| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Shane Ferguson (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) 4 pts. C - Rickey Anderson (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| Lineup | St. John's | PG - Anthony Baden (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Michael White (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. SF - Clarence Roberts (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Irvin Foster (fresh) 6 pts. C - Patrick Thibodeau (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts inbounds the ball | 38-34 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | St. John's | St. John's is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:34 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau is hacked by Rickey Anderson - foul #1 on Rickey Anderson, team foul #1 | 38-34 |
| 19:13 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts misses the fadeaway from the right block | 38-34 |
| 19:11 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard grabs the board | 38-34 |
| 19:05 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 38-34 |
| 19:03 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau grabs the board | 38-34 |
| 18:44 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau misses badly on a jump hook near the basket but the foul's on Samuel Birdsell - foul #3 on Samuel Birdsell, team foul #2 | 38-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Linkous (PF) Samuel Birdsell | |
| Subs | St. John's | | |
| 18:44 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau misses the 1st free throw | 38-34 |
| 18:44 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau misses the 2nd free throw | 38-34 |
| 18:44 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous gets the rebound | 38-34 |
| 18:20 | Illinois | Anthony Baden is called for the reach on Brian Shea - foul #2 on Anthony Baden, team foul #1 | 38-34 |
| 18:00 | Illinois | Clarence Roberts takes the ball from Eddie Gerhard | 38-34 |
| 17:31 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau misses long on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 38-34 |
| 17:29 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson snags the defensive board | 38-34 |
| 17:10 | Illinois | Michael White steals it from Ryan Linkous | 38-34 |
| 17:07 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts banks in the layup on a nice dish by Michael White | 38-36 |
| 16:47 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson buries a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 41-36 |
| 16:27 | St. John's | The short jumper by Michael White is denied by Ryan Linkous | 41-36 |
| 16:26 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ryan Linkous | 41-36 |
| 16:09 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard double dribbles | 41-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (PG), Scott Staton (SF), Henry Lambright (PF), Arthur Drown (C) Brian Shea, Shane Ferguson, Ryan Linkous, Rickey Anderson | |
| Subs | St. John's | | |
| 15:50 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts throws it down on a great pass from Patrick Thibodeau and he's fouled by Richard Kruse - foul #3 on Richard Kruse, team foul #3 | 41-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell (PF) Arthur Drown | |
| Subs | St. John's | | |
| 15:50 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts makes the free throw | 41-39 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Richard Kruse (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Eddie Gerhard (fairly fresh) 8 pts. SF - Scott Staton (fresh) 3 ast. PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. C - Henry Lambright (fresh) 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | St. John's | PG - Anthony Baden (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Michael White (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. SF - Clarence Roberts (fairly fresh) 9 pts. PF - Irvin Foster (fairly fresh) 6 pts. C - Patrick Thibodeau (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:33 | Illinois | Patrick Thibodeau swats the layup by Henry Lambright | 41-39 |
| 15:31 | Illinois | Richard Kruse tips it home | 43-39 |
| 15:11 | St. John's | Michael White throws a bad pass out of bounds | 43-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Linkous (PF) Eddie Gerhard | |
| Subs | St. John's | | |
| 14:55 | Illinois | Richard Kruse misses long on a jumpshot from the left wing | 43-39 |
| 14:53 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous hits the follow up shot | 45-39 |
| 14:31 | St. John's | Anthony Baden knocks in the shot from the left wing set up by Michael White | 45-41 |
| 14:25 | Illinois | Richard Kruse connects on the 3pt jumper from the right wing set up by Henry Lambright | 48-41 |
| 14:02 | St. John's | Irvin Foster connects on the turnaround near the basket on a nice dish by Michael White | 48-43 |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Richard Kruse misses long on a fadeaway from close range but he's fouled by Irvin Foster - foul #1 on Irvin Foster, team foul #2 | 48-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Rickey Anderson (C) Scott Staton, Ryan Linkous | |
| Subs | St. John's | Raymond Stephens (SG), Paul Carr (PF) Michael White, Irvin Foster | |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Richard Kruse makes the 1st free throw | 49-43 |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Richard Kruse makes the 2nd free throw | 50-43 |
| 13:18 | St. John's | Paul Carr hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right wing | 50-43 |
| 13:16 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau grabs the offensive rebound | 50-43 |
| 12:50 | St. John's | Anthony Baden misses badly on a 3pt shot from straight away | 50-43 |
| 12:49 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Rickey Anderson | 50-43 |
