| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Conner (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Jeremy Boyd (fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - Richard Guerrera (fresh) 2 ast. PF - Frederick Viers (fresh) 1 pts. C - Anthony McMaken (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - Danny Hey (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Michael Dowling (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. SF - Robert Landry (fresh) 9 pts. PF - Robert Thomas (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Edward Hibbard (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera inbounds the ball | 31-23 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | UNLV | UNLV is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+3) | |
| 19:41 | Illinois | Anthony McMaken clanks a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 31-23 |
| 19:40 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd tips it back up and in | 33-23 |
| 19:14 | UNLV | Michael Dowling splits the doubleteam but misses short on a jumper from the left wing | 33-23 |
| 19:13 | UNLV | Danny Hey pulls down the offensive rebound | 33-23 |
| 18:44 | UNLV | Michael Dowling is fouled on the floor by Richard Guerrera - foul #1 on Richard Guerrera, team foul #1 | 33-23 |
| 18:26 | UNLV | Danny Hey's fadeaway is rejected by Anthony McMaken | 33-23 |
| 18:24 | Illinois | Anthony McMaken gets the rebound | 33-23 |
| 18:06 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd is fouled on the floor by Edward Hibbard - foul #3 on Edward Hibbard, team foul #1 | 33-23 |
| 17:49 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd can't connect on a floater from the left wing but he's hacked by Robert Landry - foul #2 on Robert Landry, team foul #2 | 33-23 |
| 17:49 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd makes the 1st free throw | 34-23 |
| 17:49 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd makes the 2nd free throw | 35-23 |
| 17:33 | UNLV | Jeremy Boyd takes the ball from Robert Landry | 35-23 |
| 17:28 | Illinois | Frederick Viers hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Jeremy Boyd | 37-23 |
| 17:12 | UNLV | Danny Hey slams it home set up by Michael Dowling and he's hacked by Michael Conner - foul #1 on Michael Conner, team foul #2 | 37-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | Melvin Cobb (SF), Paul Mena (PF), Alex Millner (C) Richard Guerrera, Frederick Viers, Anthony McMaken | |
| Subs | UNLV | | |
| 17:12 | UNLV | Danny Hey makes the free throw | 37-26 |
| 16:54 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 37-26 |
| 16:52 | UNLV | Danny Hey snags the defensive board | 37-26 |
| 16:23 | UNLV | Edward Hibbard is open and scores on a jumper from the left block on a nice dish by a doubleteamed Danny Hey | 37-28 |
| 15:57 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd knocks in the 3pt shot from straight away | 40-28 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Conner (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Jeremy Boyd (fairly fresh) 18 pts. 3 ast. SF - Melvin Cobb (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Paul Mena (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Alex Millner (fresh) | |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - Danny Hey (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Michael Dowling (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. SF - Robert Landry (fairly fresh) 9 pts. PF - Robert Thomas (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Edward Hibbard (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. | |
| 15:36 | UNLV | Robert Thomas drills a floater from close range on a great pass from Michael Dowling | 40-30 |
| 15:13 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd buries a runner from the baseline on a great pass from Michael Conner and he's hacked by Michael Dowling - foul #2 on Michael Dowling, team foul #3 | 42-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Guerrera (SF), Frederick Viers (PF), Anthony McMaken (C) Michael Conner, Melvin Cobb, Alex Millner | |
| Subs | UNLV | Mauricio Romano (PG), Richard Gill (SG), Danny Grainger (PF) Danny Hey, Michael Dowling, Robert Thomas | |
| 15:13 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd misses the free throw | 42-30 |
| 15:13 | UNLV | Danny Grainger pulls down the rebound | 42-30 |
| 14:56 | UNLV | Edward Hibbard misses badly on a jumper from the right wing | 42-30 |
| 14:54 | UNLV | Mauricio Romano grabs the offensive board | 42-30 |
| 14:25 | UNLV | Richard Gill can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 42-30 |
| 14:23 | Illinois | Anthony McMaken gets the rebound | 42-30 |
| 14:03 | Illinois | Frederick Viers misses the shot from just outside the lane | 42-30 |
| 14:01 | UNLV | Robert Landry snags the defensive board | 42-30 |
| 13:56 | UNLV | Robert Landry misses short on a 3 pointer from straight away | 42-30 |
| 13:54 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd gets the rebound | 42-30 |
| 13:25 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd comes up short on the fadeaway from the baseline | 42-30 |
| 13:23 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd grabs the offensive board | 42-30 |
| 13:03 | Illinois | Frederick Viers buries a fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 44-30 |
