwayne Williams | |
| Subs | Auburn | | |
| 16:25 | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner makes the 1st free throw | 10-4 |
| 16:25 | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner misses the 2nd free throw | 10-4 |
| 16:25 | Auburn | Terry Fisher gets the rebound | 10-4 |
| 16:07 | Auburn | Terry Fisher can't finish the layup | 10-4 |
| 16:05 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman grabs the defensive rebound | 10-4 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Robert Forman (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - Joseph Pagel (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Andrew Spears (fresh) PF - Marshall Devinney (fresh) C - Johnnie Turner (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| Lineup | Auburn | PG - Michael Diep (fresh) 2 stl. SG - Clifford Brubaker (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Alex Hutton (fresh) 1 pts. PF - Casey Nelson (fresh) C - Terry Fisher (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 15:41 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel is fouled on the floor by Clifford Brubaker - foul #1 on Clifford Brubaker, team foul #2 | 10-4 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Richard Johnson (PG), Earl Short (SG), Timothy Stoneburner (C) Robert Forman, Joseph Pagel, Marshall Devinney | |
| Subs | Auburn | Billy Bridgeforth (PF) Casey Nelson | |
| 15:24 | Northern Illinois University | Terry Fisher picks off the pass by Andrew Spears | 10-4 |
| 15:08 | Auburn | Terry Fisher is denied on a layup by Timothy Stoneburner | 10-4 |
| 15:06 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Stoneburner snags the defensive board | 10-4 |
| 15:00 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears hits the finger roll on a great pass from Earl Short | 12-4 |
| 14:53 | Auburn | Johnnie Turner takes the ball from Michael Diep | 12-4 |
| 14:30 | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner comes up short on the jumper from the left block | 12-4 |
| 14:29 | Auburn | Clifford Brubaker pulls down the rebound | 12-4 |
| 14:25 | Auburn | Alex Hutton loses the dribble to Earl Short | 12-4 |
| 14:19 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears blows the layup but the foul's on Clifford Brubaker - foul #2 on Clifford Brubaker, team foul #3 | 12-4 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman (PG), Joseph Pagel (SG), Dwayne Williams (SF), Marshall Devinney (PF) Richard Johnson, Earl Short, Johnnie Turner, Timothy Stoneburner | |
| Subs | Auburn | Dennis Hess (PG), Jose Silva (SG), Burton Campbell (SF), Yul Ximines (C) Michael Diep, Clifford Brubaker, Alex Hutton, Terry Fisher | |
| 14:19 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears makes the 1st free throw | 13-4 |
| 14:19 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears misses the 2nd free throw | 13-4 |
| 14:19 | Auburn | Billy Bridgeforth gets the rebound | 13-4 |
| 13:50 | Auburn | Jose Silva comes up short on the jumper from just outside the lane | 13-4 |
| 13:48 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman grabs the board | 13-4 |
| 13:40 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman clanks a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 13-4 |
| 13:39 | Auburn | Burton Campbell pulls down the rebound | 13-4 |
| 13:30 | Auburn | Dennis Hess knocks in the floater from the left wing on a great pass from Burton Campbell | 13-6 |
| 13:11 | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney misses long on a floater from the left block | 13-6 |
| 13:09 | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney tips it back up and in | 15-6 |
| 13:00 | Auburn | Burton Campbell comes up short on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 15-6 |
| 12:58 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears grabs the board | 15-6 |
| 12:54 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel makes the fadeaway near the basket on a nice dish by Robert Forman | 17-6 |
| 12:40 | Auburn | Yul Ximines drills a shot from close range set up by Dennis Hess | 17-8 |
| 12:22 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 17-8 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Richard Johnson (PG), Johnnie Turner (C) Robert Forman, Andrew Spears | |
| Subs | Auburn | Michael Diep (PG), Alex Hutton (SF), Casey Nelson (PF) Dennis Hess, Burton Campbell, Billy Bridgeforth | |
| 12:11 | Auburn | Casey Nelson misses the jumpshot from the right side | 17-8 |
