| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - John Eilerman (fresh) SG - George Peralez (fresh) SF - Ricky Turner (fresh) PF - Michael Green (fresh) C - Joe Collins (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Roger Maciel (fresh) SG - Edward Schrader (fresh) SF - Matthew Lane (fresh) PF - Raymond Haddix (fresh) C - Gary Bradley (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Syracuse | Joe Collins wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a flex offense and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:31 | Syracuse | Joe Collins slams it home on a great pass from John Eilerman | 2-0 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | Roger Maciel clanks a jump hook from the left block | 2-0 |
| 19:08 | Syracuse | John Eilerman gets the rebound | 2-0 |
| 18:55 | Syracuse | Ricky Turner buries a 3 from the right wing on a great pass from John Eilerman | 5-0 |
| 18:36 | Illinois | Edward Schrader makes the wide open 3pt jumper from the left corner set up by Roger Maciel | 5-3 |
| 18:26 | Syracuse | George Peralez throws a bad pass out of bounds | 5-3 |
| 18:02 | Illinois | Raymond Haddix drills a shot near the basket | 5-5 |
| 17:46 | Syracuse | John Eilerman can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 5-5 |
| 17:44 | Illinois | Raymond Haddix pulls down the rebound | 5-5 |
| 17:20 | Illinois | Gary Bradley comes up short on the floater from the free throw line | 5-5 |
| 17:19 | Syracuse | Joe Collins snags the defensive board | 5-5 |
| 16:58 | Syracuse | George Peralez knocks in the 3pt attempt from straight away | 8-5 |
| 16:56 | Illinois | Gary Bradley's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 8-5 |
| Subs | Syracuse | August Cisowski (SF) Ricky Turner | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel (SF), Johnny Boone (C) Matthew Lane, Gary Bradley | |
| 16:42 | Syracuse | Joe Collins loses the dribble to Kwabena Abdel | 8-5 |
| 16:39 | Illinois | Raymond Haddix banks in the layup on a nice dish by Kwabena Abdel | 8-7 |
| 16:24 | Syracuse | John Eilerman misses short on a fadeaway from the right wing | 8-7 |
| 16:23 | Syracuse | Joe Collins tips it back up and in | 10-7 |
| 16:21 | Illinois | Edward Schrader is fouled in the backcourt by George Peralez - foul #1 on George Peralez, team foul #1 | 10-7 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Hall (C) Raymond Haddix | |
| 16:03 | Illinois | Roger Maciel misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 10-7 |
| 16:02 | Syracuse | August Cisowski pulls down the rebound | 10-7 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - John Eilerman (tiring) 2 ast. SG - George Peralez (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - August Cisowski (fresh) PF - Michael Green (fairly fresh) C - Joe Collins (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Roger Maciel (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Edward Schrader (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Kwabena Abdel (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Johnny Boone (fresh) C - Jeffrey Hall (fresh) | |
| 15:45 | Syracuse | John Eilerman throws a bad pass out of bounds | 10-7 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Marvin Friedman (PG) John Eilerman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew Lane (SF), Gary Bradley (PF) Roger Maciel, Jeffrey Hall | |
| 15:16 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel can't connect on a turnaround from close range but he's fouled by Marvin Friedman - foul #1 on Marvin Friedman, team foul #2 | 10-7 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Christopher Thomas (SG), Daniel King (PF), Jim Maciel (C) George Peralez, Michael Green, Joe Collins | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Hall (C) Johnny Boone | |
| 15:16 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel makes the 1st free throw | 10-8 |
| 15:16 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel makes the 2nd free throw | 10-9 |
| 14:58 | Syracuse | August Cisowski can't connect on a jumper from the right wing | 10-9 |
| 14:57 | Illinois | Jeffrey Hall pulls down the rebound | 10-9 |
