| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Matthew McGraw (fresh) SG - Kevin Anderson (fresh) SF - Vincent Kuo (fresh) PF - John Riddle (fresh) C - Willard Davidson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) SG - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) SF - Shane Ferguson (fresh) PF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) C - Rickey Anderson (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:51 | Illinois | Brian Shea knocks in the fadeaway from the left wing on a great pass from Shane Ferguson | 0-2 |
| 19:27 | Northwestern | Vincent Kuo buries a 3 from the left corner | 3-2 |
| 19:11 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard misses short on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 3-2 |
| 19:09 | Northwestern | Vincent Kuo grabs the board | 3-2 |
| 18:47 | Northwestern | Shane Ferguson takes the ball from Willard Davidson | 3-2 |
| 18:27 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard misses long on a jumper in the paint | 3-2 |
| 18:25 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Vincent Kuo | 3-2 |
| 18:08 | Northwestern | John Riddle buries a runner near the basket | 5-2 |
| 17:52 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard misses the easy layup | 5-2 |
| 17:50 | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson gets the rebound | 5-2 |
| 17:23 | Northwestern | Willard Davidson's pass is intercepted by Brian Shea | 5-2 |
| 17:20 | Illinois | Brian Shea lays it up and in | 5-4 |
| 17:05 | Northwestern | John Riddle misses short on a turnaround from the right block | 5-4 |
| 17:03 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell snags the defensive board | 5-4 |
| 16:57 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard hits a floater from the right wing set up by Brian Shea | 5-6 |
| 16:34 | Northwestern | John Riddle loses the dribble to Eddie Gerhard | 5-6 |
| 16:14 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 5-6 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Anthony Steffen (PG) Matthew McGraw | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (PG), Scott Staton (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF), Henry Lambright (C) Brian Shea, Shane Ferguson, Samuel Birdsell, Rickey Anderson | |
| 16:02 | Northwestern | Eddie Gerhard is called for the reach on John Riddle - foul #1 on Eddie Gerhard, team foul #1 | 5-6 |
| 15:43 | Northwestern | Willard Davidson buries a floater in the paint | 7-6 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Anthony Steffen (fresh) SG - Kevin Anderson (fairly fresh) SF - Vincent Kuo (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. PF - John Riddle (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Willard Davidson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Richard Kruse (fresh) SG - Eddie Gerhard (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SF - Scott Staton (fresh) PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) C - Henry Lambright (fresh) | |
| 15:23 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous can't connect on a shot from the left side | 7-6 |
| 15:21 | Northwestern | John Riddle pulls down the rebound | 7-6 |
| 15:02 | Northwestern | John Riddle comes up short on the floater near the basket | 7-6 |
| 15:01 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous pulls down the rebound | 7-6 |
| 14:56 | Illinois | Richard Kruse is fouled on the floor by Vincent Kuo - foul #1 on Vincent Kuo, team foul #1 | 7-6 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Matthew McGraw (PG) Anthony Steffen | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG) Eddie Gerhard | |
| 14:43 | Illinois | Scott Staton knocks in the runner from close range on a nice dish by Ryan Linkous and he's hacked by John Riddle - foul #1 on John Riddle, team foul #2 | 7-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alberto Costa (SF) Vincent Kuo | |
| Subs | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell (SG) Brian Shea | |
| 14:43 | Illinois | Scott Staton makes the free throw | 7-9 |
| 14:26 | Northwestern | Henry Lambright blocks the short jumper by John Riddle | 7-9 |
| 14:24 | Northwestern | Willard Davidson misses the tip | 7-9 |
| 14:22 | Illinois | Henry Lambright pulls down the rebound | 7-9 |
| 14:17 | Illinois | Richard Kruse loses the dribble to Kevin Anderson | 7-9 |
| 14:04 | Northwestern | John Riddle buries a shot from the right block | 9-9 |
| 13:57 | Illinois | Scott Staton is hacked by Alberto Costa - foul #1 on Alberto Costa, team foul #3 | 9-9 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Shane Ferguson (SF) Ryan Linkous | |
| 13:51 | Illinois | Richard Kruse scores on a 3pt attempt from the left corner set up by Samuel Birdsell | 9-12 |
