| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - James Reed (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Gerry Smith (fresh) 16 pts. SF - Patrick Webber (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Carl Richardson (fresh) C - William Carter (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - David Mann (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Zachery Baker (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Matthew McDonald (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. PF - Micheal Fortier (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. C - William Reid (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber inbounds the ball | 35-31 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 19:38 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left wing | 35-31 |
| 19:37 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier gets the rebound | 35-31 |
| 19:10 | Illinois | William Reid can't connect on a shot from the left wing but he's fouled by William Carter - foul #2 on William Carter, team foul #1 | 35-31 |
| 19:10 | Illinois | William Reid misses the 1st free throw | 35-31 |
| 19:10 | Illinois | William Reid makes the 2nd free throw | 35-32 |
| 18:56 | Northwestern | Micheal Fortier swats the shot by Patrick Webber | 35-32 |
| 18:54 | Illinois | Zachery Baker gets the rebound | 35-32 |
| 18:33 | Illinois | Zachery Baker misses the jumper from the left side | 35-32 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald snags the offensive board | 35-32 |
| 18:07 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier buries a jumpshot from the right wing on a great pass from David Mann | 35-34 |
| 17:55 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the fadeaway from the right side | 35-34 |
| 17:53 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith gets the offensive rebound | 35-34 |
| 17:41 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson travels with the ball | 35-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Dana Just (PG), Nicolas Koopman (SG), Steve Betz (SF), Lee Merrick (PF), Scott Stemple (C) James Reed, Gerry Smith, Patrick Webber, Carl Richardson, William Carter | |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Zhanel (PG), Marlon Everhart (SF), Craig Atkinson (PF), James Young (C) David Mann, Matthew McDonald, Micheal Fortier, William Reid | |
| 17:18 | Illinois | Zachery Baker misses badly on a floater from the left side | 35-34 |
| 17:17 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple grabs the board | 35-34 |
| 16:58 | Northwestern | Dana Just's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 35-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Mann (PG) Zachery Baker | |
| 16:34 | Illinois | Marlon Everhart clanks a 3 from straight away | 35-34 |
| 16:33 | Illinois | James Young misses the tip | 35-34 |
| 16:32 | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman grabs the defensive rebound | 35-34 |
| 16:12 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple misses the runner from the left block but he's fouled by James Young - foul #2 on James Young, team foul #1 | 35-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gerry Smith (SG), Carl Richardson (PF) Dana Just, Lee Merrick | |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew McDonald (SF) David Mann | |
| 16:12 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple makes the 1st free throw | 36-34 |
| 16:12 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple misses the 2nd free throw | 36-34 |
| 16:12 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson pulls down the offensive rebound | 36-34 |
| 15:59 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple loses the dribble to James Young | 36-34 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Nicolas Koopman (fresh) SG - Gerry Smith (fresh) 16 pts. SF - Steve Betz (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. PF - Carl Richardson (fresh) C - Scott Stemple (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Keith Zhanel (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Marlon Everhart (fresh) SF - Matthew McDonald (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. PF - Craig Atkinson (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - James Young (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 15:38 | Illinois | Keith Zhanel buries a 3 from the left wing on a great pass from Matthew McDonald | 36-37 |
| 15:27 | Northwestern | Steve Betz drills a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 39-37 |
| 15:24 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald is whistled for a carry in the backcourt | 39-37 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Reed (PG), Patrick Webber (SF), William Carter (C) Nicolas Koopman, Steve Betz, Scott Stemple | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Mann (PG), Zachery Baker (SG), Micheal Fortier (PF), William Reid (C) Keith Zhanel, Marlon Everhart, Craig Atkinson, James Young | |
| 15:04 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber clanks a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 39-37 |
| 15:03 | Illinois | William Reid gets the rebound | 39-37 |
| 14:39 | Illinois | William Carter steals the ball from Zachery Baker | 39-37 |
| 14:20 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber connects on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 41-37 |
| 14:17 | Illinois | Zachery Baker is hacked by Patrick Webber in the backcourt - foul #2 on Patrick Webber, team foul #2 | 41-37 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Dana Just (PG), James Carey (SF), Lee Merrick (PF) James Reed, Patrick Webber, Carl Richardson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Zhanel (SF) Matthew McDonald | |
| 13:53 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier misses badly on a fadeaway from the left wing | 41-37 |
| 13:51 | Illinois | William Reid tips it home | 41-39 |
| 13:42 | Northwestern | Micheal Fortier swats the dunk try by James Carey | 41-39 |
| 13:40 | Illinois | William Reid grabs the board | 41-39 |
| 13:23 | Illinois | Keith Zhanel makes the jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Micheal Fortier | 41-41 |
| 13:11 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 41-41 |
| 13:10 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier pulls down the rebound | 41-41 |
| 12:51 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier misses the wide open fadeaway in the paint | 41-41 |
| 12:50 | Northwestern | Lee Merrick snags the defensive board | 41-41 |
