| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) SG - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) SF - Shane Ferguson (fresh) PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) C - Rickey Anderson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Anthony Steffen (fresh) SG - Kevin Anderson (fresh) SF - Vincent Kuo (fresh) PF - John Riddle (fresh) C - Warren Cash (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (0) | |
| 19:37 | Illinois | Brian Shea misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by Anthony Steffen - foul #1 on Anthony Steffen, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:37 | Illinois | Brian Shea misses the 1st free throw | 0-0 |
| 19:37 | Illinois | Brian Shea makes the 2nd free throw | 1-0 |
| 19:14 | Northwestern | Vincent Kuo drills a runner from the baseline on a great pass from Anthony Steffen | 1-2 |
| 18:58 | Illinois | Brian Shea scores on a 3pt jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Samuel Birdsell | 4-2 |
| 18:37 | Northwestern | John Riddle buries a driving attempt from the baseline on a nice dish by Kevin Anderson | 4-4 |
| 18:28 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson buries a jump hook near the basket on a nice dish by Samuel Birdsell | 6-4 |
| 18:09 | Northwestern | John Riddle is hacked by Shane Ferguson - foul #1 on Shane Ferguson, team foul #1 | 6-4 |
| 17:48 | Northwestern | Brian Shea takes the ball from Warren Cash | 6-4 |
| 17:43 | Illinois | Brian Shea misses the dunk attempt but he's hacked by Anthony Steffen - foul #2 on Anthony Steffen, team foul #2 | 6-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Matthew McGraw (PG) Anthony Steffen | |
| 17:43 | Illinois | Brian Shea makes the 1st free throw | 7-4 |
| 17:43 | Illinois | Brian Shea makes the 2nd free throw | 8-4 |
| 17:21 | Northwestern | Warren Cash connects on the shot from the free throw line set up by Matthew McGraw | 8-6 |
| 17:13 | Illinois | Warren Cash is called for the reach on Brian Shea - foul #1 on Warren Cash, team foul #3 | 8-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (SF) Shane Ferguson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 17:04 | Illinois | Brian Shea throws a bad pass out of bounds | 8-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Linkous (PF), Henry Lambright (C) Brian Shea, Rickey Anderson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 17:00 | Northwestern | Matthew McGraw is called for traveling in the backcourt | 8-6 |
| 16:42 | Illinois | Henry Lambright's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 8-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Staton (SF) Samuel Birdsell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 16:23 | Northwestern | Warren Cash blows the layup | 8-6 |
| 16:22 | Illinois | Henry Lambright grabs the defensive rebound | 8-6 |
| 16:09 | Illinois | Henry Lambright connects on the pull-up jumper from the right wing | 10-6 |
| 15:42 | Northwestern | John Riddle misses the fadeaway near the basket | 10-6 |
| 15:41 | Illinois | Richard Kruse pulls down the rebound | 10-6 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Richard Kruse (fresh) SG - Eddie Gerhard (fairly fresh) SF - Scott Staton (fresh) PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) C - Henry Lambright (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Matthew McGraw (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Kevin Anderson (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SF - Vincent Kuo (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Riddle (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Warren Cash (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 15:24 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous scores on a turnaround in the paint on a nice dish by Eddie Gerhard | 12-6 |
| 15:04 | Northwestern | John Riddle comes up short on the floater from just outside the lane | 12-6 |
| 15:03 | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson grabs the offensive rebound | 12-6 |
| 14:37 | Northwestern | Warren Cash misses badly on a shot from the right block | 12-6 |
| 14:35 | Northwestern | Warren Cash pulls down the offensive rebound | 12-6 |
| 14:11 | Northwestern | John Riddle loses the dribble to Eddie Gerhard | 12-6 |
| 14:02 | Illinois | Henry Lambright hits a floater from the left wing | 14-6 |
| 13:33 | Northwestern | Warren Cash is whistled for traveling | 14-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Shane Ferguson (SF), Samuel Birdsell (PF), Rickey Anderson (C) Richard Kruse, Eddie Gerhard, Ryan Linkous, Henry Lambright | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alberto Costa (SF) Vincent Kuo | |
