| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Matthew McDonald (fresh) SG - John Pledger (fresh) SF - James Young (fresh) PF - John Stich (fresh) C - Ronald Sink (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Nicolas Koopman (fresh) SG - David Appling (fresh) SF - Michael Foster (fresh) PF - Carl Richardson (fresh) C - Scott Stemple (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 19:35 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson is whistled for a carry | 0-0 |
| 19:13 | Illinois | John Pledger hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 0-0 |
| 19:12 | Illinois | John Stich can't tip it in | 0-0 |
| 19:10 | Illinois | John Pledger tips it home | 2-0 |
| 18:49 | Northwestern | Michael Foster is called for traveling | 2-0 |
| 18:47 | Illinois | John Pledger's pass is intercepted by Nicolas Koopman in the backcourt | 2-0 |
| 18:44 | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman lays it up and in | 2-2 |
| 18:19 | Illinois | John Stich hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right block | 2-2 |
| 18:18 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Ronald Sink | 2-2 |
| 18:03 | Illinois | John Pledger is fouled on the floor by Nicolas Koopman - foul #1 on Nicolas Koopman, team foul #1 | 2-2 |
| 17:46 | Illinois | James Young drills a floater from close range on a nice dish by Matthew McDonald and the foul's on Michael Foster - foul #1 on Michael Foster, team foul #2 | 4-2 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SG), Lee Merrick (C) David Appling, Scott Stemple | |
| 17:46 | Illinois | James Young misses the free throw | 4-2 |
| 17:46 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson grabs the defensive rebound | 4-2 |
| 17:42 | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman clanks a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 4-2 |
| 17:40 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson grabs the offensive board | 4-2 |
| 17:26 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber drills a 3 pointer from the right corner on a nice dish by Michael Foster | 4-5 |
| 17:23 | Illinois | James Young is called for traveling in the backcourt | 4-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Carey (SF), William Carter (PF) Michael Foster, Carl Richardson | |
| 17:04 | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 4-5 |
| 17:03 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald gets the rebound | 4-5 |
| 16:44 | Illinois | James Carey steals the ball from Ronald Sink | 4-5 |
| 16:31 | Northwestern | The jumper by Patrick Webber is denied by John Stich | 4-5 |
| 16:30 | Northwestern | William Carter gets the offensive rebound | 4-5 |
| 16:23 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #1 on Patrick Webber, team foul #3 | 4-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (PG), Robert Perham (SG), Larry Newell (SF), Floyd Kent (C) Matthew McDonald, John Pledger, James Young, Ronald Sink | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Appling (SG), Michael Foster (SF), Carl Richardson (PF), Scott Stemple (C) Nicolas Koopman, James Carey, William Carter, Lee Merrick | |
| 16:07 | Illinois | John Stich misses the easy layup but the foul's on Carl Richardson - foul #1 on Carl Richardson, team foul #4 | 4-5 |
| 16:07 | Illinois | John Stich makes the 1st free throw | 5-5 |
| 16:07 | Illinois | John Stich makes the 2nd free throw | 6-5 |
| 15:55 | Northwestern | Michael Foster hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 6-5 |
| 15:54 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson tips it back up and in | 6-7 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Sebastian Jackson (fresh) SG - Robert Perham (fresh) SF - Larry Newell (fresh) PF - John Stich (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Floyd Kent (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Patrick Webber (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - David Appling (fresh) SF - Michael Foster (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Carl Richardson (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Scott Stemple (fresh) | |
| 15:52 | Illinois | Michael Foster is called for the reach on Sebastian Jackson in the backcourt - foul #2 on Michael Foster, team foul #5 | 6-7 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Damron (PG), James Carey (SF) Patrick Webber, Michael Foster | |
| 15:25 | Illinois | John Stich connects on the jumper from the free throw line on a nice dish by Larry Newell | 8-7 |
| 15:13 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson misses long on a runner from the right block | 8-7 |
| 15:11 | Illinois | Floyd Kent snags the defensive board | 8-7 |
| 14:47 | Illinois | John Stich hits the finger roll | 10-7 |
| 14:33 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson hits a shot from close range and he's fouled by Floyd Kent - foul #1 on Floyd Kent, team foul #1 | 10-9 |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew McDonald (PG), John Pledger (SG), James Young (PF) Robert Perham, Larry Newell, John Stich | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman (PG), Patrick Webber (SG), Lee Merrick (C) Robert Damron, David Appling, Scott Stemple | |
| 14:33 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson misses the free throw | 10-9 |
| 14:33 | Illinois | John Pledger gets the rebound | 10-9 |
| 14:04 | Illinois | Floyd Kent can't finish the layup but he's hacked by Lee Merrick - foul #1 on Lee Merrick, team foul #6 | 10-9 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Stich (PF) Sebastian Jackson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Appling (SG), William Carter (PF) James Carey, Carl Richardson | |
| 14:04 | Illinois | Floyd Kent makes the 1st free throw | 11-9 |
| 14:04 | Illinois | Floyd Kent misses the 2nd free throw | 11-9 |
| 14:04 | Northwestern | William Carter grabs the board | 11-9 |
