| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Rob Hoose (fresh) SG - Ira Eastman (fresh) SF - Ronald Mathews (fresh) PF - Albert Moore (fresh) C - Kevin Goulet (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Joshua Hart (fresh) SG - Johnny Coleman (fresh) SF - Orville Heinz (fresh) PF - Nicholas Lueras (fresh) C - Stephen Morgan (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Albert Moore wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 19:48 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman hits a jumper from the right block set up by Rob Hoose | 2-0 |
| 19:25 | Illinois | Joshua Hart clanks a 3pt attempt from straight away | 2-0 |
| 19:24 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews grabs the defensive rebound | 2-0 |
| 19:18 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman misses long on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 2-0 |
| 19:16 | Northwestern | Albert Moore snags the offensive board | 2-0 |
| 19:02 | Northwestern | Nicholas Lueras denies the turnaround by Kevin Goulet | 2-0 |
| 19:01 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan grabs the board | 2-0 |
| 18:57 | Illinois | Joshua Hart buries a 3 pointer from the left corner | 2-3 |
| 18:42 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet makes the jumper from the right side | 4-3 |
| 18:30 | Illinois | Kevin Goulet blocks the short jumper by Orville Heinz | 4-3 |
| 18:29 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet gets the rebound | 4-3 |
| 18:25 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews hits a pull-up jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Albert Moore | 6-3 |
| 18:19 | Illinois | Orville Heinz misses long on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 6-3 |
| 18:17 | Illinois | Johnny Coleman hits the follow up shot | 6-5 |
| 18:05 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet's floater is tipped away by Nicholas Lueras | 6-5 |
| 18:03 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Johnny Coleman | 6-5 |
| 17:59 | Illinois | Nicholas Lueras is called for the illegal screen in the backcourt - foul #1 on Nicholas Lueras, team foul #1 | 6-5 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman (PG), Jason Felton (SG), Shaun Roy (SF), Ronnie Ramsey (PF), Harry Thompson (C) Rob Hoose, Ira Eastman, Ronald Mathews, Albert Moore, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 17:41 | Northwestern | Jason Felton misses badly on a 3 from the left wing | 6-5 |
| 17:40 | Illinois | Orville Heinz snags the defensive board | 6-5 |
| 17:38 | Illinois | Joshua Hart is hacked by Carlton Tillman in the backcourt - foul #1 on Carlton Tillman, team foul #1 | 6-5 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft (PG), Arthur Walters (PF) Joshua Hart, Nicholas Lueras | |
| 17:14 | Illinois | Ronnie Ramsey takes the ball from Johnny Coleman | 6-5 |
| 16:55 | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey's floater is tipped away by Arthur Walters | 6-5 |
| 16:53 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Johnny Coleman | 6-5 |
| 16:30 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan misses short on a shot from the left side | 6-5 |
| 16:28 | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey snags the defensive board | 6-5 |
| 16:22 | Northwestern | Andrew Schoolcraft is called for the reach on Carlton Tillman - foul #1 on Andrew Schoolcraft, team foul #2 | 6-5 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Rob Hoose (PG), Ira Eastman (SG), Ronald Mathews (SF), Ronnie Hamilton (PF), Kevin Goulet (C) Carlton Tillman, Jason Felton, Shaun Roy, Ronnie Ramsey, Harry Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joshua Hart (PG), John Parrish (SF), Nicholas Lueras (PF) Andrew Schoolcraft, Orville Heinz, Stephen Morgan | |
| 16:11 | Northwestern | Nicholas Lueras swats the layup by Ronnie Hamilton | 6-5 |
| 16:09 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Arthur Walters | 6-5 |
| 15:48 | Illinois | Joshua Hart can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 6-5 |
| 15:47 | Illinois | Arthur Walters misses the tip | 6-5 |
| 15:46 | Illinois | Arthur Walters gets the offensive rebound | 6-5 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Rob Hoose (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Ira Eastman (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Ronald Mathews (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Ronnie Hamilton (fresh) C - Kevin Goulet (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Joshua Hart (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Johnny Coleman (tiring) 2 pts. 3 reb. SF - John Parrish (fresh) PF - Nicholas Lueras (fresh) 3 blk. C - Arthur Walters (fairly fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 15:35 | Illinois | Johnny Coleman loses the ball out of bounds | 6-5 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Albert Moore (PF) Ronnie Hamilton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft (SG), Stephen Morgan (C) Johnny Coleman, Arthur Walters | |
| 15:13 | Northwestern | Joshua Hart picks off the pass by Rob Hoose | 6-5 |