| 13:39 | Northwestern | John Riddle buries a turnaround near the basket | 11-12 |
| 13:21 | Illinois | Scott Staton hits the finger roll set up by Richard Kruse | 11-14 |
| 12:56 | Northwestern | John Riddle misses the driving attempt near the basket | 11-14 |
| 12:55 | Illinois | Henry Lambright grabs the board | 11-14 |
| 12:39 | Illinois | Henry Lambright misses the wide open fadeaway jumper from the left side | 11-14 |
| 12:37 | Illinois | Richard Kruse tips it in | 11-16 |
| 12:18 | Northwestern | John Riddle drills a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Alberto Costa | 13-16 |
| 12:06 | Illinois | Richard Kruse is fouled on the floor by Willard Davidson - foul #1 on Willard Davidson, team foul #4 | 13-16 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Anthony Steffen (PG), Lino Schilawski (SG), Vincent Kuo (SF), Matthew Teer (PF), Warren Cash (C) Matthew McGraw, Kevin Anderson, Alberto Costa, John Riddle, Willard Davidson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Eddie Gerhard (SG), Ryan Linkous (PF), Rickey Anderson (C) Richard Kruse, Scott Staton, Samuel Birdsell, Henry Lambright | |
| 11:48 | Illinois | Brian Shea knocks in the 3pt shot from the left wing on a great pass from Eddie Gerhard | 13-19 |
| 11:25 | Northwestern | Rickey Anderson swats the layup by Warren Cash | 13-19 |
| 11:23 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Matthew Teer | 13-19 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Anthony Steffen (fresh) SG - Lino Schilawski (fresh) SF - Vincent Kuo (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. PF - Matthew Teer (fresh) C - Warren Cash (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - Eddie Gerhard (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Shane Ferguson (fairly fresh) 1 ast. PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) C - Rickey Anderson (fresh) | |
| 11:17 | Northwestern | Vincent Kuo knocks in the 3 from the left corner | 16-19 |
| 11:04 | Illinois | Brian Shea is fouled on the floor by Anthony Steffen - foul #1 on Anthony Steffen, team foul #5 | 16-19 |
| 10:49 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 16-19 |
| 10:48 | Northwestern | Matthew Teer snags the defensive board | 16-19 |
| 10:32 | Northwestern | Matthew Teer travels with the ball | 16-19 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (SF) Shane Ferguson | |
| 10:25 | Illinois | Richard Kruse drills a floater from the right side on a nice dish by Brian Shea and the foul's on Vincent Kuo - foul #2 on Vincent Kuo, team foul #6 | 16-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alberto Costa (SF), Willard Davidson (C) Vincent Kuo, Warren Cash | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:25 | Illinois | Richard Kruse misses the free throw | 16-21 |
| 10:25 | Northwestern | Willard Davidson grabs the defensive rebound | 16-21 |
| 10:07 | Northwestern | Willard Davidson can't connect on a runner from the baseline but the foul's on Rickey Anderson - foul #1 on Rickey Anderson, team foul #2 | 16-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Riddle (PF) Matthew Teer | |
| Subs | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell (PF) Ryan Linkous | |
| 10:07 | Northwestern | Willard Davidson makes the 1st free throw | 17-21 |
| 10:07 | Northwestern | Willard Davidson makes the 2nd free throw | 18-21 |
| 09:58 | Illinois | Anthony Steffen is called for the reach on Eddie Gerhard - foul #2 on Anthony Steffen, team foul #7 | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Matthew McGraw (PG) Anthony Steffen | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Staton (SF), Henry Lambright (C) Brian Shea, Rickey Anderson | |
| 09:58 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard misses the 1st free throw | 18-21 |
| 09:58 | Northwestern | Alberto Costa grabs the defensive rebound | 18-21 |
| 09:34 | Northwestern | Henry Lambright is called for the reach on Willard Davidson - foul #1 on Henry Lambright, team foul #3 | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson (SG) Lino Schilawski | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 09:12 | Northwestern | John Riddle can't connect on a fadeaway from the baseline | 18-21 |
| 09:10 | Illinois | Richard Kruse grabs the board | 18-21 |
| 08:51 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard can't connect on a jumper from the right side | 18-21 |
| 08:49 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Richard Kruse | 18-21 |
| 08:44 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard comes up short on the fadeaway from the free throw line but he's hacked by Alberto Costa - foul #2 on Alberto Costa, team foul #8 | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Vincent Kuo (SF), Warren Cash (C) Alberto Costa, Willard Davidson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Rickey Anderson (C) Scott Staton, Henry Lambright | |