| 14:52 | Illinois | Edward Schrader misses long on a 3 from the right corner | 10-9 |
| 14:51 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Gary Bradley | 10-9 |
| 14:22 | Illinois | Edward Schrader misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing but he's hacked by August Cisowski - foul #1 on August Cisowski, team foul #3 | 10-9 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Ricky Turner (SF) August Cisowski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roger Maciel (PG), Richard Burns (SF), Raymond Haddix (PF) Kwabena Abdel, Matthew Lane, Gary Bradley | |
| 14:22 | Illinois | Edward Schrader makes the 1st free throw | 10-10 |
| 14:22 | Illinois | Edward Schrader makes the 2nd free throw | 10-11 |
| 14:10 | Syracuse | Jim Maciel misses badly on a turnaround from close range | 10-11 |
| 14:08 | Illinois | Richard Burns grabs the board | 10-11 |
| 14:06 | Illinois | Roger Maciel is whistled for traveling in the backcourt | 10-11 |
| Subs | Syracuse | John Eilerman (PG), George Peralez (SG) Marvin Friedman, Christopher Thomas | |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Boone (C) Jeffrey Hall | |
| 13:44 | Syracuse | John Eilerman scores on a floater from the left wing on a nice dish by Daniel King | 12-11 |
| 13:31 | Illinois | Edward Schrader scores on a floater from just outside the lane | 12-13 |
| 13:02 | Syracuse | Jim Maciel misses badly on a shot from the left side | 12-13 |
| 13:00 | Illinois | Edward Schrader gets the rebound | 12-13 |
| 12:56 | Illinois | Roger Maciel is fouled on the floor by Daniel King - foul #1 on Daniel King, team foul #4 | 12-13 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Marvin Friedman (PG), Christopher Thomas (SG), August Cisowski (SF), Michael Green (PF), Joe Collins (C) John Eilerman, George Peralez, Ricky Turner, Daniel King, Jim Maciel | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel (SG), Jeffrey Hall (C) Edward Schrader, Johnny Boone | |
| 12:32 | Illinois | Roger Maciel hits a 3pt jumper from straight away on a nice dish by Kwabena Abdel | 12-16 |
| 12:12 | Syracuse | Christopher Thomas is hacked by Jeffrey Hall - foul #1 on Jeffrey Hall, team foul #1 | 12-16 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew Lane (SG), Gary Bradley (PF) Richard Burns, Raymond Haddix | |
| 12:01 | Syracuse | August Cisowski connects on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 14-16 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Marvin Friedman (fresh) SG - Christopher Thomas (fresh) SF - August Cisowski (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Michael Green (fairly fresh) C - Joe Collins (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Roger Maciel (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Matthew Lane (fresh) SF - Kwabena Abdel (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Gary Bradley (fresh) C - Jeffrey Hall (fresh) | |
| 11:40 | Illinois | Gary Bradley makes the jumper near the basket | 14-18 |
| 11:20 | Syracuse | Joe Collins hits the front of the rim on the floater from close range but he's fouled by Jeffrey Hall - foul #2 on Jeffrey Hall, team foul #2 | 14-18 |
| Subs | Syracuse | George Peralez (SG), Ricky Turner (SF) Christopher Thomas, August Cisowski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Schrader (SG), Johnny Boone (C) Kwabena Abdel, Jeffrey Hall | |
| 11:20 | Syracuse | Joe Collins makes the 1st free throw | 15-18 |
| 11:20 | Syracuse | Joe Collins makes the 2nd free throw | 16-18 |
| 10:59 | Illinois | Edward Schrader hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right side | 16-18 |
| 10:57 | Syracuse | The rebound goes to Joe Collins | 16-18 |
| 10:46 | Syracuse | Joe Collins is hacked by Johnny Boone - foul #1 on Johnny Boone, team foul #3 | 16-18 |
| Subs | Syracuse | John Eilerman (PG), Daniel King (PF), Jim Maciel (C) Marvin Friedman, Michael Green, Joe Collins | |
| Subs | Illinois | Raymond Haddix (PF) Gary Bradley | |
| 10:27 | Syracuse | Ricky Turner is hacked by Johnny Boone - foul #2 on Johnny Boone, team foul #4 | 16-18 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Burns (SF), Adam Vanslyke (C) Matthew Lane, Johnny Boone | |
