| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - Johnny Murphy (fresh) 1 pts. SG - Sam Hicks (fresh) 9 pts. SF - Cole Bridges (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. PF - Barry Stephens (fresh) 6 pts. C - Larry King (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - Donald Hadley (fresh) 3 ast. SF - Reuben Thompson (fresh) 2 stl. 3 pf. PF - Dusty Beeler (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Ralph Langford (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 20:00 | Holy Cross | Cole Bridges inbounds the ball | 22-27 |
| Game Plan | Holy Cross | Holy Cross is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:38 | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks misses badly on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 22-27 |
| 19:37 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Donald Hadley | 22-27 |
| 19:12 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from just outside the lane but the foul's on Cole Bridges - foul #4 on Cole Bridges, team foul #1 | 22-27 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Daniel Melton (SF) Cole Bridges | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 19:12 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon misses the 1st free throw | 22-27 |
| 19:12 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon makes the 2nd free throw | 22-28 |
| 18:43 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy clanks a 3 from the right wing | 22-28 |
| 18:42 | Holy Cross | Daniel Melton tips it in | 24-28 |
| 18:17 | Illinois | Ralph Langford lays it up and in on a great pass from Randy McGibbon | 24-30 |
| 17:56 | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks buries a fadeaway from the left wing on a great pass from Johnny Murphy | 26-30 |
| 17:36 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon hits the front of the rim on the shot from just outside the lane | 26-30 |
| 17:35 | Holy Cross | Larry King grabs the defensive rebound | 26-30 |
| 17:10 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 26-30 |
| 17:08 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson pulls down the rebound | 26-30 |
| 17:03 | Illinois | Sam Hicks is called for the reach on Donald Hadley in the backcourt - foul #1 on Sam Hicks, team foul #2 | 26-30 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Eric Turner (SG), Howard Jackson (SF), Lyle Holmes (PF), James Hart (C) Sam Hicks, Daniel Melton, Barry Stephens, Larry King | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryan Fichter (SF), Ryan Richards (PF), Joseph Milligan (C) Reuben Thompson, Dusty Beeler, Ralph Langford | |
| 16:39 | Illinois | Ryan Richards scores on a driving attempt from the baseline on a nice dish by Joseph Milligan | 26-32 |
| 16:23 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy hits a floater from the right side | 28-32 |
| 16:16 | Illinois | Johnny Murphy picks off the pass by Bryan Fichter in the backcourt | 28-32 |
| 16:14 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy lays it in | 30-32 |
| 16:08 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter's pass is intercepted by Eric Turner in the backcourt | 30-32 |
| 16:07 | Holy Cross | Eric Turner throws it down | 32-32 |
| 15:46 | Illinois | Donald Hadley is hacked by James Hart - foul #1 on James Hart, team foul #3 | 32-32 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Daniel Melton (SF) Howard Jackson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dusty Beeler (PF) Donald Hadley | |
| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - Johnny Murphy (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Eric Turner (fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. SF - Daniel Melton (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Lyle Holmes (fresh) 3 reb. C - James Hart (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 2 ast. SG - Joseph Milligan (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Bryan Fichter (fresh) 4 reb. 2 blk. PF - Dusty Beeler (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Ryan Richards (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:34 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter is wide open but clanks a jumpshot from the free throw line | 32-32 |
| 15:33 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy grabs the board | 32-32 |
| 15:12 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy connects on the 3pt shot from the right wing | 35-32 |
| 15:08 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 35-32 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks (SG), Barry Stephens (PF), Larry King (C) Eric Turner, Lyle Holmes, James Hart | |
| Subs | Illinois | Reuben Thompson (SF), Ralph Langford (C) Randy McGibbon, Dusty Beeler | |
| 14:42 | Holy Cross | Bryan Fichter is called for the reach on Johnny Murphy - foul #2 on Bryan Fichter, team foul #1 | 35-32 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy McGibbon (PG), Donald Hadley (SG), Dusty Beeler (PF) Bryan Fichter, Joseph Milligan, Ryan Richards | |
| 14:25 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy is fouled on the floor by Randy McGibbon - foul #1 on Randy McGibbon, team foul #2 | 35-32 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Howard Jackson (SF) Daniel Melton | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 14:13 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens loses the dribble to Donald Hadley | 35-32 |
| 13:52 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon is open and buries a 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Donald Hadley | 35-35 |
| 13:24 | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks misses badly on a floater from the free throw line | 35-35 |
| 13:22 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens gets the offensive rebound | 35-35 |
| 13:03 | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks is called for the offensive foul - foul #2 on Sam Hicks, team foul #4 | 35-35 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Eric Turner (SG), Cole Bridges (SF), Lyle Holmes (PF), James Hart (C) Sam Hicks, Howard Jackson, Barry Stephens, Larry King | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryan Fichter (PG), Joseph Milligan (SG), Ryan Richards (PF) Randy McGibbon, Donald Hadley, Dusty Beeler | |
| 12:42 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan misses badly on a jumper from the right block | 35-35 |
| 12:41 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan tips it home | 35-37 |