| 13:53 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber connects on the fadeaway from the free throw line and he's fouled by John Stich - foul #1 on John Stich, team foul #2 | 11-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ronald Sink (C) Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 13:53 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber misses the free throw | 11-11 |
| 13:53 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ronald Sink | 11-11 |
| 13:33 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 11-11 |
| 13:18 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 11-11 |
| 13:17 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald gets the rebound | 11-11 |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald is fouled in the backcourt by Nicolas Koopman - foul #2 on Nicolas Koopman, team foul #7 | 11-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Damron (PG), Peter Hines (C) Nicolas Koopman, Lee Merrick | |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald misses the 1st free throw | 11-11 |
| 13:14 | Northwestern | William Carter grabs the defensive rebound | 11-11 |
| 12:59 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber misses badly on a jumper from just outside the lane | 11-11 |
| 12:57 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ronald Sink | 11-11 |
| 12:28 | Illinois | Ronald Sink misses badly on a turnaround from the right block but he's hacked by David Appling - foul #1 on David Appling, team foul #8 | 11-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (SG), Larry Newell (SF), Floyd Kent (C) John Pledger, James Young, John Stich | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Carey (SF), Thomas Smith (PF) Patrick Webber, William Carter | |
| 12:28 | Illinois | Ronald Sink makes the 1st free throw | 12-11 |
| 12:28 | Illinois | Ronald Sink makes the 2nd free throw | 13-11 |
| 12:12 | Northwestern | Thomas Smith hits the finger roll on a great pass from James Carey | 13-13 |
| 12:09 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 13-13 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Perham (SG), John Stich (PF) Matthew McDonald, Ronald Sink | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carl Richardson (PF), Scott Stemple (C) Thomas Smith, Peter Hines | |
| 11:50 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson hits the finger roll | 13-15 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Sebastian Jackson (fresh) SG - Robert Perham (fresh) SF - Larry Newell (fresh) PF - John Stich (tiring) 6 pts. C - Floyd Kent (fresh) 1 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Damron (fresh) SG - David Appling (tiring) SF - James Carey (fresh) PF - Carl Richardson (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. C - Scott Stemple (fresh) | |
| 11:27 | Illinois | James Carey steps in front of the Larry Newell pass | 13-15 |
| 11:01 | Northwestern | The short jumper by Scott Stemple is denied by John Stich | 13-15 |
| 10:59 | Illinois | Larry Newell snags the defensive board | 13-15 |
| 10:30 | Illinois | John Stich knocks in the jumper from close range on a great pass from Larry Newell | 15-15 |
| 10:15 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson can't connect on a runner near the basket | 15-15 |
| 10:14 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson hits the follow up shot | 15-17 |
| 09:46 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson is alone and drills a jump hook from close range set up by John Stich | 17-17 |
| 09:31 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson misses the jumper from the left wing | 17-17 |
| 09:29 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to James Carey | 17-17 |
| 09:15 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson's floater is tipped away by John Stich | 17-17 |
| 09:14 | Northwestern | Carl Richardson misses the tip | 17-17 |
| 09:13 | Illinois | Larry Newell grabs the board | 17-17 |
| 08:52 | Illinois | John Stich's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 17-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew McDonald (PG), John Pledger (SG), James Young (SF), Ronald Sink (C) Sebastian Jackson, Robert Perham, Larry Newell, Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (PG), William Carter (PF), Lee Merrick (C) Robert Damron, Carl Richardson, Scott Stemple | |
| 08:36 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 17-17 |
| 08:35 | Illinois | James Young grabs the defensive rebound | 17-17 |
| 08:07 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald misses the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 17-17 |
| 08:06 | Northwestern | William Carter snags the defensive board | 17-17 |
| 07:57 | Northwestern | James Carey misses the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 17-17 |
| 07:56 | Illinois | John Stich grabs the defensive rebound | 17-17 |
| 07:42 | Illinois | Ronald Sink's floater is knocked away by William Carter | 17-17 |
| 07:40 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Patrick Webber | 17-17 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Matthew McDonald (fresh) 1 ast. SG - John Pledger (fresh) 2 pts. SF - James Young (fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Stich (tired) 8 pts. 2 reb. 3 blk. C - Ronald Sink (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Patrick Webber (fresh) 5 pts. SG - David Appling (tired) SF - James Carey (tiring) 2 stl. PF - William Carter (fresh) 4 reb. C - Lee Merrick (fresh) | |
| 07:31 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber hits a 3 pointer from the left wing | 17-20 |
| 07:07 | Illinois | John Pledger hits a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 20-20 |
| 06:58 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 20-20 |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Ronald Sink pulls down the rebound | 20-20 |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald is fouled in the backcourt by James Carey - foul #1 on James Carey, team foul #9 | 20-20 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Perham (SF) John Stich | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Damron (PG), Thomas Smith (PF), Peter Hines (C) James Carey, William Carter, Lee Merrick | |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald makes the 1st free throw | 21-20 |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald makes the 2nd free throw | 22-20 |