| 13:15 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell is fouled on the floor by John Riddle - foul #1 on John Riddle, team foul #4 | 14-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Arthur Drown (PF) Scott Staton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 13:01 | Illinois | Brian Shea clanks a shot from the right side | 14-6 |
| 13:00 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson tips it home | 16-6 |
| 12:45 | Northwestern | John Riddle blows the layup but he's fouled by Arthur Drown - foul #1 on Arthur Drown, team foul #2 | 16-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard (SG) Arthur Drown | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lino Schilawski (SG) Kevin Anderson | |
| 12:45 | Northwestern | John Riddle misses the 1st free throw | 16-6 |
| 12:45 | Northwestern | John Riddle makes the 2nd free throw | 16-7 |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 16-7 |
| 12:29 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson tips it in | 18-7 |
| 12:09 | Northwestern | Warren Cash makes the jump hook in the lane and he's fouled by Rickey Anderson - foul #1 on Rickey Anderson, team foul #3 | 18-9 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (SG) Eddie Gerhard | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Willard Davidson (PF) John Riddle | |
| 12:09 | Northwestern | Warren Cash misses the free throw | 18-9 |
| 12:09 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell grabs the defensive rebound | 18-9 |
| 11:50 | Illinois | Warren Cash steals the ball from Richard Kruse | 18-9 |
| 11:31 | Northwestern | Warren Cash drills a fadeaway from the right side | 18-11 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 6 pts. SG - Richard Kruse (fresh) SF - Shane Ferguson (fresh) PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) C - Rickey Anderson (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Matthew McGraw (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Lino Schilawski (fresh) SF - Alberto Costa (fresh) PF - Willard Davidson (fresh) C - Warren Cash (tiring) 6 pts. | |
| 11:24 | Illinois | Brian Shea buries a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 21-11 |
| 11:09 | Northwestern | 3 seconds is called on Alberto Costa | 21-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Linkous (PF) Shane Ferguson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson (SG), Vincent Kuo (SF), Matthew Teer (C) Lino Schilawski, Alberto Costa, Warren Cash | |
| 10:59 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson is fouled on the floor by Vincent Kuo - foul #1 on Vincent Kuo, team foul #5 | 21-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Staton (SF), Henry Lambright (C) Brian Shea, Rickey Anderson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Riddle (PF) Willard Davidson | |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous is hacked by Vincent Kuo - foul #2 on Vincent Kuo, team foul #6 | 21-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alberto Costa (SF) Vincent Kuo | |
| 10:35 | Illinois | Richard Kruse makes the fadeaway from the left wing set up by Scott Staton | 23-11 |
| 10:06 | Northwestern | John Riddle hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the right wing but he's hacked by Ryan Linkous - foul #1 on Ryan Linkous, team foul #4 | 23-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | Shane Ferguson (SF) Samuel Birdsell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 10:06 | Northwestern | John Riddle makes the 1st free throw | 23-12 |
| 10:06 | Northwestern | John Riddle makes the 2nd free throw | 23-13 |
| 09:59 | Illinois | Richard Kruse makes the runner from the right block on a great pass from Ryan Linkous | 25-13 |
| 09:30 | Northwestern | John Riddle scores on a turnaround from the baseline on a nice dish by Alberto Costa | 25-15 |
| 09:25 | Illinois | Scott Staton misses the dunk but the foul's on Matthew Teer - foul #1 on Matthew Teer, team foul #7 | 25-15 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard (SG), Rickey Anderson (C) Richard Kruse, Henry Lambright | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Willard Davidson (PF), Warren Cash (C) John Riddle, Matthew Teer | |
| 09:25 | Illinois | Scott Staton makes the 1st free throw | 26-15 |
| 09:25 | Illinois | Scott Staton makes the 2nd free throw | 27-15 |
| 09:01 | Northwestern | Warren Cash misses short on a shot near the basket | 27-15 |