| 12:09 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Dwayne Williams | 17-8 |
| 12:04 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel is hacked by Jose Silva - foul #1 on Jose Silva, team foul #4 | 17-8 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short (SG), Timothy Stoneburner (SF) Joseph Pagel, Dwayne Williams | |
| Subs | Auburn | Terry Fisher (C) Yul Ximines | |
| 11:43 | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short misses long on a 3 from straight away | 17-8 |
| 11:42 | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney gets the offensive rebound | 17-8 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Richard Johnson (fresh) SG - Earl Short (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Timothy Stoneburner (fresh) PF - Marshall Devinney (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Johnnie Turner (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| Lineup | Auburn | PG - Michael Diep (fresh) 2 stl. SG - Jose Silva (fresh) SF - Alex Hutton (fresh) 1 pts. PF - Casey Nelson (fresh) C - Terry Fisher (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 11:22 | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #1 on Marshall Devinney, team foul #4 | 17-8 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Auburn | Burton Campbell (SG) Jose Silva | |
| 11:13 | Auburn | Marshall Devinney swats the dunk try by Alex Hutton | 17-8 |
| 11:12 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Stoneburner grabs the board | 17-8 |
| 10:50 | Northern Illinois University | Terry Fisher swats the shot by Marshall Devinney | 17-8 |
| 10:48 | Auburn | Casey Nelson snags the defensive board | 17-8 |
| 10:33 | Auburn | Alex Hutton scores on a runner from the right block on a nice dish by Michael Diep | 17-10 |
| 10:17 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Stoneburner hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway in the paint | 17-10 |
| 10:15 | Auburn | Casey Nelson grabs the board | 17-10 |
| 10:06 | Auburn | Michael Diep scores on a 3 from the left wing | 17-13 |
| 09:55 | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short knocks in the 3 from the left corner set up by Timothy Stoneburner | 20-13 |
| 09:35 | Auburn | Alex Hutton can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by Timothy Stoneburner - foul #1 on Timothy Stoneburner, team foul #5 | 20-13 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman (PG), Joseph Pagel (SG), Dwayne Williams (SF), Andrew Spears (PF) Richard Johnson, Earl Short, Marshall Devinney, Johnnie Turner | |
| Subs | Auburn | Dennis Hess (PG), Jose Silva (SG), Billy Bridgeforth (PF), Yul Ximines (C) Michael Diep, Burton Campbell, Casey Nelson, Terry Fisher | |
| 09:35 | Auburn | Alex Hutton makes the 1st free throw | 20-14 |
| 09:35 | Auburn | Alex Hutton makes the 2nd free throw | 20-15 |
| 09:24 | Northern Illinois University | Yul Ximines blocks the jumper by Robert Forman | 20-15 |
| 09:23 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears hits the follow up shot | 22-15 |
| 09:08 | Auburn | Yul Ximines can't connect on a jump hook from the left block | 22-15 |
| 09:07 | Auburn | Dennis Hess tips it home | 22-17 |
| 08:49 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears comes up short on the fadeaway in the lane | 22-17 |
| 08:48 | Auburn | Billy Bridgeforth snags the defensive board | 22-17 |
| 08:36 | Auburn | Jose Silva blows the layup | 22-17 |
| 08:35 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Timothy Stoneburner | 22-17 |
| 08:31 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel misses the runner from the right block but he's hacked by Jose Silva - foul #2 on Jose Silva, team foul #5 | 22-17 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney (PF) Timothy Stoneburner | |
| Subs | Auburn | Burton Campbell (SG) Jose Silva | |
| 08:31 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel makes the 1st free throw | 23-17 |
| 08:31 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel makes the 2nd free throw | 24-17 |
| 08:10 | Auburn | Dwayne Williams denies the turnaround by Dennis Hess | 24-17 |
| 08:08 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears grabs the defensive rebound | 24-17 |
| 07:51 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman comes up short on the 3pt attempt from straight away | 24-17 |
| 07:49 | Auburn | The rebound goes to Billy Bridgeforth | 24-17 |
