| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clarence Maroney (fresh) SG - Randy Demps (fresh) SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) PF - Steven Shattuck (fresh) C - Michael Hullinger (fresh) | |
| Lineup | East Carolina | PG - Clint White (fresh) SG - Terry Schaller (fresh) SF - Gene Reid (fresh) PF - Michael Sample (fresh) C - Nenad Zenz (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | East Carolina | Nenad Zenz wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | East Carolina | East Carolina is playing a fastbreak offense and a man to man (-5) | |
| 19:39 | East Carolina | Terry Schaller misses long on a runner from close range but he's fouled by Marko Mioduszewski - foul #1 on Marko Mioduszewski, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:39 | East Carolina | Terry Schaller makes the 1st free throw | 0-1 |
| 19:39 | East Carolina | Terry Schaller makes the 2nd free throw | 0-2 |
| 19:11 | Illinois | Clint White takes the ball from Clarence Maroney | 0-2 |
| 18:56 | East Carolina | Terry Schaller can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 0-2 |
| 18:54 | East Carolina | Nenad Zenz grabs the offensive rebound | 0-2 |
| 18:46 | East Carolina | Terry Schaller misses the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 0-2 |
| 18:44 | East Carolina | Michael Sample grabs the offensive rebound | 0-2 |
| 18:22 | East Carolina | Michael Sample buries a driving attempt near the basket on a great pass from Clint White | 0-4 |
| 17:58 | Illinois | Randy Demps hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from the right wing | 0-4 |
| 17:56 | East Carolina | Michael Sample pulls down the rebound | 0-4 |
| 17:50 | East Carolina | Michael Sample loses the dribble to Steven Shattuck | 0-4 |
| 17:26 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger clanks a floater from the baseline | 0-4 |
| 17:24 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski tips it in | 2-4 |
| 17:11 | East Carolina | Nenad Zenz misses the runner near the basket | 2-4 |
| 17:10 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Michael Hullinger | 2-4 |
| 16:55 | Illinois | Randy Demps hits a turnaround from the baseline | 4-4 |
| 16:50 | East Carolina | Clint White hits the front of the rim on the jumper from just outside the lane | 4-4 |
| 16:48 | East Carolina | Nenad Zenz snags the offensive board | 4-4 |
| 16:33 | East Carolina | Terry Schaller misses the fadeaway from the left wing | 4-4 |
| 16:31 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck gets the rebound | 4-4 |
| 16:26 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski is hacked by Gene Reid - foul #1 on Gene Reid, team foul #1 | 4-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge (PG), Michael Moulder (SG), James Mack (SF), Freddie Gibson (PF), William Adams (C) Clint White, Terry Schaller, Gene Reid, Michael Sample, Nenad Zenz | |
| 16:04 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck travels with the ball | 4-4 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clarence Maroney (fresh) SG - Randy Demps (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Steven Shattuck (fresh) C - Michael Hullinger (fresh) | |
| Lineup | East Carolina | PG - Ronnie Eldridge (fresh) SG - Michael Moulder (fresh) SF - James Mack (fresh) PF - Freddie Gibson (fresh) C - William Adams (fresh) | |
| 15:40 | East Carolina | Steven Shattuck denies the turnaround by William Adams | 4-4 |
| 15:38 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger grabs the defensive rebound | 4-4 |
| 15:34 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #1 on Michael Hullinger, team foul #2 | 4-4 |
| 15:17 | East Carolina | James Mack misses badly on a floater from just outside the lane | 4-4 |
| 15:15 | East Carolina | Freddie Gibson tips it but misses | 4-4 |
| 15:13 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck grabs the defensive rebound | 4-4 |
| 14:53 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 4-4 |
| 14:51 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger pulls down the offensive rebound | 4-4 |
| 14:34 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 4-4 |
| 14:32 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski misses the tip | 4-4 |
| 14:31 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge pulls down the rebound | 4-4 |
| 14:26 | East Carolina | Steven Shattuck picks off the pass by Ronnie Eldridge | 4-4 |
| 14:04 | Illinois | Ronnie Eldridge picks off the pass by Steven Shattuck | 4-4 |
| 14:00 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge misses long on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 4-4 |
