| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Pledger (fresh) 8 pts. 4 ast. SG - Clarence Maroney (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Young (fresh) 1 pts. 3 reb. PF - Ronald Sink (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. C - James Dailey (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - David Smith (fresh) 1 pts. 2 ast. SG - Patrick Webber (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Carey (fresh) 5 pts. PF - William Carter (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Scott Stemple (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | James Carey inbounds the ball | 34-38 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| 19:45 | Northwestern | David Smith misses badly on a 3 pointer from straight away | 34-38 |
| 19:43 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber tips it back up and in | 34-40 |
| 19:17 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney misses short on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 34-40 |
| 19:16 | Illinois | James Dailey tips it but misses | 34-40 |
| 19:15 | Northwestern | William Carter grabs the board | 34-40 |
| 19:09 | Northwestern | James Carey's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 34-40 |
| 18:46 | Illinois | Scott Stemple is called for the reach on Clarence Maroney - foul #3 on Scott Stemple, team foul #1 | 34-40 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Peter Hines (C) Scott Stemple | |
| 18:30 | Illinois | Ronald Sink hits the easy wide open finger roll on a great pass from James Dailey | 36-40 |
| 18:22 | Northwestern | James Carey can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 36-40 |
| 18:21 | Illinois | James Dailey pulls down the rebound | 36-40 |
| 18:02 | Illinois | John Pledger hits a wide open shot from the right wing on a great pass from James Young | 38-40 |
| 17:48 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber evades the doubleteam and hits a runner in the paint on a nice dish by William Carter | 38-42 |
| 17:26 | Illinois | John Pledger comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 38-42 |
| 17:24 | Northwestern | William Carter gets the rebound | 38-42 |
| 17:12 | Northwestern | William Carter throws a bad pass out of bounds | 38-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (SG), Larry Newell (SF), John Stich (PF), Floyd Kent (C) Clarence Maroney, James Young, Ronald Sink, James Dailey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (PG), David Appling (SG), Robert Damron (SF), Thomas Smith (PF) David Smith, Patrick Webber, James Carey, William Carter | |
| 17:06 | Illinois | Larry Newell's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 38-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Joe Zarate (C) Peter Hines | |
| 17:01 | Northwestern | Michael Foster misses short on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 38-42 |
| 17:00 | Illinois | Floyd Kent gets the rebound | 38-42 |
| 16:35 | Illinois | John Pledger hits a wide open 3 from the right wing on a nice dish by Sebastian Jackson | 41-42 |
| 16:21 | Northwestern | David Appling misses the 3 pointer from the right wing | 41-42 |
| 16:20 | Illinois | John Stich snags the defensive board | 41-42 |
| 15:57 | Illinois | Larry Newell misses long on a shot from just outside the lane | 41-42 |
| 15:55 | Illinois | Larry Newell snags the offensive board | 41-42 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Pledger (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 4 ast. SG - Sebastian Jackson (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Larry Newell (fresh) PF - John Stich (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Floyd Kent (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Michael Foster (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - David Appling (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Damron (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Thomas Smith (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Joe Zarate (fresh) | |
| 15:30 | Illinois | John Stich travels with the ball | 41-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Young (SF), Ronald Sink (PF) Larry Newell, Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SG), James Carey (SF), Peter Hines (PF), Scott Stemple (C) David Appling, Robert Damron, Thomas Smith, Joe Zarate | |
| 15:11 | Northwestern | The short jumper by James Carey is denied by Ronald Sink | 41-42 |
| 15:09 | Illinois | John Stich pulls down the rebound | 41-42 |
| 15:05 | Illinois | James Young's pass is intercepted by Peter Hines in the backcourt | 41-42 |
| 14:52 | Northwestern | Michael Foster clanks a pull-up jumper from the right wing but the foul's on John Pledger - foul #2 on John Pledger, team foul #1 | 41-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (SG), Floyd Kent (C) Sebastian Jackson, John Stich | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Smith (PG) Patrick Webber | |
| 14:52 | Northwestern | Michael Foster makes the 1st free throw | 41-43 |
| 14:52 | Northwestern | Michael Foster makes the 2nd free throw | 41-44 |
| 14:47 | Illinois | Ronald Sink is hacked by Peter Hines in the backcourt - foul #2 on Peter Hines, team foul #2 | 41-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SG) Michael Foster | |
| 14:29 | Illinois | The short jumper by Ronald Sink is denied by Peter Hines | 41-44 |
| 14:27 | Northwestern | James Carey gets the rebound | 41-44 |
