| Lineup | UNLV | PG - James Blackstock (fresh) SG - Dennis Moore (fresh) SF - Akim Zercher (fresh) PF - Dikembe Azure (fresh) C - Adolfo Martinez (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Eddy Lovett (fresh) SG - Arnold Mueller (fresh) SF - Joseph Foster (fresh) PF - Johnny Ginther (fresh) C - Frank Narvaez (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | UNLV | Adolfo Martinez wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | UNLV | UNLV is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 19:41 | UNLV | Dennis Moore scores on a 3 pointer from straight away | 3-0 |
| 19:19 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller misses short on an open 3pt jumper from the right corner | 3-0 |
| 19:17 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller grabs the offensive rebound | 3-0 |
| 18:58 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 3-0 |
| 18:57 | UNLV | Adolfo Martinez snags the defensive board | 3-0 |
| 18:53 | UNLV | Akim Zercher makes the 3pt attempt from straight away | 6-0 |
| 18:50 | Illinois | Dennis Moore picks off the pass by Frank Narvaez in the backcourt | 6-0 |
| 18:34 | UNLV | Eddy Lovett steals the ball from James Blackstock | 6-0 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett is hacked by Adolfo Martinez in the backcourt - foul #1 on Adolfo Martinez, team foul #1 | 6-0 |
| 18:20 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther's floater is tipped away by Dennis Moore | 6-0 |
| 18:19 | UNLV | The rebound goes to Dikembe Azure | 6-0 |
| 18:13 | UNLV | Akim Zercher clanks a fadeaway jumper from the right wing but he's fouled by Johnny Ginther - foul #1 on Johnny Ginther, team foul #1 | 6-0 |
| 18:13 | UNLV | Akim Zercher makes the 1st free throw | 7-0 |
| 18:13 | UNLV | Akim Zercher misses the 2nd free throw | 7-0 |
| 18:13 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther pulls down the rebound | 7-0 |
| 17:54 | Illinois | James Blackstock is called for the reach on Eddy Lovett - foul #1 on James Blackstock, team foul #2 | 7-0 |
| Subs | UNLV | Robert Burch (PG), Irvin Wellborn (SF), Drazen Choinski (PF), Dustin Lee (C) James Blackstock, Akim Zercher, Dikembe Azure, Adolfo Martinez | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 17:32 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 7-0 |
| 17:30 | UNLV | Dustin Lee snags the defensive board | 7-0 |
| 17:25 | UNLV | Dennis Moore makes the contested 3 pointer from the left wing on a nice dish by Irvin Wellborn | 10-0 |
| 16:59 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther connects on the jumper from just outside the lane | 10-2 |
| 16:53 | UNLV | Frank Narvaez steps in front of the Dennis Moore pass as he passes out of a doubleteam | 10-2 |
| 16:30 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez misses the lay-in but the foul's on Dustin Lee - foul #1 on Dustin Lee, team foul #3 | 10-2 |
| Subs | UNLV | James Blackstock (PG), Leif Dominowski (SG), Jason Miller (PF), Adolfo Martinez (C) Robert Burch, Dennis Moore, Drazen Choinski, Dustin Lee | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Jackson (PG), Bradly Carrion (SG), Vernon Williams (PF) Eddy Lovett, Arnold Mueller, Johnny Ginther | |
| 16:30 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez makes the 1st free throw | 10-3 |
| 16:30 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez misses the 2nd free throw | 10-3 |
| 16:30 | UNLV | Jason Miller pulls down the rebound | 10-3 |
| 16:12 | UNLV | James Blackstock misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 10-3 |
| 16:10 | UNLV | Leif Dominowski tips it in | 12-3 |
| 16:08 | Illinois | Thomas Jackson throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 12-3 |
| Subs | UNLV | Akim Zercher (SF), Dikembe Azure (PF) Irvin Wellborn, Jason Miller | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Clark (C) Frank Narvaez | |
| 16:02 | UNLV | Dikembe Azure misses badly on a fadeaway in the paint but he's hacked by Vernon Williams - foul #1 on Vernon Williams, team foul #2 | 12-3 |