| 12:37 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith is fouled on the floor by Zachery Baker - foul #1 on Zachery Baker, team foul #2 | 41-41 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Reed (PG), Nicolas Koopman (SG), Patrick Webber (SF), Carl Richardson (PF), Scott Stemple (C) Dana Just, Gerry Smith, James Carey, Lee Merrick, William Carter | |
| Subs | Illinois | Marlon Everhart (SG), Matthew McDonald (SF), Craig Atkinson (PF), James Young (C) Zachery Baker, Keith Zhanel, Micheal Fortier, William Reid | |
| 12:26 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple loses the dribble to Craig Atkinson | 41-41 |
| 12:24 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald is fouled in the backcourt by Patrick Webber - foul #3 on Patrick Webber, team foul #3 | 41-41 |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Marlon Everhart misses the shot from close range but the foul's on Patrick Webber - foul #4 on Patrick Webber, team foul #4 | 41-41 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Steve Betz (SF) Patrick Webber | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Marlon Everhart makes the 1st free throw | 41-42 |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Marlon Everhart makes the 2nd free throw | 41-43 |
| 11:49 | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman clanks a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 41-43 |
| 11:48 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald grabs the board | 41-43 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - James Reed (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Nicolas Koopman (fresh) SF - Steve Betz (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. PF - Carl Richardson (fairly fresh) C - Scott Stemple (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - David Mann (tiring) 4 pts. 3 ast. SG - Marlon Everhart (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Matthew McDonald (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Craig Atkinson (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - James Young (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:43 | Illinois | Marlon Everhart's pass is intercepted by Nicolas Koopman in the backcourt | 41-43 |
| 11:38 | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman loses the ball out of bounds | 41-43 |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Carter (C) Scott Stemple | |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Zhanel (PG) David Mann | |
| 11:18 | Illinois | Marlon Everhart connects on the 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by Keith Zhanel | 41-46 |
| 11:02 | Northwestern | William Carter throws a bad pass out of bounds | 41-46 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Dana Just (PG) James Reed | |
| Subs | Illinois | Zachery Baker (SG) Matthew McDonald | |
| 10:49 | Illinois | Zachery Baker can't connect on an uncontested 3 pointer from the left corner | 41-46 |
| 10:48 | Illinois | Keith Zhanel tips it back up and in | 41-48 |
| 10:36 | Northwestern | Craig Atkinson blocks the jumper by Carl Richardson | 41-48 |
| 10:34 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Carl Richardson | 41-48 |
| 10:24 | Northwestern | Steve Betz hits a 3 from the right corner set up by Dana Just | 44-48 |
| 09:55 | Illinois | James Young is by himself and knocks in the jumper from the right block set up by Keith Zhanel | 44-50 |
| 09:34 | Northwestern | The short jumper by William Carter is denied by Craig Atkinson | 44-50 |
| 09:33 | Illinois | Marlon Everhart pulls down the rebound | 44-50 |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Marlon Everhart misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 44-50 |
| 09:14 | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman gets the rebound | 44-50 |
| 09:09 | Northwestern | Craig Atkinson is called for the reach on Nicolas Koopman - foul #1 on Craig Atkinson, team foul #3 | 44-50 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Reed (PG), Gerry Smith (SG), James Carey (SF), Lee Merrick (PF), Scott Stemple (C) Dana Just, Nicolas Koopman, Steve Betz, Carl Richardson, William Carter | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Mann (PG), Matthew McDonald (SF), Micheal Fortier (PF), William Reid (C) Keith Zhanel, Marlon Everhart, Craig Atkinson, James Young | |
| 09:04 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left corner | 44-50 |
| 09:02 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to James Carey | 44-50 |
| 08:44 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple misses the shot from the left side but he's hacked by William Reid - foul #1 on William Reid, team foul #4 | 44-50 |
| 08:44 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple makes the 1st free throw | 45-50 |
| 08:44 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple makes the 2nd free throw | 46-50 |
| 08:20 | Illinois | William Reid slams it home on a great pass from Micheal Fortier | 46-52 |
| 07:51 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple's layup is rejected by William Reid | 46-52 |
| 07:49 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith grabs the offensive board | 46-52 |
| 07:25 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith splits the doubleteam but misses short on a fadeaway in the lane but he's hacked by Matthew McDonald - foul #1 on Matthew McDonald, team foul #5 | 46-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SF), Carl Richardson (PF) James Carey, Scott Stemple | |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Zhanel (SG) Zachery Baker | |
| 07:25 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith makes the 1st free throw | 47-52 |
| 07:25 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 48-52 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - James Reed (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Gerry Smith (fairly fresh) 18 pts. SF - Patrick Webber (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. PF - Carl Richardson (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Lee Merrick (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - David Mann (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. SG - Keith Zhanel (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SF - Matthew McDonald (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Micheal Fortier (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. 3 blk. C - William Reid (fresh) 13 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 07:05 | Illinois | William Reid can't finish the uncontested layup | 48-52 |
| 07:04 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Matthew McDonald | 48-52 |