| 15:09 | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft slams it home on a great pass from Joshua Hart | 6-7 |
| 14:49 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews comes up short on the fadeaway from the right wing | 6-7 |
| 14:47 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet tips it home | 8-7 |
| 14:40 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan blows the dunk | 8-7 |
| 14:39 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan hits the follow up shot | 8-9 |
| 14:21 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews misses long on a 3 from the right corner | 8-9 |
| 14:20 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Stephen Morgan | 8-9 |
| 14:12 | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft hits a jumper from the free throw line and he's fouled by Ira Eastman - foul #1 on Ira Eastman, team foul #2 | 8-11 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman (PG), Jason Felton (SG), Shaun Roy (SF), Ronnie Ramsey (PF), Ronnie Hamilton (C) Rob Hoose, Ira Eastman, Ronald Mathews, Albert Moore, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Illinois | William Grimes (SG), Orville Heinz (SF) Joshua Hart, John Parrish | |
| 14:12 | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft makes the free throw | 8-12 |
| 13:55 | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey connects on the shot from the free throw line on a great pass from Carlton Tillman | 10-12 |
| 13:51 | Illinois | William Grimes is hacked by Carlton Tillman in the backcourt - foul #2 on Carlton Tillman, team foul #3 | 10-12 |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Burney (PG) Carlton Tillman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Coleman (SG) Andrew Schoolcraft | |
| 13:32 | Illinois | Johnny Coleman misses badly on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 10-12 |
| 13:31 | Northwestern | Ronnie Hamilton snags the defensive board | 10-12 |
| 13:24 | Northwestern | Shaun Roy is fouled on the floor by Johnny Coleman - foul #1 on Johnny Coleman, team foul #3 | 10-12 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harry Thompson (C) Ronnie Hamilton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arthur Walters (PF) Nicholas Lueras | |
| 13:06 | Northwestern | Jason Felton misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 10-12 |
| 13:04 | Illinois | Orville Heinz snags the defensive board | 10-12 |
| 12:59 | Illinois | Johnny Coleman scores on a 3pt jumper from straight away on a great pass from William Grimes | 10-15 |
| 12:34 | Northwestern | Harry Thompson misses the 3 pointer from the right corner | 10-15 |
| 12:32 | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey tips it back up and in | 12-15 |
| 12:17 | Illinois | Johnny Coleman is by himself and knocks in the shot from the right block on a great pass from Orville Heinz | 12-17 |
| 12:09 | Northwestern | William Burney is whistled for traveling | 12-17 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Rob Hoose (PG), Ira Eastman (SG), Ronald Mathews (SF), Albert Moore (PF), Kevin Goulet (C) William Burney, Jason Felton, Shaun Roy, Ronnie Ramsey, Harry Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joshua Hart (PG), Andrew Schoolcraft (SG), Nicholas Lueras (PF) William Grimes, Johnny Coleman, Stephen Morgan | |
| 11:40 | Illinois | Rob Hoose is called for the reach on Joshua Hart - foul #1 on Rob Hoose, team foul #4 | 12-17 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Parrish (C) Arthur Walters | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Rob Hoose (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Ira Eastman (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Ronald Mathews (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Albert Moore (fresh) C - Kevin Goulet (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Joshua Hart (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Andrew Schoolcraft (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Orville Heinz (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - Nicholas Lueras (fairly fresh) 3 blk. C - John Parrish (fresh) | |
| 11:19 | Illinois | Nicholas Lueras buries a fadeaway near the basket | 12-19 |
| 11:04 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet is hacked by Andrew Schoolcraft - foul #2 on Andrew Schoolcraft, team foul #4 | 12-19 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ronnie Hamilton (PF) Albert Moore | |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Coleman (SG), Stephen Morgan (C) Andrew Schoolcraft, Orville Heinz | |
| 10:47 | Northwestern | Stephen Morgan steps in front of the Ira Eastman pass | 12-19 |
| 10:41 | Illinois | Rob Hoose picks off the pass by John Parrish in the backcourt | 12-19 |
| 10:39 | Northwestern | Rob Hoose banks in the layup | 14-19 |
| 10:10 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan is alone and drills a shot from the left block | 14-21 |
| 09:41 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the baseline but he's fouled by John Parrish - foul #1 on John Parrish, team foul #5 | 14-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Burney (PG), Shaun Roy (SF), Albert Moore (PF), Harry Thompson (C) Rob Hoose, Ronald Mathews, Ronnie Hamilton, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Illinois | William Grimes (PG), Orville Heinz (SF), Arthur Walters (PF) Joshua Hart, John Parrish, Nicholas Lueras | |