| 16:02 | UNLV | Dikembe Azure misses the 1st free throw | 12-3 |
| 16:02 | UNLV | Dikembe Azure makes the 2nd free throw | 13-3 |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - James Blackstock (fresh) SG - Leif Dominowski (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Akim Zercher (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Dikembe Azure (fresh) 1 pts. C - Adolfo Martinez (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Thomas Jackson (fresh) SG - Bradly Carrion (fresh) SF - Joseph Foster (fairly fresh) PF - Vernon Williams (fresh) C - Michael Clark (fresh) | |
| 15:37 | Illinois | Joseph Foster can't connect on a floater near the basket but he's hacked by Adolfo Martinez - foul #2 on Adolfo Martinez, team foul #4 | 13-3 |
| Subs | UNLV | Dustin Lee (C) Adolfo Martinez | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Mueller (PG) Thomas Jackson | |
| 15:37 | Illinois | Joseph Foster misses the 1st free throw | 13-3 |
| 15:37 | Illinois | Joseph Foster misses the 2nd free throw | 13-3 |
| 15:37 | UNLV | The rebound goes to Dikembe Azure | 13-3 |
| 15:29 | UNLV | Leif Dominowski's pass is intercepted by Bradly Carrion | 13-3 |
| 15:26 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller jams it set up by Bradly Carrion | 13-5 |
| 15:20 | UNLV | Arnold Mueller steals the ball from Dikembe Azure | 13-5 |
| 15:17 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller can't finish the layup | 13-5 |
| 15:16 | UNLV | The rebound goes to Dikembe Azure | 13-5 |
| 15:10 | UNLV | Vernon Williams blocks the short jumper by Dikembe Azure | 13-5 |
| 15:08 | UNLV | James Blackstock tips it in | 15-5 |
| 14:41 | Illinois | Joseph Foster is hacked by Dikembe Azure - foul #1 on Dikembe Azure, team foul #5 | 15-5 |
| Subs | UNLV | Robert Burch (PG), Dennis Moore (SG), Irvin Wellborn (SF), Drazen Choinski (PF), Jason Miller (C) James Blackstock, Leif Dominowski, Akim Zercher, Dikembe Azure, Dustin Lee | |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG), Johnny Ginther (PF), Frank Narvaez (C) Bradly Carrion, Vernon Williams, Michael Clark | |
| 14:17 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller clanks a 3 from the left corner | 15-5 |
| 14:16 | Illinois | Joseph Foster grabs the offensive board | 15-5 |
| 14:04 | Illinois | Irvin Wellborn steals the ball from Frank Narvaez | 15-5 |
| 14:01 | UNLV | Irvin Wellborn banks in the layup | 17-5 |
| 13:48 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther throws a bad pass out of bounds | 17-5 |
| Subs | UNLV | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Jackson (SG) Arnold Mueller | |
| 13:39 | UNLV | Eddy Lovett is called for the reach on Robert Burch - foul #1 on Eddy Lovett, team foul #3 | 17-5 |
| Subs | UNLV | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bradly Carrion (SG), Michael Clark (C) Thomas Jackson, Joseph Foster | |
| 13:33 | UNLV | Dennis Moore works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left wing | 17-5 |
| 13:31 | UNLV | Drazen Choinski gets the offensive rebound | 17-5 |
| 13:26 | UNLV | Drazen Choinski hits the front of the rim on the floater from the left side | 17-5 |
| 13:25 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett pulls down the rebound | 17-5 |
| 12:58 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett comes up short on the driving attempt in the paint | 17-5 |
| 12:56 | UNLV | Dennis Moore gets the rebound | 17-5 |
| 12:49 | UNLV | Dennis Moore misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 17-5 |
| 12:48 | Illinois | Michael Clark grabs the defensive rebound | 17-5 |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez misses the lay-in | 17-5 |
| 12:29 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther tips it home | 17-7 |
| 12:14 | UNLV | Irvin Wellborn buries a fadeaway from just outside the lane on a great pass from Robert Burch | 19-7 |
| 11:48 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther misses long on a floater from the left side | 19-7 |