| 06:34 | Northwestern | Peter Hines is hacked by Ronald Sink - foul #1 on Ronald Sink, team foul #3 | 22-20 |
| Subs | Illinois | Floyd Kent (C) John Pledger | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 06:15 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 22-20 |
| 06:14 | Illinois | Floyd Kent grabs the defensive rebound | 22-20 |
| 05:47 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 22-20 |
| 05:45 | Northwestern | Peter Hines pulls down the rebound | 22-20 |
| 05:29 | Northwestern | Thomas Smith misses the dunk attempt | 22-20 |
| 05:27 | Illinois | Robert Perham grabs the board | 22-20 |
| 05:03 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald drills a fadeaway from the left block | 24-20 |
| 04:55 | Northwestern | Peter Hines knocks in the floater from the left block on a nice dish by Robert Damron | 24-22 |
| 04:28 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald hits a turnaround from the right block on a nice dish by James Young and he's hacked by Peter Hines - foul #1 on Peter Hines, team foul #10 | 26-22 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Pledger (SG), Sebastian Jackson (SF), John Stich (PF) Robert Perham, James Young, Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Carey (SF), Carl Richardson (PF), Scott Stemple (C) David Appling, Thomas Smith, Peter Hines | |
| 04:28 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald makes the free throw | 27-22 |
| 04:19 | Northwestern | John Pledger picks off the pass by Patrick Webber | 27-22 |
| 03:55 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 27-22 |
| 03:54 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber grabs the board | 27-22 |
| 03:50 | Northwestern | Robert Damron travels in the backcourt | 27-22 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Newell (SF), Floyd Kent (C) Matthew McDonald, Ronald Sink | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Nicolas Koopman (PG) Robert Damron | |
| 03:27 | Illinois | John Stich misses the wide open shot from just outside the lane | 27-22 |
| 03:25 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to James Carey | 27-22 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Pledger (fresh) 5 pts. SG - Sebastian Jackson (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Larry Newell (fresh) 2 reb. PF - John Stich (tiring) 8 pts. 2 reb. 3 blk. C - Floyd Kent (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Nicolas Koopman (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Patrick Webber (tiring) 8 pts. 2 reb. SF - James Carey (tiring) 2 reb. 2 stl. PF - Carl Richardson (fresh) 8 pts. 5 reb. C - Scott Stemple (fairly fresh) | |
| 03:03 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 27-22 |
| 03:01 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber gets the offensive rebound | 27-22 |
| 02:47 | Northwestern | James Carey throws a bad pass out of bounds | 27-22 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lee Merrick (C) Scott Stemple | |
| 02:30 | Illinois | John Stich is open but comes up short on the runner in the paint | 27-22 |
| 02:28 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson gets the offensive rebound | 27-22 |
| 02:02 | Illinois | Larry Newell is hacked by Nicolas Koopman - foul #3 on Nicolas Koopman, team foul #11 | 27-22 |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew McDonald (PG), Robert Perham (SG), James Young (PF), Ronald Sink (C) John Pledger, Sebastian Jackson, John Stich, Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Damron (PG), William Carter (PF) Nicolas Koopman, Carl Richardson | |
| 02:02 | Illinois | Larry Newell makes the 1st free throw | 28-22 |
| 02:02 | Illinois | Larry Newell makes the 2nd free throw | 29-22 |
| 01:52 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 29-22 |
| 01:51 | Illinois | The rebound goes to James Young | 29-22 |
| 01:22 | Illinois | Ronald Sink knocks in the floater near the basket set up by Matthew McDonald | 31-22 |
| 01:15 | Northwestern | James Carey loses the dribble to Larry Newell | 31-22 |
| 01:10 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald is hacked by Robert Damron in the backcourt - foul #1 on Robert Damron, team foul #12 | 31-22 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Stich (PF) Larry Newell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Appling (SG), Peter Hines (C) James Carey, Lee Merrick | |
| 01:10 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald makes the 1st free throw | 32-22 |
| 01:10 | Illinois | Matthew McDonald makes the 2nd free throw | 33-22 |
| 00:53 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber evades the doubleteam and hits a jumpshot from just outside the lane on a nice dish by William Carter | 33-24 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | William Carter is called for the reach on Robert Perham - foul #1 on William Carter, team foul #13 | 33-24 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Pledger (PG), Sebastian Jackson (SF), Floyd Kent (C) Matthew McDonald, John Stich, Ronald Sink | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carl Richardson (PF), Scott Stemple (C) William Carter, Peter Hines | |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Robert Perham makes the 1st free throw | 34-24 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Robert Perham makes the 2nd free throw | 35-24 |
| 00:30 | Northwestern | Robert Damron is fouled in the backcourt by John Pledger - foul #1 on John Pledger, team foul #4 | 35-24 |
| 00:02 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple comes up short on the fadeaway from the left side | 35-24 |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Scott Stemple | 35-24 |