| 13:59 | East Carolina | Freddie Gibson grabs the offensive rebound | 4-4 |
| 13:42 | East Carolina | James Mack makes the floater from the left wing | 4-6 |
| 13:18 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski comes up short on the shot from the left side | 4-6 |
| 13:17 | East Carolina | James Mack grabs the board | 4-6 |
| 12:54 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge misses badly on a 3 pointer from straight away | 4-6 |
| 12:53 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Randy Demps | 4-6 |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 4-6 |
| 12:29 | East Carolina | William Adams gets the rebound | 4-6 |
| 12:23 | East Carolina | William Adams can't connect on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 4-6 |
| 12:21 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger gets the rebound | 4-6 |
| 12:04 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger throws a bad pass out of bounds | 4-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (PG), Paul Cain (SG), Larry Newell (SF), James Dailey (PF) Clarence Maroney, Randy Demps, Marko Mioduszewski, Steven Shattuck | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Clint White (PG), Terry Schaller (SG), Gene Reid (SF), Nenad Zenz (C) Ronnie Eldridge, Michael Moulder, Freddie Gibson, William Adams | |
| 11:51 | East Carolina | James Mack's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 4-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Michael Sample (PF) James Mack | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Sebastian Jackson (fresh) SG - Paul Cain (fresh) SF - Larry Newell (fresh) PF - James Dailey (fresh) C - Michael Hullinger (fairly fresh) 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | East Carolina | PG - Clint White (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Terry Schaller (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Gene Reid (fresh) PF - Michael Sample (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Nenad Zenz (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 11:28 | Illinois | Michael Sample swats the shot by Paul Cain | 4-6 |
| 11:26 | East Carolina | Michael Sample grabs the defensive rebound | 4-6 |
| 11:22 | East Carolina | Clint White misses the dunk but he's hacked by Sebastian Jackson - foul #1 on Sebastian Jackson, team foul #3 | 4-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | James Mack (PF) Michael Sample | |
| 11:22 | East Carolina | Clint White makes the 1st free throw | 4-7 |
| 11:22 | East Carolina | Clint White makes the 2nd free throw | 4-8 |
| 11:02 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson lays it up and in on a nice dish by Paul Cain | 6-8 |
| 10:39 | East Carolina | Clint White is fouled on the floor by Larry Newell - foul #1 on Larry Newell, team foul #4 | 6-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Shattuck (PF) Michael Hullinger | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Michael Sample (PF) James Mack | |
| 10:25 | East Carolina | Michael Sample drills a jump hook in the lane | 6-10 |
| 10:05 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson buries a floater from the right side | 8-10 |
| 10:01 | East Carolina | Terry Schaller is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on Terry Schaller, team foul #2 | 8-10 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge (PG), James Mack (PF), William Adams (C) Clint White, Michael Sample, Nenad Zenz | |
| 09:47 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #2 on Sebastian Jackson, team foul #5 | 8-10 |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (PG) Sebastian Jackson | |
| Subs | East Carolina | | |
| 09:37 | East Carolina | James Mack blows the dunk | 8-10 |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Paul Cain grabs the board | 8-10 |
| 09:15 | Illinois | James Dailey misses badly on a shot in the lane | 8-10 |
| 09:13 | East Carolina | Gene Reid pulls down the rebound | 8-10 |
| 09:06 | East Carolina | William Adams misses long on a turnaround from the right block | 8-10 |
| 09:05 | Illinois | Paul Cain gets the rebound | 8-10 |
| 08:36 | Illinois | James Dailey loses the ball out of bounds | 8-10 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (SG), Marko Mioduszewski (SF), Michael Hullinger (C) Paul Cain, Larry Newell, James Dailey | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Clint White (PG), Freddie Gibson (SF), Michael Sample (PF), Nenad Zenz (C) Ronnie Eldridge, Gene Reid, James Mack, William Adams | |
| 08:15 | East Carolina | Clint White travels with the ball | 8-10 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge (SG) Freddie Gibson | |