| 08:44 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard makes the 1st free throw | 18-22 |
| 08:44 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard misses the 2nd free throw | 18-22 |
| 08:44 | Northwestern | John Riddle pulls down the rebound | 18-22 |
| 08:33 | Northwestern | Warren Cash buries a floater in the paint | 20-22 |
| 08:24 | Illinois | Richard Kruse is open but comes up short on the jumper from the free throw line | 20-22 |
| 08:22 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell hits the follow up shot | 20-24 |
| 08:00 | Northwestern | Samuel Birdsell steps in front of the John Riddle pass | 20-24 |
| 07:46 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell is called for 3 seconds in the lane | 20-24 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lino Schilawski (SG), Matthew Teer (PF) Kevin Anderson, John Riddle | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Staton (SG), Shane Ferguson (SF), Ryan Linkous (PF) Eddie Gerhard, Richard Kruse, Samuel Birdsell | |
| 07:29 | Northwestern | Scott Staton takes the ball from Warren Cash | 20-24 |
| 07:12 | Illinois | Brian Shea clanks a shot from the free throw line | 20-24 |
| 07:10 | Northwestern | Warren Cash grabs the defensive rebound | 20-24 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Matthew McGraw (fairly fresh) SG - Lino Schilawski (fresh) SF - Vincent Kuo (tiring) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - Matthew Teer (fresh) 2 reb. C - Warren Cash (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Shea (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - Scott Staton (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Shane Ferguson (fairly fresh) 1 ast. PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) C - Rickey Anderson (fairly fresh) | |
| 07:07 | Northwestern | Scott Staton is called for the reach on Matthew McGraw in the backcourt - foul #1 on Scott Staton, team foul #4 | 20-24 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Willard Davidson (C) Warren Cash | |
| Subs | Illinois | Henry Lambright (C) Rickey Anderson | |
| 06:45 | Northwestern | Matthew Teer comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 20-24 |
| 06:43 | Illinois | Henry Lambright gets the rebound | 20-24 |
| 06:33 | Illinois | Ryan Linkous misses long on a floater near the basket | 20-24 |
| 06:32 | Northwestern | Matthew Teer gets the rebound | 20-24 |
| 06:08 | Northwestern | Ryan Linkous steps in front of the Matthew McGraw pass | 20-24 |
| 05:57 | Illinois | Henry Lambright buries a jumper from the right block set up by Ryan Linkous | 20-26 |
| 05:40 | Northwestern | Vincent Kuo misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 20-26 |
| 05:39 | Northwestern | Lino Schilawski tips it in | 22-26 |
| 05:27 | Illinois | Shane Ferguson is called for traveling | 22-26 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson (SG), Alberto Costa (SF), John Riddle (PF) Lino Schilawski, Vincent Kuo, Matthew Teer | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (PG), Eddie Gerhard (SG), Samuel Birdsell (PF), Rickey Anderson (C) Brian Shea, Shane Ferguson, Ryan Linkous, Henry Lambright | |
| 05:11 | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 22-26 |
| 05:10 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell snags the defensive board | 22-26 |
| 05:06 | Illinois | Richard Kruse knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 22-28 |
| 04:50 | Northwestern | John Riddle hits a jumpshot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Matthew McGraw | 24-28 |
| 04:36 | Illinois | Richard Kruse hits the front of the rim on the wide open jumper from just outside the lane | 24-28 |
| 04:35 | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson gets the rebound | 24-28 |
| 04:18 | Northwestern | Alberto Costa can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 24-28 |
| 04:17 | Illinois | Richard Kruse pulls down the rebound | 24-28 |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Richard Kruse throws a bad pass out of bounds | 24-28 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Warren Cash (C) Willard Davidson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Linkous (PF) Scott Staton | |
| 03:53 | Northwestern | Matthew McGraw comes up short on the jumper from the right wing | 24-28 |
| 03:52 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard pulls down the rebound | 24-28 |
| 03:31 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard drills a jump hook from the left block on a great pass from Richard Kruse and the foul's on Kevin Anderson - foul #1 on Kevin Anderson, team foul #9 | 24-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Anthony Steffen (PG), Vincent Kuo (SF) Matthew McGraw, Alberto Costa | |