| 07:29 | Auburn | Alex Hutton lays it up and in on a nice dish by Burton Campbell | 24-19 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Robert Forman (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Joseph Pagel (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Dwayne Williams (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Marshall Devinney (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Andrew Spears (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Auburn | PG - Dennis Hess (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Burton Campbell (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Alex Hutton (fairly fresh) 7 pts. PF - Billy Bridgeforth (fresh) 3 reb. C - Yul Ximines (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:10 | Northern Illinois University | Dwayne Williams hits the finger roll set up by Joseph Pagel | 26-19 |
| 06:58 | Auburn | Alex Hutton lays it up and in on a nice dish by Burton Campbell | 26-21 |
| 06:46 | Northern Illinois University | Billy Bridgeforth picks off the pass by Dwayne Williams | 26-21 |
| 06:37 | Auburn | Yul Ximines's pass is intercepted by Dwayne Williams | 26-21 |
| 06:09 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears clanks a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 26-21 |
| 06:07 | Auburn | Billy Bridgeforth pulls down the rebound | 26-21 |
| 06:01 | Auburn | Marshall Devinney steps in front of the Burton Campbell pass | 26-21 |
| 05:57 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman's pass is intercepted by Dennis Hess in the backcourt | 26-21 |
| 05:41 | Auburn | Dennis Hess knocks in the fadeaway from the left wing set up by Billy Bridgeforth | 26-23 |
| 05:36 | Northern Illinois University | Burton Campbell takes the ball from Joseph Pagel | 26-23 |
| 05:33 | Auburn | Burton Campbell hits the finger roll | 26-25 |
| 05:25 | Northern Illinois University | Billy Bridgeforth steals the ball from Robert Forman | 26-25 |
| 05:13 | Auburn | Burton Campbell's floater is knocked away by Dwayne Williams | 26-25 |
| 05:12 | Auburn | Alex Hutton gets the offensive rebound | 26-25 |
| 04:57 | Auburn | Dwayne Williams steps in front of the Dennis Hess pass | 26-25 |
| 04:49 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel hits the front of the rim on the 3 from straight away | 26-25 |
| 04:47 | Northern Illinois University | Dwayne Williams gets the offensive rebound | 26-25 |
| 04:33 | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman blows the layup | 26-25 |
| 04:31 | Auburn | The rebound goes to Alex Hutton | 26-25 |
| 04:16 | Auburn | Alex Hutton misses the 3 pointer from the right corner | 26-25 |
| 04:14 | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney pulls down the rebound | 26-25 |
| 04:10 | Northern Illinois University | Andrew Spears's fadeaway is rejected by Billy Bridgeforth | 26-25 |
| 04:09 | Auburn | Billy Bridgeforth snags the defensive board | 26-25 |
| 03:45 | Auburn | Billy Bridgeforth misses long on a jumpshot from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Marshall Devinney - foul #2 on Marshall Devinney, team foul #6 | 26-25 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Richard Johnson (PG), Earl Short (SG), Timothy Stoneburner (SF), Johnnie Turner (PF), James Starkes (C) Robert Forman, Joseph Pagel, Dwayne Williams, Marshall Devinney, Andrew Spears | |
| Subs | Auburn | Michael Diep (PG), Clifford Brubaker (SG), Jose Silva (SF), Terry Fisher (C) Dennis Hess, Burton Campbell, Alex Hutton, Yul Ximines | |
| 03:45 | Auburn | Billy Bridgeforth misses the 1st free throw | 26-25 |
| 03:45 | Auburn | Billy Bridgeforth makes the 2nd free throw | 26-26 |
| 03:24 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes misses the shot in the paint but he's fouled by Terry Fisher - foul #2 on Terry Fisher, team foul #6 | 26-26 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Auburn | Casey Nelson (PF) Billy Bridgeforth | |
| 03:24 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes makes the 1st free throw | 27-26 |
| 03:24 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes makes the 2nd free throw | 28-26 |