| 07:56 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski is hacked by Terry Schaller - foul #2 on Terry Schaller, team foul #3 | 8-10 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | James Mack (SF), Freddie Gibson (PF) Terry Schaller, Michael Sample | |
| 07:39 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski makes the driving attempt in the paint set up by Clarence Maroney | 10-10 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clarence Maroney (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Randy Demps (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Steven Shattuck (tiring) 2 reb. 2 stl. C - Michael Hullinger (fairly fresh) 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | East Carolina | PG - Clint White (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Ronnie Eldridge (fresh) SF - James Mack (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Freddie Gibson (fresh) 2 reb. C - Nenad Zenz (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 07:23 | East Carolina | Nenad Zenz drills a floater from the left side set up by Ronnie Eldridge | 10-12 |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck knocks in the shot from the left block on a great pass from Randy Demps and the foul's on Freddie Gibson - foul #1 on Freddie Gibson, team foul #4 | 12-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Cain (SG) Clarence Maroney | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Gene Reid (SF), Michael Sample (PF), William Adams (C) James Mack, Freddie Gibson, Nenad Zenz | |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck makes the free throw | 13-12 |
| 06:43 | East Carolina | Michael Sample hits the front of the rim on the floater from the left wing but he's hacked by Steven Shattuck - foul #1 on Steven Shattuck, team foul #6 | 13-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Newell (SF), James Dailey (PF) Marko Mioduszewski, Steven Shattuck | |
| Subs | East Carolina | | |
| 06:43 | East Carolina | Michael Sample misses the 1st free throw | 13-12 |
| 06:43 | East Carolina | Michael Sample makes the 2nd free throw | 13-13 |
| 06:14 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger blows the layup but he's fouled by Clint White - foul #1 on Clint White, team foul #5 | 13-13 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (PG) Larry Newell | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Nenad Zenz (C) William Adams | |
| 06:14 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger misses the 1st free throw | 13-13 |
| 06:14 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger makes the 2nd free throw | 14-13 |
| 06:04 | East Carolina | Clint White clanks a shot from the baseline | 14-13 |
| 06:02 | Illinois | Paul Cain grabs the board | 14-13 |
| 05:39 | Illinois | Paul Cain hits a 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Sebastian Jackson | 17-13 |
| 05:32 | East Carolina | Michael Sample hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt in the paint but he's hacked by James Dailey - foul #1 on James Dailey, team foul #7 | 17-13 |
| Subs | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski (SF) Randy Demps | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Michael Moulder (SG), James Mack (SF), William Adams (C) Clint White, Gene Reid, Nenad Zenz | |
| 05:32 | East Carolina | Michael Sample makes the 1st free throw | 17-14 |
| 05:32 | East Carolina | Michael Sample makes the 2nd free throw | 17-15 |
| 05:22 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson is called for 10 seconds | 17-15 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (SG) Paul Cain | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Freddie Gibson (PF) Michael Sample | |
| 05:09 | East Carolina | James Mack comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 17-15 |
| 05:08 | Illinois | Randy Demps pulls down the rebound | 17-15 |
| 05:04 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by Ronnie Eldridge - foul #1 on Ronnie Eldridge, team foul #6 | 17-15 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Newell (SF) James Dailey | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Clint White (PG), Nenad Zenz (C) Michael Moulder, William Adams | |
| 05:04 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson makes the 1st free throw | 18-15 |
| 05:04 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson makes the 2nd free throw | 19-15 |
| 04:48 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge comes up short on the shot from the right wing but he's fouled by Marko Mioduszewski - foul #2 on Marko Mioduszewski, team foul #8 | 19-15 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Gene Reid (SF) James Mack | |