| 11:46 | UNLV | Irvin Wellborn gets the rebound | 19-7 |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - Robert Burch (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Dennis Moore (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - Irvin Wellborn (fairly fresh) 4 pts. PF - Drazen Choinski (fairly fresh) C - Jason Miller (tiring) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Eddy Lovett (fairly fresh) SG - Bradly Carrion (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SF - Johnny Ginther (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Frank Narvaez (fairly fresh) 1 pts. C - Michael Clark (fresh) | |
| 11:43 | UNLV | Robert Burch's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 19-7 |
| Subs | UNLV | James Blackstock (PG), Leif Dominowski (SG), Akim Zercher (SF), Dikembe Azure (PF), Dustin Lee (C) Robert Burch, Dennis Moore, Irvin Wellborn, Drazen Choinski, Jason Miller | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Jackson (PG), Arnold Mueller (SG), Joseph Foster (SF), Vernon Williams (PF) Eddy Lovett, Bradly Carrion, Johnny Ginther, Frank Narvaez | |
| 11:19 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller travels with the ball | 19-7 |
| 11:02 | UNLV | Dikembe Azure can't connect on a shot in the lane | 19-7 |
| 11:01 | Illinois | Vernon Williams grabs the board | 19-7 |
| 10:56 | Illinois | Michael Clark is fouled in the backcourt by Dustin Lee - foul #2 on Dustin Lee, team foul #6 | 19-7 |
| Subs | UNLV | Jason Miller (C) Dustin Lee | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:32 | Illinois | Vernon Williams misses long on a runner from close range but the foul's on Leif Dominowski - foul #1 on Leif Dominowski, team foul #7 | 19-7 |
| Subs | UNLV | Dennis Moore (SG), Marvin Wilson (SF) Leif Dominowski, Akim Zercher | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:32 | Illinois | Vernon Williams makes the 1st free throw | 19-8 |
| 10:32 | Illinois | Vernon Williams makes the 2nd free throw | 19-9 |
| 10:17 | UNLV | Marvin Wilson throws a bad pass out of bounds | 19-9 |
| 09:54 | Illinois | Joseph Foster scores on a runner from the baseline on a nice dish by Arnold Mueller | 19-11 |
| 09:39 | UNLV | Dennis Moore evades the doubleteam but misses long on a jumper from the left side | 19-11 |
| 09:38 | Illinois | Vernon Williams snags the defensive board | 19-11 |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Joseph Foster double dribbles | 19-11 |
| Subs | UNLV | Robert Burch (PG), Akim Zercher (SF) James Blackstock, Dennis Moore | |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG), Bradly Carrion (SG), Johnny Ginther (PF), Frank Narvaez (C) Thomas Jackson, Arnold Mueller, Vernon Williams, Michael Clark | |
| 08:57 | UNLV | Dikembe Azure is whistled for a carry trying to escape the doubleteam | 19-11 |
| Subs | UNLV | Leif Dominowski (SG) Marvin Wilson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 08:55 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett is fouled in the backcourt by Robert Burch - foul #1 on Robert Burch, team foul #8 | 19-11 |
| 08:55 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett makes the 1st free throw | 19-12 |
| 08:55 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett makes the 2nd free throw | 19-13 |
| 08:42 | UNLV | Frank Narvaez takes the ball from Akim Zercher | 19-13 |
| 08:28 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett makes the fadeaway from the right wing | 19-15 |
| 08:14 | UNLV | Akim Zercher hits a wide open 3pt attempt from the left corner | 22-15 |
| 07:55 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez misses the runner near the basket | 22-15 |
| 07:53 | UNLV | Dikembe Azure snags the defensive board | 22-15 |
| 07:47 | UNLV | Eddy Lovett steals the ball from Leif Dominowski | 22-15 |
| 07:44 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett misses the dunk attempt | 22-15 |