| 12:35 | Illinois | Brian Shea misses short on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 50-43 |
| 12:34 | Illinois | Richard Kruse tips it home | 52-43 |
| 12:14 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts is called for a backcourt violation | 52-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard (SG), Shane Ferguson (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF) Samuel Birdsell, Richard Kruse, Henry Lambright | |
| Subs | St. John's | Michael White (SG), Irvin Foster (PF), Roland Nieman (C) Anthony Baden, Clarence Roberts, Patrick Thibodeau | |
| 11:50 | Illinois | Raymond Stephens picks off the pass by Rickey Anderson | 52-43 |
| 11:47 | St. John's | Raymond Stephens lays it up and in | 52-45 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Shane Ferguson (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. C - Rickey Anderson (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | St. John's | PG - Raymond Stephens (fresh) 6 pts. SG - Michael White (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. SF - Paul Carr (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Irvin Foster (fairly fresh) 8 pts. C - Roland Nieman (fresh) 4 reb. | |
| 11:25 | Illinois | Paul Carr steps in front of the Shane Ferguson pass | 52-45 |
| 10:56 | St. John's | Raymond Stephens is called for the illegal screen - foul #2 on Raymond Stephens, team foul #3 | 52-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (PG), Samuel Birdsell (PF), Arthur Drown (C) Brian Shea, Ryan Linkous, Rickey Anderson | |
| Subs | St. John's | Anthony Baden (PG) Raymond Stephens | |
| 10:46 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell buries a 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by Richard Kruse | 55-45 |
| 10:23 | St. John's | The short jumper by Irvin Foster is denied by Arthur Drown | 55-45 |
| 10:22 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson gets the rebound | 55-45 |
| 10:08 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the baseline | 55-45 |
| 10:07 | St. John's | Michael White snags the defensive board | 55-45 |
| 09:38 | St. John's | Paul Carr jams it set up by Michael White | 55-47 |
| 09:18 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell misses the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 55-47 |
| 09:16 | St. John's | Michael White pulls down the rebound | 55-47 |
| 08:57 | St. John's | Paul Carr is called for the illegal screen - foul #2 on Paul Carr, team foul #4 | 55-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Scott Staton (SG), Ryan Linkous (PF), Rickey Anderson (C) Eddie Gerhard, Shane Ferguson, Samuel Birdsell, Arthur Drown | |
| Subs | St. John's | Raymond Stephens (PG), Clarence Roberts (SF), Patrick Thibodeau (C) Anthony Baden, Michael White, Irvin Foster | |
| 08:32 | Illinois | The jump hook by Rickey Anderson is blocked by Roland Nieman | 55-47 |
| 08:30 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts gets the rebound | 55-47 |
| 08:05 | St. John's | Roland Nieman can't connect on a jumper from the right side | 55-47 |
| 08:03 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau grabs the offensive board | 55-47 |
| 07:39 | St. John's | Roland Nieman's layup is rejected by Ryan Linkous | 55-47 |
| 07:37 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous snags the defensive board | 55-47 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Scott Staton (fresh) 3 ast. SF - Richard Kruse (fairly fresh) 17 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) 9 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. C - Rickey Anderson (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | St. John's | PG - Raymond Stephens (fresh) 6 pts. SG - Paul Carr (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SF - Clarence Roberts (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - Roland Nieman (fairly fresh) 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Patrick Thibodeau (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 07:18 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 55-47 |
| 07:17 | Illinois | Richard Kruse misses the tip | 55-47 |
| 07:15 | St. John's | Patrick Thibodeau gets the rebound | 55-47 |
| 06:53 | St. John's | Raymond Stephens can't connect on a floater from the free throw line | 55-47 |
| 06:51 | Illinois | Richard Kruse snags the defensive board | 55-47 |
| 06:40 | Illinois | Richard Kruse clanks a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 55-47 |
| 06:38 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts pulls down the rebound | 55-47 |
| 06:18 | St. John's | Raymond Stephens lays it in on a nice dish by Clarence Roberts | 55-49 |
| 06:03 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous is hacked by Roland Nieman - foul #2 on Roland Nieman, team foul #5 | 55-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard (SG), Shane Ferguson (SF), Samuel Birdsell (PF), Henry Lambright (C) Brian Shea, Richard Kruse, Ryan Linkous, Rickey Anderson | |
| Subs | St. John's | Anthony Baden (PG), Michael White (SG), Irvin Foster (PF) Raymond Stephens, Paul Carr, Roland Nieman | |
| 05:47 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 55-49 |
| 05:45 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell tips it home | 57-49 |
| 05:20 | St. John's | Irvin Foster can't connect on a jumper near the basket | 57-49 |
| 05:18 | St. John's | Irvin Foster grabs the offensive board | 57-49 |
| 04:51 | St. John's | Michael White misses badly on a jumpshot from the left side | 57-49 |
| 04:49 | Illinois | Henry Lambright pulls down the rebound | 57-49 |
| 04:37 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson buries a jumper from just outside the lane | 59-49 |
| 04:09 | St. John's | Irvin Foster misses long on a shot in the paint | 59-49 |