| Lineup | Northern Illinois University | PG - Richard Johnson (fresh) SG - Earl Short (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Timothy Stoneburner (fresh) 3 reb. PF - Johnnie Turner (fresh) 5 pts. C - James Starkes (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Auburn | PG - Michael Diep (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Clifford Brubaker (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Jose Silva (fresh) PF - Casey Nelson (fresh) 3 reb. C - Terry Fisher (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 03:16 | Auburn | Clifford Brubaker comes up short on the jumper from the right wing but he's hacked by Timothy Stoneburner - foul #2 on Timothy Stoneburner, team foul #7 | 28-26 |
| 03:16 | Auburn | Clifford Brubaker misses the 1st free throw | 28-26 |
| 03:16 | Auburn | Clifford Brubaker misses the 2nd free throw | 28-26 |
| 03:16 | Northern Illinois University | Johnnie Turner grabs the board | 28-26 |
| 03:12 | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short misses short on a shot from the free throw line but he's fouled by Jose Silva - foul #3 on Jose Silva, team foul #7 | 28-26 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Auburn | Burton Campbell (SF) Jose Silva | |
| 03:12 | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short makes the 1st free throw | 29-26 |
| 03:12 | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short makes the 2nd free throw | 30-26 |
| 02:49 | Auburn | Clifford Brubaker loses the ball out of bounds | 30-26 |
| 02:28 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes misses long on a driving attempt in the paint but he's fouled by Michael Diep - foul #1 on Michael Diep, team foul #8 | 30-26 |
| 02:28 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes misses the 1st free throw | 30-26 |
| 02:28 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes misses the 2nd free throw | 30-26 |
| 02:28 | Auburn | Terry Fisher pulls down the rebound | 30-26 |
| 02:13 | Auburn | Burton Campbell is fouled on the floor by Johnnie Turner - foul #1 on Johnnie Turner, team foul #8 | 30-26 |
| 02:13 | Auburn | Burton Campbell makes the 1st free throw | 30-27 |
| 02:13 | Auburn | Burton Campbell misses the 2nd free throw | 30-27 |
| 02:13 | Northern Illinois University | The rebound goes to Timothy Stoneburner | 30-27 |
| 01:55 | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short is hacked by Michael Diep - foul #2 on Michael Diep, team foul #9 | 30-27 |
| 01:55 | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short makes the 1st free throw | 31-27 |
| 01:55 | Northern Illinois University | Earl Short makes the 2nd free throw | 32-27 |
| 01:43 | Auburn | Michael Diep throws a bad pass out of bounds | 32-27 |
| 01:23 | Northern Illinois University | Timothy Stoneburner dunks the ball on a nice dish by James Starkes | 34-27 |
| 01:15 | Auburn | Michael Diep makes the 3pt shot from the left wing | 34-30 |
| 00:59 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Johnson is fouled on the floor by Michael Diep - foul #3 on Michael Diep, team foul #10 | 34-30 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel (SG), Andrew Spears (SF), Marshall Devinney (PF) Earl Short, Timothy Stoneburner, Johnnie Turner | |
| Subs | Auburn | Dennis Hess (PG), Alex Hutton (SF) Michael Diep, Burton Campbell | |
| 00:59 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Johnson makes the 1st free throw | 35-30 |
| 00:59 | Northern Illinois University | Richard Johnson misses the 2nd free throw | 35-30 |
| 00:59 | Auburn | Casey Nelson gets the rebound | 35-30 |
| 00:45 | Auburn | Andrew Spears is called for the reach on Alex Hutton - foul #1 on Andrew Spears, team foul #9 | 35-30 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | Robert Forman (PG) Richard Johnson | |
| Subs | Auburn | | |
| 00:45 | Auburn | Alex Hutton misses the 1st free throw | 35-30 |
| 00:45 | Northern Illinois University | James Starkes snags the defensive board | 35-30 |
| 00:22 | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney comes up short on the 3pt attempt from straight away | 35-30 |
| 00:21 | Auburn | Terry Fisher snags the defensive board | 35-30 |
| 00:15 | Auburn | Dennis Hess is fouled on the floor by Robert Forman - foul #2 on Robert Forman, team foul #10 | 35-30 |
| Subs | Northern Illinois University | | |
| Subs | Auburn | Yul Ximines (C) Terry Fisher | |
| 00:15 | Auburn | Dennis Hess misses the 1st free throw | 35-30 |
| 00:15 | Auburn | Dennis Hess misses the 2nd free throw | 35-30 |
| 00:15 | Northern Illinois University | Marshall Devinney grabs the board | 35-30 |
| 00:02 | Northern Illinois University | Joseph Pagel connects on the 3 from straight away | 38-30 |
| 00:00 | Auburn | Clifford Brubaker comes up short on the fullcourt shot | 38-30 |