| 09:41 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman makes the 1st free throw | 15-21 |
| 09:41 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman makes the 2nd free throw | 16-21 |
| 09:21 | Illinois | William Grimes misses the jumpshot from the left side but he's hacked by Albert Moore - foul #1 on Albert Moore, team foul #5 | 16-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Felton (SG) Ira Eastman | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 09:21 | Illinois | William Grimes makes the 1st free throw | 16-22 |
| 09:21 | Illinois | William Grimes makes the 2nd free throw | 16-23 |
| 09:07 | Northwestern | Shaun Roy makes the driving attempt from close range set up by Jason Felton | 18-23 |
| 08:45 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan clanks a turnaround in the lane but he's hacked by Harry Thompson - foul #1 on Harry Thompson, team foul #6 | 18-23 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey (PF), Kevin Goulet (C) Albert Moore, Harry Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joshua Hart (PG) Johnny Coleman | |
| 08:45 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan misses the 1st free throw | 18-23 |
| 08:45 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan makes the 2nd free throw | 18-24 |
| 08:30 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #1 on Kevin Goulet, team foul #7 | 18-24 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Nicholas Lueras (PF) Stephen Morgan | |
| 08:04 | Illinois | Arthur Walters hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt from close range | 18-24 |
| 08:03 | Illinois | Orville Heinz tips it in | 18-26 |
| 07:56 | Northwestern | Jason Felton scores on a 3 from straight away on a great pass from Ronnie Ramsey | 21-26 |
| 07:28 | Illinois | Orville Heinz misses the jumper from the right block | 21-26 |
| 07:27 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Arthur Walters | 21-26 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - William Burney (fairly fresh) SG - Jason Felton (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Shaun Roy (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Ronnie Ramsey (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Kevin Goulet (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Joshua Hart (tiring) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - William Grimes (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Orville Heinz (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. PF - Nicholas Lueras (tiring) 2 pts. 3 blk. C - Arthur Walters (fairly fresh) 4 reb. | |
| 07:08 | Illinois | Joshua Hart hits the front of the rim on the wide open 3pt shot from the left corner | 21-26 |
| 07:07 | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey snags the defensive board | 21-26 |
| 06:59 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet misses long on a jumper from just outside the lane | 21-26 |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Nicholas Lueras gets the rebound | 21-26 |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Orville Heinz is hacked by Jason Felton in the backcourt - foul #1 on Jason Felton, team foul #8 | 21-26 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Rob Hoose (PG), Ira Eastman (SG), Ronald Mathews (SF), Albert Moore (PF), Harry Thompson (C) William Burney, Jason Felton, Shaun Roy, Ronnie Ramsey, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Coleman (SG), Stephen Morgan (C) William Grimes, Nicholas Lueras | |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Orville Heinz makes the 1st free throw | 21-27 |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Orville Heinz makes the 2nd free throw | 21-28 |
| 06:32 | Northwestern | Arthur Walters blocks the jumper by Albert Moore | 21-28 |
| 06:31 | Northwestern | Harry Thompson pulls down the offensive rebound | 21-28 |
| 06:13 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews throws a bad pass out of bounds | 21-28 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ronnie Hamilton (C) Harry Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft (PG), John Parrish (PF) Joshua Hart, Arthur Walters | |
| 06:11 | Illinois | Orville Heinz loses the dribble to Albert Moore in the backcourt | 21-28 |
| 06:04 | Northwestern | Andrew Schoolcraft picks off the pass by Albert Moore | 21-28 |
| 05:59 | Illinois | Johnny Coleman lays it up and in on a nice dish by Andrew Schoolcraft | 21-30 |
| 05:40 | Northwestern | Rob Hoose's pass is intercepted by John Parrish | 21-30 |
| 05:16 | Illinois | Orville Heinz scores on a jump hook in the paint and the foul's on Albert Moore - foul #2 on Albert Moore, team foul #9 | 21-32 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey (PF), Kevin Goulet (C) Albert Moore, Ronnie Hamilton | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 05:16 | Illinois | Orville Heinz makes the free throw | 21-33 |
| 05:03 | Northwestern | Orville Heinz denies the turnaround by Ronald Mathews | 21-33 |