| 04:48 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge makes the 1st free throw | 19-16 |
| 04:48 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge makes the 2nd free throw | 19-17 |
| 04:34 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson comes up short on the jumper from the baseline but he's fouled by Clint White - foul #2 on Clint White, team foul #7 | 19-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Michael Moulder (SG), James Mack (PF), William Adams (C) Clint White, Freddie Gibson, Nenad Zenz | |
| 04:34 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson misses the 1st free throw | 19-17 |
| 04:34 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson makes the 2nd free throw | 20-17 |
| 04:24 | East Carolina | James Mack makes the shot near the basket | 20-19 |
| 03:57 | Illinois | William Adams steals the ball from Randy Demps | 20-19 |
| 03:52 | East Carolina | James Mack throws a bad pass out of bounds | 20-19 |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (PG), Paul Cain (SG), Steven Shattuck (PF), James Dailey (C) Sebastian Jackson, Randy Demps, Marko Mioduszewski, Michael Hullinger | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Terry Schaller (SG), Freddie Gibson (SF), Michael Sample (PF), Nenad Zenz (C) Michael Moulder, Gene Reid, James Mack, William Adams | |
| 03:28 | Illinois | Freddie Gibson blocks the short jumper by Larry Newell | 20-19 |
| 03:27 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney tips it in | 22-19 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clarence Maroney (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Paul Cain (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Larry Newell (fresh) PF - Steven Shattuck (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. C - James Dailey (fresh) | |
| Lineup | East Carolina | PG - Ronnie Eldridge (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Terry Schaller (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Freddie Gibson (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Michael Sample (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. C - Nenad Zenz (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 03:00 | East Carolina | Nenad Zenz throws a bad pass out of bounds | 22-19 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Clint White (PG), Gene Reid (SF), James Mack (PF), William Adams (C) Ronnie Eldridge, Freddie Gibson, Michael Sample, Nenad Zenz | |
| 02:45 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney connects on the 3 from the left corner on a great pass from Paul Cain | 25-19 |
| 02:39 | East Carolina | Clint White buries a turnaround from the baseline on a great pass from Gene Reid | 25-21 |
| 02:23 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 25-21 |
| 02:22 | East Carolina | The rebound goes to William Adams | 25-21 |
| 02:18 | East Carolina | Gene Reid misses long on a floater from the left side but he's hacked by Larry Newell - foul #2 on Larry Newell, team foul #9 | 25-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (PG), Marko Mioduszewski (SF), Michael Hullinger (C) Clarence Maroney, Larry Newell, Steven Shattuck | |
| Subs | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge (PG), Michael Sample (PF), Nenad Zenz (C) Clint White, James Mack, William Adams | |
| 02:18 | East Carolina | Gene Reid misses the 1st free throw | 25-21 |
| 02:18 | East Carolina | Gene Reid misses the 2nd free throw | 25-21 |
| 02:18 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger pulls down the rebound | 25-21 |
| 01:49 | Illinois | Paul Cain double dribbles | 25-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (SG) Paul Cain | |
| Subs | East Carolina | James Mack (SF), Freddie Gibson (PF) Gene Reid, Michael Sample | |
| 01:27 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge misses the shot from just outside the lane | 25-21 |
| 01:26 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge hits the follow up shot | 25-23 |
| 01:05 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson connects on the pull-up jumper from the left side | 27-23 |
| 00:47 | East Carolina | Ronnie Eldridge drills a 3 pointer from the right wing on a great pass from Nenad Zenz | 27-26 |
| 00:25 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski misses the 3 pointer from the right corner | 27-26 |
| 00:23 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Michael Hullinger | 27-26 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | James Dailey lays it in | 29-26 |
| 00:00 | East Carolina | James Mack can't connect on a fullcourt shot | 29-26 |