| 08:59 | Illinois | Scott Staton grabs the board | 27-15 |
| 08:44 | Illinois | Scott Staton misses the lay-in | 27-15 |
| 08:42 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous grabs the offensive board | 27-15 |
| 08:26 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard misses badly on a jumpshot from the right side but the foul's on Willard Davidson - foul #1 on Willard Davidson, team foul #8 | 27-15 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Richard Kruse (SF), Samuel Birdsell (PF) Scott Staton, Shane Ferguson, Ryan Linkous | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lino Schilawski (SG) Kevin Anderson | |
| 08:26 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard makes the 1st free throw | 28-15 |
| 08:26 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard makes the 2nd free throw | 29-15 |
| 08:06 | Northwestern | Warren Cash connects on the fadeaway from the left block | 29-17 |
| 07:57 | Illinois | Richard Kruse misses short on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 29-17 |
| 07:55 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Willard Davidson | 29-17 |
| 07:26 | Northwestern | Alberto Costa hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 29-17 |
| 07:24 | Northwestern | Lino Schilawski misses the tip | 29-17 |
| 07:23 | Illinois | Richard Kruse gets the rebound | 29-17 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 9 pts. SG - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Richard Kruse (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) C - Rickey Anderson (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Matthew McGraw (tiring) 1 ast. SG - Lino Schilawski (fresh) SF - Alberto Costa (tiring) 1 ast. PF - Willard Davidson (fresh) C - Warren Cash (tiring) 8 pts. | |
| 07:18 | Illinois | Matthew McGraw is called for the reach on Eddie Gerhard - foul #1 on Matthew McGraw, team foul #9 | 29-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Henry Lambright (C) Rickey Anderson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Riddle (PF), Matthew Teer (C) Willard Davidson, Warren Cash | |
| 07:18 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard misses the 1st free throw | 29-17 |
| 07:18 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to John Riddle | 29-17 |
| 06:58 | Northwestern | Matthew Teer double dribbles | 29-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Shane Ferguson (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF) Eddie Gerhard, Richard Kruse | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 06:49 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous comes up short on the jumpshot from the right wing | 29-17 |
| 06:48 | Northwestern | John Riddle pulls down the rebound | 29-17 |
| 06:19 | Northwestern | John Riddle blows the layup | 29-17 |
| 06:18 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell grabs the defensive rebound | 29-17 |
| 06:13 | Illinois | Brian Shea misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 29-17 |
| 06:11 | Northwestern | Alberto Costa pulls down the rebound | 29-17 |
| 05:46 | Northwestern | John Riddle comes up short on the floater in the lane | 29-17 |
| 05:44 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous gets the rebound | 29-17 |
| 05:34 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous can't connect on a shot in the paint | 29-17 |
| 05:33 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell gets the offensive rebound | 29-17 |
| 05:23 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell misses the driving attempt in the paint but he's hacked by Alberto Costa - foul #1 on Alberto Costa, team foul #10 | 29-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (PG), Eddie Gerhard (SG), Scott Staton (SF), Rickey Anderson (C) Brian Shea, Shane Ferguson, Ryan Linkous, Henry Lambright | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson (SG), Warren Cash (C) Lino Schilawski, Matthew Teer | |
| 05:23 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell makes the 1st free throw | 30-17 |
| 05:23 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell makes the 2nd free throw | 31-17 |
| 05:09 | Northwestern | John Riddle clanks a jumpshot from the left side | 31-17 |
| 05:07 | Illinois | Scott Staton grabs the board | 31-17 |
| 04:55 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 31-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Henry Lambright (PF) Samuel Birdsell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 04:35 | Northwestern | John Riddle hits a floater in the lane on a nice dish by Matthew McGraw | 31-19 |