| Subs | Illinois | Henry Lambright (C) Rickey Anderson | |
| 03:31 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard makes the free throw | 24-31 |
| 03:21 | Northwestern | Warren Cash knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the left side set up by Kevin Anderson | 26-31 |
| 03:05 | Illinois | Eddie Gerhard's floater is knocked away by Warren Cash | 26-31 |
| 03:03 | Northwestern | Anthony Steffen grabs the board | 26-31 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Anthony Steffen (fresh) SG - Kevin Anderson (tiring) 1 ast. SF - Vincent Kuo (tiring) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - John Riddle (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. C - Warren Cash (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Richard Kruse (fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - Eddie Gerhard (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - Samuel Birdsell (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. PF - Ryan Linkous (fresh) C - Henry Lambright (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 02:42 | Northwestern | John Riddle is hacked by Ryan Linkous - foul #1 on Ryan Linkous, team foul #5 | 26-31 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lino Schilawski (SG), Matthew Teer (PF) Kevin Anderson, John Riddle | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Shea (PG), Scott Staton (SG), Arthur Drown (C) Eddie Gerhard, Samuel Birdsell, Ryan Linkous | |
| 02:33 | Northwestern | Vincent Kuo misses badly on a fadeaway from the left wing | 26-31 |
| 02:31 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Arthur Drown | 26-31 |
| 02:14 | Illinois | Richard Kruse misses badly on a 3 from the right wing | 26-31 |
| 02:13 | Illinois | Henry Lambright snags the offensive board | 26-31 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Arthur Drown buries a jumpshot from the right wing on a nice dish by Scott Staton and the foul's on Matthew Teer - foul #1 on Matthew Teer, team foul #10 | 26-33 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alberto Costa (SF), Willard Davidson (C) Vincent Kuo, Warren Cash | |
| Subs | Illinois | Shane Ferguson (SF) Richard Kruse | |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Arthur Drown makes the free throw | 26-34 |
| 01:46 | Northwestern | Anthony Steffen misses badly on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 26-34 |
| 01:45 | Northwestern | Alberto Costa misses the tip | 26-34 |
| 01:43 | Illinois | Henry Lambright gets the rebound | 26-34 |
| 01:31 | Illinois | Anthony Steffen is called for the reach on Henry Lambright - foul #3 on Anthony Steffen, team foul #11 | 26-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Matthew McGraw (PG), John Riddle (PF) Anthony Steffen, Matthew Teer | |
| Subs | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell (SG), Rickey Anderson (C) Scott Staton, Arthur Drown | |
| 01:31 | Illinois | Henry Lambright misses the 1st free throw | 26-34 |
| 01:31 | Illinois | Henry Lambright misses the 2nd free throw | 26-34 |
| 01:31 | Northwestern | John Riddle grabs the board | 26-34 |
| 01:20 | Northwestern | John Riddle misses short on a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 26-34 |
| 01:19 | Northwestern | Alberto Costa can't tip it in | 26-34 |
| 01:18 | Northwestern | John Riddle grabs the offensive rebound | 26-34 |
| 00:57 | Northwestern | John Riddle blows the dunk | 26-34 |
| 00:55 | Illinois | Henry Lambright pulls down the rebound | 26-34 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | Alberto Costa takes the ball from Brian Shea | 26-34 |
| 00:31 | Northwestern | Alberto Costa is whistled for traveling | 26-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Kevin Anderson (SG), Vincent Kuo (SF) Lino Schilawski, Alberto Costa | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Kruse (PG), Eddie Gerhard (SG), Ryan Linkous (PF) Brian Shea, Shane Ferguson, Henry Lambright | |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Richard Kruse hits the front of the rim on the 3 from straight away | 26-34 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Rickey Anderson snags the offensive board | 26-34 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell is hacked by Matthew McGraw - foul #1 on Matthew McGraw, team foul #12 | 26-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Matthew Teer (PF), Warren Cash (C) John Riddle, Willard Davidson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell makes the 1st free throw | 26-35 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Samuel Birdsell makes the 2nd free throw | 26-36 |
| 00:01 | Northwestern | Matthew Teer clanks a shot from the right wing | 26-36 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Richard Kruse pulls down the rebound | 26-36 |