| 12:36 | UNLV | Robert Landry can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 44-30 |
| 12:35 | UNLV | Edward Hibbard tips it home | 44-32 |
| 12:11 | Illinois | Paul Mena is hacked by Richard Gill - foul #1 on Richard Gill, team foul #4 | 44-32 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Conner (PG), Melvin Cobb (SG), Jerry Young (PF), Alex Millner (C) Jeremy Boyd, Paul Mena, Frederick Viers, Anthony McMaken | |
| Subs | UNLV | Danny Hey (PG), Michael Dowling (SF), Robert Thomas (PF) Mauricio Romano, Robert Landry, Danny Grainger | |
| 11:44 | Illinois | Michael Conner misses the 3 from the right wing | 44-32 |
| 11:43 | UNLV | Edward Hibbard snags the defensive board | 44-32 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Conner (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - Melvin Cobb (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Richard Guerrera (fairly fresh) 2 ast. PF - Jerry Young (fresh) 2 pts. C - Alex Millner (fresh) | |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - Danny Hey (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Gill (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Michael Dowling (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Robert Thomas (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. C - Edward Hibbard (tiring) 8 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 11:28 | UNLV | Edward Hibbard misses short on an open runner in the lane | 44-32 |
| 11:27 | Illinois | Michael Conner gets the rebound | 44-32 |
| 11:07 | Illinois | Michael Conner comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 44-32 |
| 11:05 | Illinois | Jerry Young hits the follow up shot | 46-32 |
| 10:37 | UNLV | Alex Millner takes the ball from Danny Hey | 46-32 |
| 10:15 | Illinois | Alex Millner's pass is intercepted by Robert Thomas | 46-32 |
| 09:47 | UNLV | Robert Thomas misses the jumper from just outside the lane but the foul's on Alex Millner - foul #2 on Alex Millner, team foul #3 | 46-32 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd (SG), Frederick Viers (PF), Anthony McMaken (C) Richard Guerrera, Jerry Young, Alex Millner | |
| Subs | UNLV | Gene Reynolds (SG), Danny Grainger (PF) Richard Gill, Edward Hibbard | |
| 09:47 | UNLV | Robert Thomas makes the 1st free throw | 46-33 |
| 09:47 | UNLV | Robert Thomas makes the 2nd free throw | 46-34 |
| 09:31 | Illinois | Frederick Viers is hacked by Danny Grainger - foul #3 on Danny Grainger, team foul #5 | 46-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Mena (SF) Melvin Cobb | |
| Subs | UNLV | | |
| 09:03 | Illinois | Paul Mena misses badly on a shot from the baseline | 46-34 |
| 09:02 | UNLV | Michael Dowling grabs the defensive rebound | 46-34 |
| 08:39 | UNLV | Robert Thomas misses the shot from the right block but the foul's on Anthony McMaken - foul #2 on Anthony McMaken, team foul #4 | 46-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | Melvin Cobb (SF) Jeremy Boyd | |
| Subs | UNLV | Mauricio Romano (PG), Robert Landry (SF) Danny Hey, Michael Dowling | |
| 08:39 | UNLV | Robert Thomas makes the 1st free throw | 46-35 |
| 08:39 | UNLV | Robert Thomas makes the 2nd free throw | 46-36 |
| 08:12 | Illinois | Frederick Viers misses the floater from the right block | 46-36 |
| 08:10 | Illinois | Frederick Viers hits the follow up shot | 48-36 |
| 07:44 | UNLV | Michael Conner takes the ball from Robert Landry | 48-36 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Conner (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - Paul Mena (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. SF - Melvin Cobb (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Frederick Viers (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. C - Anthony McMaken (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - Mauricio Romano (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Gene Reynolds (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Robert Landry (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - Danny Grainger (fresh) 3 pf. C - Robert Thomas (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 07:23 | Illinois | Melvin Cobb comes up short on the jumper from the left side | 48-36 |
| 07:21 | UNLV | Gene Reynolds snags the defensive board | 48-36 |
| 06:52 | UNLV | Gene Reynolds misses long on a pull-up jumper from the right wing | 48-36 |
| 06:51 | Illinois | Paul Mena gets the rebound | 48-36 |
| 06:38 | Illinois | Paul Mena throws a bad pass out of bounds | 48-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd (SG), Richard Guerrera (SF), Jerry Young (PF), Alex Millner (C) Michael Conner, Paul Mena, Frederick Viers, Anthony McMaken | |
| Subs | UNLV | Danny Hey (PG), Richard Gill (SG), Michael Dowling (PF), Edward Hibbard (C) Mauricio Romano, Gene Reynolds, Danny Grainger, Robert Thomas | |
| 06:21 | UNLV | Jerry Young is called for the reach on Michael Dowling - foul #1 on Jerry Young, team foul #5 | 48-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Conner (PG) Melvin Cobb | |
| Subs | UNLV | | |
| 06:08 | UNLV | Danny Hey is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a fadeaway from the right wing but the foul's on Jerry Young - foul #2 on Jerry Young, team foul #6 | 48-36 |
| 06:08 | UNLV | Danny Hey makes the 1st free throw | 48-37 |