| 14:08 | Northwestern | The jump hook by Peter Hines is blocked by Ronald Sink | 41-44 |
| 14:06 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple gets the offensive rebound | 41-44 |
| 13:53 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple buries a fadeaway jumper from the right wing on a great pass from David Smith | 41-46 |
| 13:33 | Illinois | James Young misses badly on a jump hook near the basket but the foul's on James Carey - foul #2 on James Carey, team foul #3 | 41-46 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (PG), John Stich (PF), James Dailey (C) John Pledger, Ronald Sink, Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (PG), David Appling (SG), Robert Damron (SF), William Carter (PF), Thomas Smith (C) David Smith, Patrick Webber, James Carey, Peter Hines, Scott Stemple | |
| 13:33 | Illinois | James Young makes the 1st free throw | 42-46 |
| 13:33 | Illinois | James Young makes the 2nd free throw | 43-46 |
| 13:25 | Northwestern | James Dailey blocks the 3 pointer from the left wing by Michael Foster | 43-46 |
| 13:24 | Illinois | James Young snags the defensive board | 43-46 |
| 13:01 | Illinois | James Young comes up short on the floater from the right wing | 43-46 |
| 13:00 | Northwestern | Thomas Smith pulls down the rebound | 43-46 |
| 12:42 | Northwestern | Michael Foster misses badly on a fadeaway from the left wing | 43-46 |
| 12:40 | Northwestern | William Carter tips it in | 43-48 |
| 12:11 | Illinois | John Stich clanks a jumper from close range | 43-48 |
| 12:10 | Northwestern | William Carter gets the rebound | 43-48 |
| 12:03 | Northwestern | Michael Foster loses the dribble to James Dailey | 43-48 |
| 12:00 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney is fouled in the backcourt by Michael Foster - foul #2 on Michael Foster, team foul #4 | 43-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Pledger (PG), Larry Newell (SF), Ronald Sink (PF), Floyd Kent (C) Sebastian Jackson, James Young, John Stich, James Dailey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Smith (PG), James Carey (SF), Scott Stemple (C) Michael Foster, Robert Damron, William Carter | |
| 11:46 | Illinois | John Pledger misses long on a pull-up jumper from the right wing but he's hacked by David Smith - foul #2 on David Smith, team foul #5 | 43-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SG), Peter Hines (PF) David Appling, Thomas Smith | |
| 11:46 | Illinois | John Pledger makes the 1st free throw | 44-48 |
| 11:46 | Illinois | John Pledger makes the 2nd free throw | 45-48 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Pledger (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 4 ast. SG - Clarence Maroney (tiring) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Larry Newell (fresh) PF - Ronald Sink (fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. 3 blk. C - Floyd Kent (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - David Smith (fresh) 1 pts. 3 ast. SG - Patrick Webber (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Carey (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Peter Hines (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Scott Stemple (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 11:38 | Northwestern | Peter Hines is fouled on the floor by Larry Newell - foul #2 on Larry Newell, team foul #2 | 45-48 |
| 11:25 | Northwestern | James Carey clanks a jumpshot from the right wing | 45-48 |
| 11:23 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple misses the tip | 45-48 |
| 11:21 | Illinois | Ronald Sink grabs the board | 45-48 |
| 11:11 | Illinois | John Pledger comes up short on the 3 from the left wing | 45-48 |
| 11:10 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Clarence Maroney | 45-48 |
| 10:50 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 45-48 |
| 10:48 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Scott Stemple | 45-48 |
| 10:33 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple clanks a floater from the left side | 45-48 |
| 10:32 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Floyd Kent | 45-48 |
| 10:10 | Illinois | Ronald Sink's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 45-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (SG), James Young (SF), John Stich (PF), James Dailey (C) Clarence Maroney, Larry Newell, Ronald Sink, Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (PG), David Appling (SG), Robert Damron (SF), William Carter (PF), Thomas Smith (C) David Smith, Patrick Webber, James Carey, Peter Hines, Scott Stemple | |
| 09:57 | Northwestern | William Carter blows the layup | 45-48 |
| 09:56 | Illinois | James Dailey snags the defensive board | 45-48 |
| 09:27 | Illinois | James Dailey scores on a floater from the right wing on a nice dish by John Stich | 47-48 |
| 09:05 | Northwestern | David Appling misses badly on a jumper from the right side but he's hacked by Sebastian Jackson - foul #3 on Sebastian Jackson, team foul #3 | 47-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Newell (SF) James Young | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Peter Hines (C) Thomas Smith | |
| 09:05 | Northwestern | David Appling makes the 1st free throw | 47-49 |
| 09:05 | Northwestern | David Appling misses the 2nd free throw | 47-49 |
| 09:05 | Illinois | John Stich grabs the board | 47-49 |