| 04:13 | Illinois | Kevin Anderson steals the ball from Eddie Gerhard | 31-19 |
| 03:50 | Northwestern | Warren Cash banks in the layup | 31-21 |
| 03:38 | Illinois | Scott Staton is hacked by Alberto Costa - foul #2 on Alberto Costa, team foul #11 | 31-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Shane Ferguson (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF) Richard Kruse, Henry Lambright | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Anthony Steffen (PG), Vincent Kuo (SF), Willard Davidson (PF) Matthew McGraw, Alberto Costa, John Riddle | |
| 03:38 | Illinois | Scott Staton misses the 1st free throw | 31-21 |
| 03:38 | Illinois | Scott Staton makes the 2nd free throw | 32-21 |
| 03:19 | Northwestern | Eddie Gerhard steps in front of the Willard Davidson pass | 32-21 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Staton (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. SF - Shane Ferguson (fresh) PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Rickey Anderson (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Anthony Steffen (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Kevin Anderson (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SF - Vincent Kuo (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Willard Davidson (fresh) C - Warren Cash (fairly fresh) 10 pts. | |
| 03:01 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard scores on a runner in the paint on a great pass from Scott Staton | 34-21 |
| 02:41 | Northwestern | Warren Cash makes the runner from close range on a nice dish by Anthony Steffen and he's fouled by Rickey Anderson - foul #2 on Rickey Anderson, team foul #5 | 34-23 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Samuel Birdsell (SG), Henry Lambright (C) Scott Staton, Eddie Gerhard, Rickey Anderson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 02:41 | Northwestern | Warren Cash makes the free throw | 34-24 |
| 02:26 | Illinois | Warren Cash picks off the pass by Ryan Linkous | 34-24 |
| 02:09 | Northwestern | Warren Cash hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right side but the foul's on Samuel Birdsell - foul #1 on Samuel Birdsell, team foul #6 | 34-24 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lino Schilawski (SG) Kevin Anderson | |
| 02:09 | Northwestern | Warren Cash makes the 1st free throw | 34-25 |
| 02:09 | Northwestern | Warren Cash misses the 2nd free throw | 34-25 |
| 02:09 | Illinois | Henry Lambright snags the defensive board | 34-25 |
| 01:57 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous knocks in the shot from the right wing | 36-25 |
| 01:42 | Northwestern | Anthony Steffen misses badly on a 3 from the left wing | 36-25 |
| 01:41 | Northwestern | Warren Cash pulls down the offensive rebound | 36-25 |
| 01:24 | Northwestern | Warren Cash blows the dunk | 36-25 |
| 01:22 | Illinois | Brian Shea grabs the defensive rebound | 36-25 |
| 01:04 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson is fouled on the floor by Lino Schilawski - foul #1 on Lino Schilawski, team foul #12 | 36-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard (SG), Rickey Anderson (C) Ryan Linkous, Henry Lambright | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Riddle (PF), Matthew Teer (C) Willard Davidson, Warren Cash | |
| 01:04 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson makes the 1st free throw | 37-25 |
| 01:04 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson makes the 2nd free throw | 38-25 |
| 00:45 | Northwestern | Lino Schilawski hits the front of the rim on the 3 from straight away | 38-25 |
| 00:43 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson snags the defensive board | 38-25 |
| 00:38 | Illinois | Brian Shea misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 38-25 |
| 00:37 | Northwestern | John Riddle pulls down the rebound | 38-25 |
| 00:32 | Northwestern | John Riddle's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 38-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (SF) Shane Ferguson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson (SG) Lino Schilawski | |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard knocks in the pull-up jumper from the free throw line on a great pass from Brian Shea | 40-25 |
| 00:04 | Northwestern | Vincent Kuo's pass is intercepted by Samuel Birdsell | 40-25 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell misses long on a halfcourt shot | 40-25 |