| 05:01 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Stephen Morgan | 21-33 |
| 04:37 | Illinois | Johnny Coleman can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 21-33 |
| 04:35 | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey grabs the board | 21-33 |
| 04:16 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman makes the jump hook from close range on a great pass from Ronnie Ramsey | 23-33 |
| 03:50 | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft is hacked by Rob Hoose - foul #2 on Rob Hoose, team foul #10 | 23-33 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman (PG), Jason Felton (SG), Shaun Roy (SF), Ronnie Hamilton (PF), Harry Thompson (C) Rob Hoose, Ira Eastman, Ronald Mathews, Ronnie Ramsey, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Illinois | William Grimes (SG), Nicholas Lueras (PF), Arthur Walters (C) Johnny Coleman, Orville Heinz, Stephen Morgan | |
| 03:50 | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft makes the 1st free throw | 23-34 |
| 03:50 | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft misses the 2nd free throw | 23-34 |
| 03:50 | Illinois | Arthur Walters snags the offensive board | 23-34 |
| 03:30 | Illinois | Andrew Schoolcraft comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 23-34 |
| 03:28 | Illinois | John Parrish gets the offensive rebound | 23-34 |
| 03:11 | Illinois | Shaun Roy takes the ball from William Grimes | 23-34 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Carlton Tillman (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Jason Felton (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Shaun Roy (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Ronnie Hamilton (fresh) C - Harry Thompson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Andrew Schoolcraft (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - William Grimes (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - John Parrish (fairly fresh) PF - Nicholas Lueras (tiring) 2 pts. 3 blk. C - Arthur Walters (fairly fresh) 5 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 02:54 | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman can't connect on a runner from close range but he's fouled by Andrew Schoolcraft - foul #3 on Andrew Schoolcraft, team foul #6 | 23-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Albert Moore (PF), Kevin Goulet (C) Ronnie Hamilton, Harry Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joshua Hart (PG), Orville Heinz (SF) Andrew Schoolcraft, John Parrish | |
| 02:54 | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman misses the 1st free throw | 23-34 |
| 02:54 | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman makes the 2nd free throw | 24-34 |
| 02:51 | Illinois | Shaun Roy steps in front of the Joshua Hart pass in the backcourt | 24-34 |
| 02:43 | Northwestern | Shaun Roy loses the ball out of bounds | 24-34 |
| 02:24 | Illinois | Albert Moore denies the turnaround by William Grimes | 24-34 |
| 02:23 | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman grabs the board | 24-34 |
| 02:18 | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman knocks in the runner near the basket | 26-34 |
| 01:56 | Illinois | Orville Heinz makes the floater in the lane on a great pass from Arthur Walters | 26-36 |
| 01:49 | Northwestern | Arthur Walters takes the ball from Jason Felton | 26-36 |
| 01:47 | Illinois | Carlton Tillman takes the ball from Arthur Walters in the backcourt | 26-36 |
| 01:33 | Northwestern | Jason Felton misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 26-36 |
| 01:31 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Albert Moore | 26-36 |
| 01:12 | Northwestern | Jason Felton loses the ball out of bounds | 26-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Rob Hoose (PG), Ira Eastman (SG), Ronald Mathews (SF), Ronnie Ramsey (PF), Harry Thompson (C) Carlton Tillman, Jason Felton, Shaun Roy, Albert Moore, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Coleman (SG), John Parrish (SF), Stephen Morgan (C) William Grimes, Orville Heinz, Arthur Walters | |
| 00:44 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan can't throw it down | 26-36 |
| 00:43 | Northwestern | Harry Thompson pulls down the rebound | 26-36 |
| 00:38 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman misses the fadeaway from the right wing | 26-36 |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Stephen Morgan gets the rebound | 26-36 |
| 00:08 | Illinois | Nicholas Lueras can't connect on a jumper from the right side but the foul's on Ronnie Ramsey - foul #1 on Ronnie Ramsey, team foul #11 | 26-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Orville Heinz (SF) John Parrish | |
| 00:08 | Illinois | Nicholas Lueras misses the 1st free throw | 26-36 |
| 00:08 | Illinois | Nicholas Lueras makes the 2nd free throw | 26-37 |
| 00:01 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman travels with the ball | 26-37 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet (C) Harry Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arthur Walters (PF) Nicholas Lueras | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Johnny Coleman misses long on a halfcourt shot | 26-37 |