| 06:40 | Illinois | William Reid is hacked by Lee Merrick - foul #1 on Lee Merrick, team foul #5 | 48-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Dana Just (PG), William Carter (C) James Reed, Lee Merrick | |
| Subs | Illinois | Marlon Everhart (SG), Christopher Rossetti (C) David Mann, William Reid | |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier is open but comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 48-52 |
| 06:21 | Northwestern | William Carter gets the rebound | 48-52 |
| 06:08 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 48-52 |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald gets the rebound | 48-52 |
| 06:00 | Illinois | Keith Zhanel is open and buries a 3 pointer from the right corner on a nice dish by Matthew McDonald | 48-55 |
| 05:52 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith's floater is tipped away by Matthew McDonald | 48-55 |
| 05:50 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith tips it back up and in | 50-55 |
| 05:33 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier connects on the jumpshot from the left side set up by Marlon Everhart | 50-57 |
| 05:29 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 50-57 |
| 05:27 | Illinois | Keith Zhanel pulls down the rebound | 50-57 |
| 05:07 | Illinois | Carl Richardson picks off the pass by Marlon Everhart | 50-57 |
| 04:57 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber clanks a 3pt attempt from straight away | 50-57 |
| 04:55 | Northwestern | William Carter pulls down the offensive rebound | 50-57 |
| 04:46 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson buries a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 52-57 |
| 04:25 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier misses the dunk | 52-57 |
| 04:23 | Illinois | Christopher Rossetti tips it back up and in | 52-59 |
| 04:09 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 52-59 |
| 04:08 | Illinois | Christopher Rossetti snags the defensive board | 52-59 |
| 04:08 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 52-59 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Reed (PG), Nicolas Koopman (SG), Steve Betz (SF), Lee Merrick (PF), Scott Stemple (C) Dana Just, Gerry Smith, Patrick Webber, Carl Richardson, William Carter | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Mann (PG), Zachery Baker (SG), Craig Atkinson (PF), William Reid (C) Keith Zhanel, Matthew McDonald, Micheal Fortier, Christopher Rossetti | |
| 03:39 | Illinois | Zachery Baker hits a 3 pointer from the right wing on a nice dish by Marlon Everhart | 52-62 |
| 03:15 | Northwestern | Lee Merrick misses the lay-in but he's fouled by Zachery Baker - foul #2 on Zachery Baker, team foul #6 | 52-62 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Zhanel (SF) Marlon Everhart | |
| 03:15 | Northwestern | Lee Merrick makes the 1st free throw | 53-62 |
| 03:15 | Northwestern | Lee Merrick misses the 2nd free throw | 53-62 |
| 03:15 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Craig Atkinson | 53-62 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - James Reed (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Nicolas Koopman (fresh) SF - Steve Betz (fresh) 12 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. PF - Lee Merrick (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. C - Scott Stemple (fresh) 3 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - David Mann (fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. SG - Zachery Baker (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Keith Zhanel (fresh) 10 pts. 3 ast. PF - Craig Atkinson (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. C - William Reid (fresh) 13 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 02:55 | Illinois | David Mann misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing but he's hacked by Scott Stemple - foul #1 on Scott Stemple, team foul #6 | 53-62 |
| 02:55 | Illinois | David Mann makes the 1st free throw | 53-63 |
| 02:55 | Illinois | David Mann makes the 2nd free throw | 53-64 |
| 02:53 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 53-64 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SF) Steve Betz | |
| Subs | Illinois | Marlon Everhart (SF) Keith Zhanel | |
| 02:40 | Northwestern | Lee Merrick hits the front of the rim on the shot from the baseline | 53-64 |
| 02:38 | Illinois | Zachery Baker grabs the board | 53-64 |
| 02:38 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 53-64 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gerry Smith (SG) Nicolas Koopman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew McDonald (SF) Marlon Everhart | |
| 02:09 | Illinois | David Mann throws a bad pass out of bounds | 53-64 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Micheal Fortier (PF) Craig Atkinson | |
| 02:02 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith is hacked by Micheal Fortier - foul #2 on Micheal Fortier, team foul #7 | 53-64 |
| 02:02 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith makes the 1st free throw | 54-64 |
| 02:02 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 55-64 |
| 01:39 | Illinois | Zachery Baker is open and scores on a jumper from the left side on a great pass from Micheal Fortier | 55-66 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| 01:33 | Northwestern | William Reid picks off the pass by Scott Stemple | 55-66 |
| 01:07 | Illinois | Micheal Fortier can't connect on an uncontested jumper from the left side | 55-66 |
| 01:06 | Illinois | William Reid grabs the offensive board | 55-66 |
| 00:39 | Illinois | William Reid hits a pull-up jumper from the right side set up by Zachery Baker | 55-68 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| 00:33 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith throws a bad pass out of bounds | 55-68 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carl Richardson (PF), William Carter (C) Lee Merrick, Scott Stemple | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| 00:07 | Illinois | David Mann is hacked by William Carter - foul #3 on William Carter, team foul #7 | 55-68 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | David Mann makes the 1st free throw | 55-69 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | David Mann makes the 2nd free throw | 55-70 |
| 00:03 | Northwestern | Gerry Smith can't connect on a fadeaway from the right wing | 55-70 |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Zachery Baker grabs the board | 55-70 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Zachery Baker runs out the clock | 55-70 |