| 06:08 | UNLV | Danny Hey makes the 2nd free throw | 48-38 |
| 05:48 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd misses short on a shot in the lane but he's fouled by Richard Gill - foul #2 on Richard Gill, team foul #6 | 48-38 |
| 05:48 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd makes the 1st free throw | 49-38 |
| 05:48 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd misses the 2nd free throw | 49-38 |
| 05:48 | UNLV | Edward Hibbard snags the defensive board | 49-38 |
| 05:27 | UNLV | Danny Hey evades the doubleteam and hits a 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Michael Dowling | 49-41 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | UNLV | UNLV is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+4) | |
| 05:07 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 49-41 |
| 05:05 | UNLV | The rebound goes to Edward Hibbard | 49-41 |
| 04:36 | UNLV | Edward Hibbard's pass is intercepted by Richard Guerrera | 49-41 |
| 04:33 | Illinois | Michael Conner blows the dunk | 49-41 |
| 04:31 | UNLV | Richard Gill pulls down the rebound | 49-41 |
| 04:11 | UNLV | Robert Landry comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 49-41 |
| 04:09 | Illinois | Alex Millner grabs the defensive rebound | 49-41 |
| 03:43 | Illinois | Michael Dowling denies the turnaround by Jeremy Boyd | 49-41 |
| 03:41 | UNLV | The rebound goes to Michael Dowling | 49-41 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Conner (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - Jeremy Boyd (fresh) 21 pts. 3 ast. SF - Richard Guerrera (fairly fresh) 2 ast. PF - Jerry Young (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Alex Millner (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - Danny Hey (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Gill (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. SF - Robert Landry (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - Michael Dowling (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. C - Edward Hibbard (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 03:20 | UNLV | Robert Landry hits a wide open 3pt shot from the right corner set up by Edward Hibbard | 49-44 |
| 03:18 | Illinois | Richard Gill steps in front of the Michael Conner pass in the backcourt | 49-44 |
| 02:56 | UNLV | Michael Dowling evades the doubleteam and hits a 3 pointer from straight away set up by Danny Hey | 49-47 |
| 02:56 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 49-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Melvin Cobb (PG), Paul Mena (SF), Frederick Viers (PF), Anthony McMaken (C) Michael Conner, Richard Guerrera, Jerry Young, Alex Millner | |
| Subs | UNLV | Robert Thomas (PF) Robert Landry | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | UNLV | UNLV is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+3) | |
| 02:39 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 49-47 |
| 02:38 | Illinois | Anthony McMaken hits the follow up shot | 51-47 |
| 02:13 | UNLV | The jump hook by Robert Thomas is blocked by Frederick Viers | 51-47 |
| 02:11 | UNLV | Robert Thomas tips it in | 51-49 |
| 02:11 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 51-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Conner (PG), Richard Guerrera (SF) Melvin Cobb, Paul Mena | |
| Subs | UNLV | Robert Landry (SF) Edward Hibbard | |
| 01:54 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd misses long on a driving attempt from the left block | 51-49 |
| 01:53 | UNLV | The rebound goes to Robert Thomas | 51-49 |
| 01:26 | UNLV | Robert Landry misses the 3 from the right wing | 51-49 |
| 01:25 | Illinois | Anthony McMaken grabs the defensive rebound | 51-49 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 51-49 |
| 00:59 | UNLV | The rebound goes to Robert Landry | 51-49 |
| 00:36 | UNLV | Richard Gill's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 51-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | UNLV | Edward Hibbard (C) Richard Gill | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | UNLV | UNLV is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (+3) | |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Michael Conner is fouled in the backcourt by Danny Hey - foul #2 on Danny Hey, team foul #7 | 51-49 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Michael Conner misses the 1st free throw | 51-49 |
| 00:33 | UNLV | Robert Thomas gets the rebound | 51-49 |
| 00:08 | UNLV | Robert Landry clanks a 3pt shot from the right wing | 51-49 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd grabs the board | 51-49 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Danny Hey is called for the reach on Jeremy Boyd in the backcourt - foul #3 on Danny Hey, team foul #8 | 51-49 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd makes the 1st free throw | 52-49 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Jeremy Boyd misses the 2nd free throw | 52-49 |
| 00:05 | UNLV | Robert Thomas grabs the defensive rebound | 52-49 |
| 00:05 | UNLV | UNLV calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 4 full remaining) | 52-49 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | UNLV | UNLV is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+3) | |
| 00:00 | UNLV | Robert Landry is open but comes up short on the 3pt shot from straight away | 52-49 |