| 10:12 | Syracuse | George Peralez misses badly on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 16-18 |
| 10:11 | Syracuse | Ricky Turner tips it home | 18-18 |
| 10:07 | Illinois | George Peralez steals it from Richard Burns in the backcourt | 18-18 |
| 09:55 | Syracuse | Ricky Turner scores on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 21-18 |
| 09:31 | Illinois | George Peralez steps in front of the Edward Schrader pass | 21-18 |
| 09:28 | Syracuse | John Eilerman banks in the layup set up by George Peralez | 23-18 |
| 09:26 | Illinois | Roger Maciel loses the dribble to Ricky Turner in the backcourt | 23-18 |
| 09:17 | Syracuse | John Eilerman is fouled on the floor by Roger Maciel - foul #1 on Roger Maciel, team foul #5 | 23-18 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Marvin Friedman (PG), Christopher Thomas (SG), August Cisowski (SF), Michael Green (PF), Joe Collins (C) John Eilerman, George Peralez, Ricky Turner, Daniel King, Jim Maciel | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel (PG), Matthew Lane (SF), Gary Bradley (C) Roger Maciel, Richard Burns, Adam Vanslyke | |
| 09:03 | Syracuse | Christopher Thomas clanks a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 23-18 |
| 09:02 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel grabs the board | 23-18 |
| 08:41 | Illinois | Edward Schrader misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 23-18 |
| 08:40 | Illinois | Gary Bradley misses the tip | 23-18 |
| 08:38 | Illinois | Raymond Haddix hits the follow up shot | 23-20 |
| 08:15 | Syracuse | Marvin Friedman is whistled for traveling | 23-20 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Ricky Turner (SF), Daniel King (PF), Jim Maciel (C) August Cisowski, Michael Green, Joe Collins | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 07:49 | Illinois | Raymond Haddix misses long on an open jumper near the basket | 23-20 |
| 07:48 | Syracuse | Daniel King snags the defensive board | 23-20 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Marvin Friedman (fairly fresh) SG - Christopher Thomas (fairly fresh) SF - Ricky Turner (fairly fresh) 8 pts. PF - Daniel King (fairly fresh) C - Jim Maciel (fairly fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Kwabena Abdel (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Edward Schrader (tiring) 7 pts. SF - Matthew Lane (fairly fresh) PF - Raymond Haddix (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Gary Bradley (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:38 | Syracuse | Jim Maciel makes the floater from the right side set up by Christopher Thomas | 25-20 |
| 07:16 | Illinois | Edward Schrader is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on Edward Schrader, team foul #6 | 25-20 |
| Subs | Syracuse | John Eilerman (PG), George Peralez (SG), Michael Green (PF) Marvin Friedman, Christopher Thomas, Jim Maciel | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roger Maciel (PG), Richard Burns (SF), Adam Vanslyke (C) Kwabena Abdel, Matthew Lane, Gary Bradley | |
| 07:01 | Syracuse | Michael Green misses the dunk | 25-20 |
| 06:59 | Syracuse | John Eilerman gets the offensive rebound | 25-20 |
| 06:39 | Syracuse | George Peralez is fouled on the floor by Edward Schrader - foul #2 on Edward Schrader, team foul #7 | 25-20 |
| Subs | Syracuse | August Cisowski (SF), Joe Collins (C) Ricky Turner, Daniel King | |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew Lane (SG) Edward Schrader | |
| 06:39 | Syracuse | George Peralez makes the 1st free throw | 26-20 |
| 06:39 | Syracuse | George Peralez misses the 2nd free throw | 26-20 |
| 06:39 | Illinois | Richard Burns gets the rebound | 26-20 |
| 06:13 | Illinois | Richard Burns lays it in on a great pass from Matthew Lane | 26-22 |
| 05:56 | Syracuse | Joe Collins scores on a jumpshot from the right side | 28-22 |
| 05:37 | Illinois | Roger Maciel is open and scores on a jumpshot from the left side | 28-24 |