| 12:12 | Holy Cross | Eric Turner is hacked by Joseph Milligan - foul #1 on Joseph Milligan, team foul #3 | 35-37 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy McGibbon (PG), Dusty Beeler (PF) Reuben Thompson, Ralph Langford | |
| 11:54 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy knocks in the fadeaway from the left side | 37-37 |
| 11:36 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan slams it home | 37-39 |
| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - Johnny Murphy (tiring) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Eric Turner (fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. SF - Cole Bridges (fresh) 1 ast. 4 pf. PF - Lyle Holmes (fresh) 3 reb. C - James Hart (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (fairly fresh) 16 pts. 2 ast. SG - Joseph Milligan (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. SF - Bryan Fichter (fresh) 4 reb. 2 blk. PF - Dusty Beeler (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Ryan Richards (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 11:11 | Holy Cross | Cole Bridges misses the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 37-39 |
| 11:10 | Illinois | Ryan Richards pulls down the rebound | 37-39 |
| 11:08 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter is fouled in the backcourt by Cole Bridges - foul #5 on Cole Bridges, team foul #5 | 37-39 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks (SG), Daniel Melton (SF), Barry Stephens (PF), James Jenkins (C) Eric Turner, Cole Bridges, Lyle Holmes, James Hart | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG), Ralph Langford (C) Joseph Milligan, Ryan Richards | |
| 10:55 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon knocks in the driving attempt in the paint on a nice dish by Bryan Fichter and the foul's on Barry Stephens - foul #1 on Barry Stephens, team foul #6 | 37-41 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Larry King (C) James Jenkins | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:55 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon misses the free throw | 37-41 |
| 10:55 | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks gets the rebound | 37-41 |
| 10:50 | Holy Cross | Donald Hadley steals the ball from Johnny Murphy | 37-41 |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Donald Hadley lays it in | 37-43 |
| 10:22 | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 37-43 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Reuben Thompson (SF), Ryan Richards (PF) Bryan Fichter, Dusty Beeler | |
| 10:06 | Illinois | Ralph Langford's floater is tipped away by Barry Stephens | 37-43 |
| 10:05 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson tips it back up and in | 37-45 |
| 09:36 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 37-45 |
| 09:35 | Illinois | Ralph Langford grabs the board | 37-45 |
| 09:13 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon can't connect on a 3 from the left corner | 37-45 |
| 09:12 | Illinois | Ryan Richards misses the tip | 37-45 |
| 09:11 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Ryan Richards | 37-45 |
| 08:54 | Illinois | Larry King blocks the short jumper by Randy McGibbon | 37-45 |
| 08:52 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson grabs the offensive board | 37-45 |
| 08:31 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 37-45 |
| 08:30 | Holy Cross | Daniel Melton grabs the board | 37-45 |
| 08:09 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 37-45 |
| 08:08 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens pulls down the offensive rebound | 37-45 |
| 07:46 | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks drills a jump hook from the baseline on a great pass from Johnny Murphy and he's hacked by Ryan Richards - foul #1 on Ryan Richards, team foul #4 | 39-45 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Eric Turner (PG), Howard Jackson (SF), Lyle Holmes (PF), James Hart (C) Johnny Murphy, Daniel Melton, Barry Stephens, Larry King | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryan Fichter (SF), Dusty Beeler (PF), Joseph Milligan (C) Reuben Thompson, Ryan Richards, Ralph Langford | |
| 07:46 | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks makes the free throw | 40-45 |
| 07:17 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter is whistled for traveling | 40-45 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy (PG) Sam Hicks | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - Johnny Murphy (tiring) 10 pts. 2 ast. SG - Eric Turner (fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. SF - Howard Jackson (fresh) PF - Lyle Holmes (fresh) 3 reb. C - James Hart (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (tiring) 18 pts. 2 ast. SG - Donald Hadley (tiring) 2 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Bryan Fichter (fresh) 4 reb. 2 blk. PF - Dusty Beeler (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Joseph Milligan (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 06:53 | Holy Cross | James Hart is whistled for a carry | 40-45 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Reuben Thompson (SF) Donald Hadley | |
| 06:24 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan throws it down on a nice dish by Randy McGibbon | 40-47 |
| 06:03 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy misses long on a floater from the right side | 40-47 |
| 06:02 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler gets the rebound | 40-47 |
| 05:33 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan misses long on a shot from close range but he's fouled by James Hart - foul #2 on James Hart, team foul #7 | 40-47 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks (SG), Daniel Melton (SF), Barry Stephens (PF), James Jenkins (C) Eric Turner, Howard Jackson, Lyle Holmes, James Hart | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Richards (C) Randy McGibbon | |
| 05:33 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan misses the 1st free throw | 40-47 |
| 05:33 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the 2nd free throw | 40-48 |
| 05:13 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 40-48 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG) Joseph Milligan | |
| 04:53 | Illinois | Donald Hadley misses badly on a turnaround from close range | 40-48 |
| 04:51 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy grabs the defensive rebound | 40-48 |