| 04:07 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard gets the rebound | 59-49 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 59-49 |
| 03:49 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Shane Ferguson | 59-49 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | St. John's | St. John's is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 03:35 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson clanks a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 59-49 |
| 03:33 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts grabs the board | 59-49 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Staton (fairly fresh) 3 ast. SG - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. SF - Shane Ferguson (fairly fresh) 8 pts. PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Henry Lambright (fresh) 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | St. John's | PG - Anthony Baden (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - Michael White (tiring) 7 pts. 4 reb. SF - Clarence Roberts (tiring) 9 pts. 4 reb. PF - Irvin Foster (fairly fresh) 8 pts. C - Patrick Thibodeau (tiring) 6 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | St. John's | St. John's is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (0) | |
| 03:13 | St. John's | Anthony Baden misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 59-49 |
| 03:11 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell pulls down the rebound | 59-49 |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Anthony Baden steps in front of the Shane Ferguson pass | 59-49 |
| 02:30 | St. John's | Irvin Foster throws a bad pass out of bounds | 59-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Richard Kruse (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF), Rickey Anderson (C) Scott Staton, Shane Ferguson, Samuel Birdsell, Henry Lambright | |
| Subs | St. John's | Raymond Stephens (SG), Paul Carr (SF), Roland Nieman (C) Michael White, Clarence Roberts, Patrick Thibodeau | |
| 02:09 | Illinois | Richard Kruse scores on a turnaround in the lane | 61-49 |
| 01:54 | St. John's | Paul Carr's floater is tipped away by Ryan Linkous | 61-49 |
| 01:53 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Richard Kruse | 61-49 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | St. John's | St. John's is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 01:29 | Illinois | Paul Carr swats the shot by Rickey Anderson | 61-49 |
| 01:27 | St. John's | Roland Nieman grabs the board | 61-49 |
| 01:16 | St. John's | Paul Carr connects on the jumpshot from the left wing and he's fouled by Rickey Anderson - foul #2 on Rickey Anderson, team foul #4 | 61-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Shane Ferguson (SF), Samuel Birdsell (PF) Richard Kruse, Ryan Linkous | |
| Subs | St. John's | Clarence Roberts (SF), Patrick Thibodeau (C) Raymond Stephens, Roland Nieman | |
| 01:16 | St. John's | Paul Carr misses the free throw | 61-51 |
| 01:16 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson gets the rebound | 61-51 |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Brian Shea comes up short on the 3 pointer from straight away | 61-51 |
| 00:55 | St. John's | Irvin Foster grabs the defensive rebound | 61-51 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | St. John's | St. John's is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:49 | St. John's | Clarence Roberts scores on a pull-up jumper from the right side | 61-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | St. John's | St. John's is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Brian Shea is fouled in the backcourt by Anthony Baden - foul #3 on Anthony Baden, team foul #6 | 61-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Staton (SG), Richard Kruse (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF) Eddie Gerhard, Shane Ferguson, Samuel Birdsell | |
| Subs | St. John's | Michael White (SG) Paul Carr | |
| 00:44 | Illinois | Anthony Baden is called for the reach on Brian Shea - foul #4 on Anthony Baden, team foul #7 | 61-53 |
| 00:44 | Illinois | Brian Shea makes the 1st free throw | 62-53 |
| 00:44 | Illinois | Brian Shea misses the 2nd free throw | 62-53 |
| 00:44 | St. John's | Irvin Foster grabs the board | 62-53 |
| 00:38 | St. John's | Michael White is fouled on the floor by Scott Staton - foul #3 on Scott Staton, team foul #5 | 62-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard (SG), Shane Ferguson (SF), Samuel Birdsell (PF) Scott Staton, Richard Kruse, Ryan Linkous | |
| Subs | St. John's | | |
| 00:35 | St. John's | Anthony Baden throws a bad pass out of bounds | 62-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Staton (SG), Richard Kruse (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF) Eddie Gerhard, Shane Ferguson, Samuel Birdsell | |
| Subs | St. John's | | |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Scott Staton is hacked by Michael White in the backcourt - foul #2 on Michael White, team foul #8 | 62-53 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Scott Staton makes the 1st free throw | 63-53 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Scott Staton makes the 2nd free throw | 64-53 |
| 00:29 | St. John's | Irvin Foster misses short on a runner from the baseline but he's fouled by Ryan Linkous - foul #1 on Ryan Linkous, team foul #6 | 64-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard (SG), Shane Ferguson (SF), Samuel Birdsell (PF) Scott Staton, Richard Kruse, Ryan Linkous | |
| Subs | St. John's | | |
| 00:29 | St. John's | Irvin Foster misses the 1st free throw | 64-53 |
| 00:29 | St. John's | Irvin Foster misses the 2nd free throw | 64-53 |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell grabs the board | 64-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | St. John's | St. John's is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Brian Shea runs out the clock | 64-53 |