| 05:23 | Syracuse | Michael Green can't finish the layup but he's fouled by Matthew Lane - foul #1 on Matthew Lane, team foul #8 | 28-24 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Marvin Friedman (PG), Christopher Thomas (SG), Daniel King (PF), Jim Maciel (C) John Eilerman, George Peralez, August Cisowski, Joe Collins | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel (SG), Gary Bradley (C) Richard Burns, Adam Vanslyke | |
| 05:23 | Syracuse | Michael Green makes the 1st free throw | 29-24 |
| 05:23 | Syracuse | Michael Green makes the 2nd free throw | 30-24 |
| 05:04 | Illinois | Matthew Lane knocks in the driving attempt from the right block set up by Kwabena Abdel | 30-26 |
| 04:47 | Syracuse | Gary Bradley is called for the reach on Christopher Thomas - foul #1 on Gary Bradley, team foul #9 | 30-26 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Ricky Turner (SF) Michael Green | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:47 | Syracuse | Christopher Thomas makes the 1st free throw | 31-26 |
| 04:47 | Syracuse | Christopher Thomas makes the 2nd free throw | 32-26 |
| 04:20 | Illinois | Roger Maciel clanks a 3 pointer from the left wing | 32-26 |
| 04:19 | Illinois | Gary Bradley tips it back up and in | 32-28 |
| 04:03 | Syracuse | Ricky Turner can't connect on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 32-28 |
| 04:01 | Syracuse | Jim Maciel tips it but misses | 32-28 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Roger Maciel | 32-28 |
| 03:39 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel misses short on a shot from the right block | 32-28 |
| 03:38 | Syracuse | Daniel King gets the rebound | 32-28 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Marvin Friedman (fairly fresh) SG - Christopher Thomas (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ricky Turner (fairly fresh) 8 pts. PF - Daniel King (tiring) 2 reb. C - Jim Maciel (tiring) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Roger Maciel (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Kwabena Abdel (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SF - Matthew Lane (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. PF - Raymond Haddix (tired) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Gary Bradley (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:26 | Syracuse | Christopher Thomas's pass is intercepted by Raymond Haddix | 32-28 |
| 02:57 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 32-28 |
| 02:56 | Illinois | Roger Maciel tips it in | 32-30 |
| 02:35 | Syracuse | Ricky Turner misses long on a 3 from the left corner | 32-30 |
| 02:34 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel grabs the board | 32-30 |
| 02:05 | Illinois | Roger Maciel travels with the ball | 32-30 |
| Subs | Syracuse | John Eilerman (PG), George Peralez (SG), August Cisowski (SF), Michael Green (PF), Joe Collins (C) Marvin Friedman, Christopher Thomas, Ricky Turner, Daniel King, Jim Maciel | |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Schrader (SG), Richard Burns (SF), Johnny Boone (PF), Jeffrey Hall (C) Kwabena Abdel, Matthew Lane, Raymond Haddix, Gary Bradley | |
| 01:50 | Syracuse | Michael Green scores on a floater in the lane on a nice dish by Joe Collins | 34-30 |
| 01:21 | Illinois | Roger Maciel connects on the open pull-up jumper from the left wing | 34-32 |
| 01:02 | Syracuse | Michael Green buries a shot in the paint on a great pass from George Peralez | 36-32 |
| 00:56 | Illinois | Roger Maciel is fouled in the backcourt by John Eilerman - foul #1 on John Eilerman, team foul #5 | 36-32 |
| 00:34 | Illinois | Edward Schrader hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 36-32 |
| 00:32 | Syracuse | The rebound goes to John Eilerman | 36-32 |
| 00:11 | Syracuse | August Cisowski is denied on a layup by Jeffrey Hall | 36-32 |
| 00:09 | Syracuse | George Peralez grabs the offensive rebound | 36-32 |
| 00:02 | Syracuse | Joe Collins can't connect on a runner in the lane | 36-32 |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Johnny Boone grabs the defensive rebound | 36-32 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Johnny Boone hits the front of the rim on the fullcourt shot | 36-32 |