| 09:02 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson is fouled in the backcourt by Michael Foster - foul #3 on Michael Foster, team foul #6 | 47-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Floyd Kent (C) James Dailey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 08:35 | Illinois | John Pledger comes up short on the 3pt shot from the right wing | 47-49 |
| 08:33 | Northwestern | William Carter grabs the defensive rebound | 47-49 |
| 08:12 | Northwestern | David Appling throws a bad pass out of bounds | 47-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ronald Sink (PF) Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Smith (PG), Patrick Webber (SG), James Carey (SF), Thomas Smith (PF), Scott Stemple (C) Michael Foster, David Appling, Robert Damron, William Carter, Peter Hines | |
| 07:49 | Illinois | John Stich comes up short on the driving attempt from the baseline but he's fouled by Scott Stemple - foul #4 on Scott Stemple, team foul #7 | 47-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Dailey (C) Larry Newell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 07:49 | Illinois | John Stich misses the 1st free throw | 47-49 |
| 07:49 | Illinois | John Stich makes the 2nd free throw | 48-49 |
| 07:42 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber works out of a doubleteam and scores on a pull-up jumper from the left side on a nice dish by Thomas Smith | 48-51 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Pledger (tiring) 15 pts. 4 ast. SG - Sebastian Jackson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Ronald Sink (fresh) 10 pts. 5 reb. 3 blk. PF - John Stich (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. C - James Dailey (fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - David Smith (fresh) 1 pts. 3 ast. SG - Patrick Webber (fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Carey (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Thomas Smith (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Scott Stemple (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. | |
| 07:20 | Illinois | John Pledger connects on the jumper from the left side | 50-51 |
| 07:02 | Northwestern | James Dailey is called for the reach on James Carey - foul #1 on James Dailey, team foul #4 | 50-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (SG), James Young (SF) Sebastian Jackson, John Stich | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (SG), Peter Hines (C) Patrick Webber, Scott Stemple | |
| 06:51 | Northwestern | Michael Foster is whistled for a charge - foul #4 on Michael Foster, team foul #8 | 50-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Floyd Kent (C) James Dailey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Appling (SF) James Carey | |
| 06:48 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 50-51 |
| 06:35 | Northwestern | Peter Hines's layup is rejected by James Young | 50-51 |
| 06:34 | Illinois | James Young grabs the defensive rebound | 50-51 |
| 06:05 | Illinois | Ronald Sink comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Thomas Smith - foul #1 on Thomas Smith, team foul #9 | 50-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (SG), Larry Newell (SF) John Pledger, James Young | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Damron (SF), William Carter (PF) David Smith, Thomas Smith | |
| 06:05 | Illinois | Ronald Sink misses the 1st free throw | 50-51 |
| 06:05 | Illinois | Ronald Sink misses the 2nd free throw | 50-51 |
| 06:05 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Peter Hines | 50-51 |
| 05:52 | Northwestern | Peter Hines shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the shot from the left wing | 50-51 |
| 05:51 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Clarence Maroney | 50-51 |
| 05:48 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney's pass is intercepted by Michael Foster in the backcourt | 50-51 |
| 05:45 | Northwestern | Michael Foster lays it up and in | 50-53 |
| 05:27 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney throws a bad pass out of bounds | 50-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Dailey (C) Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SG), James Carey (SF), Scott Stemple (C) Michael Foster, David Appling, Peter Hines | |
| 05:14 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber works out of a doubleteam and scores on a 3 pointer from the right wing set up by William Carter | 50-56 |
| 04:45 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson misses short on a pull-up jumper from the right wing but he's hacked by Patrick Webber - foul #1 on Patrick Webber, team foul #10 | 50-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Young (SG), John Stich (PF) Clarence Maroney, Ronald Sink | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Smith (PF) William Carter | |
| 04:45 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson makes the 1st free throw | 51-56 |
| 04:45 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson makes the 2nd free throw | 52-56 |
| 04:37 | Northwestern | James Dailey steals it from Scott Stemple | 52-56 |
| 04:08 | Illinois | James Young scores on a jumpshot from the left side | 54-56 |
| 03:59 | Northwestern | James Dailey steals the ball from Robert Damron | 54-56 |
| 03:56 | Illinois | James Dailey is called for traveling in the backcourt | 54-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Pledger (PG), Clarence Maroney (SG), Floyd Kent (C) Sebastian Jackson, Larry Newell, James Dailey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Smith (PG), Michael Foster (SG), Peter Hines (C) Robert Damron, Patrick Webber, Scott Stemple | |