| 07:42 | UNLV | Robert Burch snags the defensive board | 22-15 |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - Robert Burch (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Leif Dominowski (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SF - Akim Zercher (fairly fresh) 7 pts. PF - Dikembe Azure (tiring) 1 pts. 4 reb. C - Jason Miller (tired) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Eddy Lovett (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. SG - Bradly Carrion (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Joseph Foster (tiring) 2 pts. PF - Johnny Ginther (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Frank Narvaez (fresh) 1 pts. 2 stl. | |
| 07:37 | UNLV | Akim Zercher can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 22-15 |
| 07:35 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther grabs the defensive rebound | 22-15 |
| 07:32 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 22-15 |
| Subs | UNLV | Marvin Wilson (PG), Dennis Moore (SG), Irvin Wellborn (SF), Drazen Choinski (PF) Robert Burch, Leif Dominowski, Akim Zercher, Dikembe Azure | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Mueller (SG), Michael Clark (C) Bradly Carrion, Frank Narvaez | |
| 07:17 | UNLV | Jason Miller is open and buries a jumpshot from the free throw line on a nice dish by a doubleteamed Dennis Moore | 24-15 |
| 06:50 | Illinois | Michael Clark clanks a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 24-15 |
| 06:49 | Illinois | Michael Clark tips it but misses | 24-15 |
| 06:48 | Illinois | Johnny Ginther hits the follow up shot | 24-17 |
| 06:43 | UNLV | Michael Clark is called for the reach on Dennis Moore - foul #1 on Michael Clark, team foul #4 | 24-17 |
| Subs | UNLV | James Blackstock (PG) Marvin Wilson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Jackson (PG), Bradly Carrion (SG), Vernon Williams (PF), Frank Narvaez (C) Eddy Lovett, Joseph Foster, Johnny Ginther, Michael Clark | |
| 06:36 | UNLV | Drazen Choinski is by himself and knocks in the shot from the right wing set up by Dennis Moore out of the doubleteam | 26-17 |
| 06:34 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller is fouled in the backcourt by Irvin Wellborn - foul #1 on Irvin Wellborn, team foul #9 | 26-17 |
| 06:34 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller misses the 1st free throw | 26-17 |
| 06:34 | UNLV | The rebound goes to Drazen Choinski | 26-17 |
| 06:25 | UNLV | Dennis Moore works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left wing | 26-17 |
| 06:23 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Frank Narvaez | 26-17 |
| 06:05 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller misses the wide open jumpshot from the left side | 26-17 |
| 06:04 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Frank Narvaez | 26-17 |
| 05:46 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez knocks in the jumper from close range | 26-19 |
| 05:27 | UNLV | Drazen Choinski hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 26-19 |
| 05:26 | Illinois | Vernon Williams grabs the board | 26-19 |
| 05:04 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller misses badly on a shot from the right wing | 26-19 |
| 05:02 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller grabs the offensive board | 26-19 |
| 04:39 | Illinois | Jason Miller is called for the reach on Frank Narvaez - foul #1 on Jason Miller, team foul #10 | 26-19 |
| Subs | UNLV | Robert Burch (PG), Leif Dominowski (SG), Akim Zercher (SF), Dikembe Azure (PF), Adolfo Martinez (C) James Blackstock, Dennis Moore, Irvin Wellborn, Drazen Choinski, Jason Miller | |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG), Johnny Ginther (SF), Michael Clark (C) Thomas Jackson, Bradly Carrion, Vernon Williams | |
| 04:39 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez makes the 1st free throw | 26-20 |
| 04:39 | Illinois | Frank Narvaez misses the 2nd free throw | 26-20 |
| 04:39 | UNLV | Dikembe Azure grabs the defensive rebound | 26-20 |