| 04:32 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens is fouled on the floor by Dusty Beeler - foul #3 on Dusty Beeler, team foul #5 | 40-48 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Howard Jackson (SF), Larry King (C) Daniel Melton, James Jenkins | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy McGibbon (PG), Ralph Langford (C) Reuben Thompson, Dusty Beeler | |
| 04:07 | Holy Cross | Ryan Richards swats the short shot by Sam Hicks | 40-48 |
| 04:05 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens tips it back up and in | 42-48 |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon knocks in the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Bryan Fichter | 42-50 |
| Game Plan | Holy Cross | Holy Cross is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 03:33 | Holy Cross | Larry King throws a bad pass out of bounds | 42-50 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Eric Turner (PG), Daniel Melton (SF), Lyle Holmes (PF) Johnny Murphy, Sam Hicks, Barry Stephens | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Milligan (SG), Dusty Beeler (PF) Donald Hadley, Ryan Richards | |
| 03:10 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon misses badly on a jumpshot from the left side | 42-50 |
| 03:08 | Holy Cross | Lyle Holmes gets the rebound | 42-50 |
| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - Eric Turner (fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. SG - Howard Jackson (fresh) SF - Daniel Melton (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Lyle Holmes (fresh) 4 reb. C - Larry King (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (tiring) 20 pts. 3 ast. SG - Joseph Milligan (fresh) 11 pts. 2 reb. SF - Bryan Fichter (fairly fresh) 4 reb. 2 blk. PF - Dusty Beeler (tiring) 2 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. C - Ralph Langford (tiring) 9 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 02:54 | Holy Cross | Larry King throws it down set up by Howard Jackson and he's fouled by Ralph Langford - foul #1 on Ralph Langford, team foul #6 | 44-50 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks (SG) Howard Jackson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 02:54 | Holy Cross | Larry King makes the free throw | 45-50 |
| 02:38 | Illinois | Eric Turner is called for the reach on Ralph Langford - foul #3 on Eric Turner, team foul #8 | 45-50 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | James Hart (C) Larry King | |
| Subs | Illinois | Reuben Thompson (SF) Randy McGibbon | |
| 02:38 | Illinois | Ralph Langford makes the 1st free throw | 45-51 |
| 02:38 | Illinois | Ralph Langford makes the 2nd free throw | 45-52 |
| 02:36 | Holy Cross | Holy Cross calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 45-52 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Howard Jackson (SG), Barry Stephens (PF) Sam Hicks, Lyle Holmes | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Richards (PF) Dusty Beeler | |
| 02:30 | Holy Cross | Ralph Langford is called for the reach on James Hart - foul #2 on Ralph Langford, team foul #7 | 45-52 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG) Ralph Langford | |
| 02:30 | Holy Cross | James Hart misses the 1st free throw | 45-52 |
| 02:30 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens gets the offensive rebound | 45-52 |
| 02:22 | Holy Cross | James Hart knocks in the shot from the baseline and he's hacked by Joseph Milligan - foul #2 on Joseph Milligan, team foul #8 | 47-52 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy (PG) Howard Jackson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 02:22 | Holy Cross | James Hart makes the free throw | 48-52 |
| 02:01 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan hits a wide open driving attempt near the basket on a great pass from Donald Hadley | 48-54 |
| 02:01 | Holy Cross | Holy Cross calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 48-54 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Sam Hicks (SG), Larry King (C) Eric Turner, James Hart | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy McGibbon (PG) Reuben Thompson | |
| 01:47 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy misses badly on a floater from the left wing | 48-54 |
| 01:45 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens hits the follow up shot | 50-54 |
| 01:45 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 50-54 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Reuben Thompson (SF), Dusty Beeler (PF), Ralph Langford (C) Bryan Fichter, Ryan Richards, Joseph Milligan | |
| 01:26 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon connects on the open shot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Donald Hadley | 50-56 |
| 01:08 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 50-56 |
| 01:07 | Holy Cross | Larry King pulls down the offensive rebound | 50-56 |
| 00:49 | Holy Cross | Johnny Murphy misses the fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 50-56 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler grabs the board | 50-56 |
| Game Plan | Holy Cross | Holy Cross is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler is fouled in the backcourt by Johnny Murphy - foul #3 on Johnny Murphy, team foul #9 | 50-56 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Milligan (SG), Bryan Fichter (SF) Donald Hadley, Reuben Thompson | |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler makes the 1st free throw | 50-57 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler makes the 2nd free throw | 50-58 |
| Game Plan | Holy Cross | Holy Cross is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+5) | |
| 00:42 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens misses short on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 50-58 |
| 00:41 | Holy Cross | Larry King grabs the offensive rebound | 50-58 |
| 00:38 | Holy Cross | Barry Stephens misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 50-58 |
| 00:37 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Bryan Fichter | 50-58 |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter is fouled in the backcourt by Johnny Murphy - foul #4 on Johnny Murphy, team foul #10 | 50-58 |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter makes the 1st free throw | 50-59 |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter makes the 2nd free throw | 50-60 |
| 00:31 | Holy Cross | Larry King's layup is rejected by Ralph Langford | 50-60 |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler grabs the board | 50-60 |
| Game Plan | Holy Cross | Holy Cross is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+5) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon runs out the clock | 50-60 |