| 03:42 | Northwestern | Peter Hines is fouled on the floor by Floyd Kent - foul #1 on Floyd Kent, team foul #5 | 54-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Appling (SF), William Carter (PF) James Carey, Thomas Smith | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Pledger (tiring) 17 pts. 4 ast. SG - Clarence Maroney (tiring) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Young (fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. PF - John Stich (fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. C - Floyd Kent (fresh) 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - David Smith (fresh) 1 pts. 3 ast. SG - Michael Foster (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. 4 pf. SF - David Appling (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. PF - William Carter (fresh) 7 pts. 7 reb. C - Peter Hines (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:28 | Northwestern | Clarence Maroney takes the ball from David Smith | 54-56 |
| 03:03 | Illinois | John Stich connects on the turnaround near the basket on a nice dish by Clarence Maroney | 56-56 |
| 02:59 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 56-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ronald Sink (SF), James Dailey (C) Clarence Maroney, Floyd Kent | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SG), James Carey (SF), Scott Stemple (C) Michael Foster, David Appling, Peter Hines | |
| 02:37 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber evades the doubleteam but misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 56-56 |
| 02:35 | Illinois | The rebound goes to James Dailey | 56-56 |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Ronald Sink comes up short on the jump hook from the left block but he's hacked by James Carey - foul #3 on James Carey, team foul #11 | 56-56 |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Ronald Sink makes the 1st free throw | 57-56 |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Ronald Sink misses the 2nd free throw | 57-56 |
| 02:12 | Northwestern | William Carter gets the rebound | 57-56 |
| 01:56 | Northwestern | David Smith is hacked by James Dailey - foul #2 on James Dailey, team foul #6 | 57-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (SG) John Stich | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 01:47 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the right corner | 57-56 |
| 01:45 | Illinois | James Young pulls down the rebound | 57-56 |
| 01:20 | Illinois | Ronald Sink makes the shot from the right wing set up by James Young | 59-56 |
| 01:08 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 59-56 |
| 01:07 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to William Carter | 59-56 |
| 00:51 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 59-56 |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | James Carey pulls down the offensive rebound | 59-56 |
| 00:33 | Northwestern | James Carey misses long on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 59-56 |
| 00:32 | Illinois | James Dailey grabs the board | 59-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 00:31 | Illinois | James Dailey is hacked by David Smith in the backcourt - foul #3 on David Smith, team foul #12 | 59-56 |
| 00:31 | Illinois | James Dailey misses the 1st free throw | 59-56 |
| 00:31 | Illinois | James Dailey makes the 2nd free throw | 60-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 00:24 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 60-56 |
| 00:23 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ronald Sink | 60-56 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Ronald Sink is fouled in the backcourt by David Smith - foul #4 on David Smith, team foul #13 | 60-56 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Ronald Sink makes the 1st free throw | 61-56 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Ronald Sink misses the 2nd free throw | 61-56 |
| 00:21 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to William Carter | 61-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 00:15 | Northwestern | James Carey buries a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 61-59 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | David Smith is called for the reach on John Pledger in the backcourt - foul #5 on David Smith, team foul #14 | 61-59 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (PG) David Smith | |
| 00:14 | Illinois | John Pledger makes the 1st free throw | 62-59 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | John Pledger makes the 2nd free throw | 63-59 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 00:10 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber clanks a 3 pointer from the right wing | 63-59 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | James Dailey grabs the defensive rebound | 63-59 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | James Dailey is hacked by Patrick Webber in the backcourt - foul #2 on Patrick Webber, team foul #15 | 63-59 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | James Dailey makes the 1st free throw | 64-59 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | James Dailey makes the 2nd free throw | 65-59 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple can't connect on an uncontested 3pt shot from the left corner | 65-59 |