| 04:35 | UNLV | Leif Dominowski misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the right side but he's fouled by Johnny Ginther - foul #2 on Johnny Ginther, team foul #5 | 26-20 |
| Subs | UNLV | Marvin Wilson (SG) Adolfo Martinez | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Foster (SF) Frank Narvaez | |
| 04:35 | UNLV | Leif Dominowski makes the 1st free throw | 27-20 |
| 04:35 | UNLV | Leif Dominowski makes the 2nd free throw | 28-20 |
| 04:25 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller is called for 10 seconds | 28-20 |
| Subs | UNLV | Adolfo Martinez (C) Marvin Wilson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:08 | UNLV | Akim Zercher misses long on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 28-20 |
| 04:06 | Illinois | Michael Clark gets the rebound | 28-20 |
| 04:04 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 28-20 |
| 03:57 | UNLV | Akim Zercher is wide open but clanks a 3pt jumper from straight away | 28-20 |
| 03:55 | UNLV | Robert Burch tips it but misses | 28-20 |
| 03:53 | Illinois | Joseph Foster pulls down the rebound | 28-20 |
| 03:26 | Illinois | Michael Clark is open and buries a fadeaway from close range set up by Arnold Mueller | 28-22 |
| Lineup | UNLV | PG - Robert Burch (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Leif Dominowski (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SF - Akim Zercher (fairly fresh) 7 pts. PF - Dikembe Azure (tiring) 1 pts. 5 reb. C - Adolfo Martinez (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Eddy Lovett (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. SG - Arnold Mueller (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - Joseph Foster (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Johnny Ginther (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - Michael Clark (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:08 | UNLV | Akim Zercher knocks in the 3 from straight away | 31-22 |
| 02:51 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller scores on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 31-25 |
| 02:37 | UNLV | Robert Burch misses badly on a shot from the right wing | 31-25 |
| 02:36 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett pulls down the rebound | 31-25 |
| 02:07 | Illinois | Michael Clark's floater is tipped away by Adolfo Martinez | 31-25 |
| 02:06 | UNLV | Leif Dominowski snags the defensive board | 31-25 |
| 01:59 | UNLV | Akim Zercher hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the right wing | 31-25 |
| 01:57 | Illinois | Michael Clark pulls down the rebound | 31-25 |
| 01:37 | Illinois | Michael Clark misses the dunk but he's hacked by Adolfo Martinez - foul #3 on Adolfo Martinez, team foul #11 | 31-25 |
| Subs | UNLV | James Blackstock (PG), Dennis Moore (SG), Irvin Wellborn (SF), Drazen Choinski (PF), Dustin Lee (C) Robert Burch, Leif Dominowski, Akim Zercher, Dikembe Azure, Adolfo Martinez | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Jackson (PG), Bradly Carrion (SG), Vernon Williams (PF) Eddy Lovett, Arnold Mueller, Johnny Ginther | |
| 01:37 | Illinois | Michael Clark makes the 1st free throw | 31-26 |
| 01:37 | Illinois | Michael Clark makes the 2nd free throw | 31-27 |
| 01:24 | UNLV | James Blackstock connects on the fadeaway in the paint on a nice dish by Irvin Wellborn | 33-27 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | Vernon Williams knocks in the fadeaway in the lane | 33-29 |
| 00:42 | UNLV | Dennis Moore misses badly on a 3 from the right corner | 33-29 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Vernon Williams | 33-29 |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Thomas Jackson's fadeaway is rejected by Dustin Lee | 33-29 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Vernon Williams snags the offensive board | 33-29 |
| 00:04 | Illinois | The jump hook by Bradly Carrion is blocked by Dustin Lee | 33-29 |
| 00:03 | UNLV | Irvin Wellborn grabs the defensive rebound | 33-29 |
| 00:00 | UNLV | Irvin Wellborn misses short on a halfcourt shot | 33-29 |