| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jan Tarver (fresh) SG - Paul Weber (fresh) SF - Lawrence Lamar (fresh) PF - John Campbell (fresh) C - Edward Scheiber (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Thomas Simpson (fresh) SG - Edward Allen (fresh) SF - Miroslav Koski (fresh) PF - Matthew Rico (fresh) C - Todd Brunner (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 19:41 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a jumpshot from the left side | 0-0 |
| 19:40 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar snags the defensive board | 0-0 |
| 19:29 | Illinois | Paul Weber clanks a 3pt shot from the right wing | 0-0 |
| 19:28 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico grabs the board | 0-0 |
| 19:07 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the fadeaway from the left wing | 0-0 |
| 19:05 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar gets the rebound | 0-0 |
| 19:03 | Illinois | Thomas Simpson steals the ball from Jan Tarver in the backcourt | 0-0 |
| 18:54 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski loses the ball out of bounds | 0-0 |
| 18:41 | Illinois | John Campbell is whistled for traveling | 0-0 |
| 18:18 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from straight away | 0-0 |
| 18:17 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Thomas Simpson | 0-0 |
| 17:57 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski buries a jumpshot from the right side | 0-2 |
| 17:41 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber makes the jumper in the lane on a great pass from Lawrence Lamar and he's fouled by Todd Brunner - foul #1 on Todd Brunner, team foul #1 | 2-2 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (PG), Robert Whitman (SG), Ante Zender (SF), Alvin Campbell (PF), Michael Morgan (C) Thomas Simpson, Edward Allen, Miroslav Koski, Matthew Rico, Todd Brunner | |
| 17:41 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber makes the free throw | 3-2 |
| 17:21 | Northwestern | Ante Zender travels with the ball | 3-2 |
| 17:07 | Illinois | Alvin Campbell blocks the jumper by Edward Scheiber | 3-2 |
| 17:06 | Illinois | John Campbell grabs the offensive rebound | 3-2 |
| 16:56 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar can't connect on a runner from close range but he's hacked by Ante Zender - foul #1 on Ante Zender, team foul #2 | 3-2 |
| Subs | Illinois | David Williams (PF), Dennis Hazelwood (C) John Campbell, Edward Scheiber | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson (PG), Matthew Rico (PF) Robert Whitman, Michael Morgan | |
| 16:56 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar makes the 1st free throw | 4-2 |
| 16:56 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar makes the 2nd free throw | 5-2 |
| 16:43 | Northwestern | Paul Weber is called for the reach on Richard Bernhard - foul #1 on Paul Weber, team foul #1 | 5-2 |
| 16:26 | Northwestern | Alvin Campbell steps out of bounds on the baseline | 5-2 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Deady (SF) Lawrence Lamar | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Miroslav Koski (SF), Todd Brunner (C) Richard Bernhard, Ante Zender, Alvin Campbell | |
| 16:22 | Illinois | Jan Tarver is hacked by Thomas Simpson in the backcourt - foul #1 on Thomas Simpson, team foul #3 | 5-2 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (PG), Ante Zender (PF) Thomas Simpson, Matthew Rico | |
| 16:00 | Illinois | Paul Weber hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 5-2 |
| 15:58 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner grabs the defensive rebound | 5-2 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jan Tarver (fairly fresh) SG - Paul Weber (fairly fresh) SF - Richard Deady (fresh) PF - David Williams (fresh) C - Dennis Hazelwood (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Richard Bernhard (fresh) SG - Edward Allen (fresh) SF - Miroslav Koski (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Ante Zender (fresh) C - Todd Brunner (fresh) | |
| 15:29 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner drills a shot from the left side | 5-4 |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Dennis Hazelwood makes the fadeaway from the baseline on a great pass from Paul Weber and he's fouled by Todd Brunner - foul #2 on Todd Brunner, team foul #4 | 7-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Collins (PG), Lawrence Lamar (SF), John Campbell (PF) Jan Tarver, Richard Deady, David Williams | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson (PG), Robert Whitman (SG), Matthew Rico (PF), Alvin Campbell (C) Richard Bernhard, Edward Allen, Miroslav Koski, Todd Brunner | |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Dennis Hazelwood makes the free throw | 8-4 |
| 14:53 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the floater in the lane but the foul's on John Campbell - foul #1 on John Campbell, team foul #2 | 8-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Scheiber (C) Dennis Hazelwood | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski (SF) Alvin Campbell | |
| 14:53 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico makes the 1st free throw | 8-5 |
| 14:53 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico makes the 2nd free throw | 8-6 |
| 14:37 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber blows the layup but he's hacked by Robert Whitman - foul #1 on Robert Whitman, team foul #5 | 8-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Alvin Campbell (C) Robert Whitman, Miroslav Koski | |
| 14:37 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber makes the 1st free throw | 9-6 |
| 14:37 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber makes the 2nd free throw | 10-6 |
| 14:14 | Northwestern | Edward Allen can't connect on an uncontested runner in the lane | 10-6 |
| 14:12 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico can't tip it in | 10-6 |
| 14:11 | Illinois | The rebound goes to John Campbell | 10-6 |
| 13:50 | Illinois | John Campbell can't connect on a fadeaway in the lane | 10-6 |
| 13:49 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Edward Allen | 10-6 |
| 13:38 | Northwestern | Edward Allen is by himself and knocks in the jump hook from the baseline on a great pass from Thomas Simpson out of a doubleteam | 10-8 |
| 13:22 | Illinois | John Campbell misses the floater from close range but he's fouled by Alvin Campbell - foul #1 on Alvin Campbell, team foul #6 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jan Tarver (PG), David Williams (SF) Michael Collins, Lawrence Lamar | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG), Miroslav Koski (SF) Edward Allen, Alvin Campbell | |
| 13:22 | Illinois | John Campbell misses the 1st free throw | 10-8 |
| 13:22 | Illinois | John Campbell misses the 2nd free throw | 10-8 |
| 13:22 | Northwestern | Ante Zender pulls down the rebound | 10-8 |
| 13:07 | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard is fouled on the floor by David Williams - foul #1 on David Williams, team foul #3 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Deady (SG), Dennis Hazelwood (C) Paul Weber, John Campbell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 12:41 | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 10-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Collins (PG) Richard Deady | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG) Richard Bernhard | |
| 12:17 | Illinois | Jan Tarver is whistled for a carry | 10-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar (SF) Edward Scheiber | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG), Michael Morgan (C) Edward Allen, Ante Zender | |
| 12:15 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson is whistled for a carry in the backcourt | 10-8 |
| 12:08 | Illinois | Dennis Hazelwood clanks a floater from close range but he's fouled by Michael Morgan - foul #1 on Michael Morgan, team foul #7 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Ante Zender (C) Richard Bernhard, Michael Morgan | |
| 12:08 | Illinois | Dennis Hazelwood misses the 1st free throw | 10-8 |
| 12:08 | Illinois | Dennis Hazelwood makes the 2nd free throw | 11-8 |
| 11:45 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway near the basket | 11-8 |
| 11:43 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski grabs the offensive rebound | 11-8 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Collins (fresh) SG - Jan Tarver (fresh) SF - Lawrence Lamar (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. PF - Dennis Hazelwood (fresh) 4 pts. C - David Williams (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Thomas Simpson (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Edward Allen (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Miroslav Koski (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Matthew Rico (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Ante Zender (fairly fresh) | |
| 11:26 | Northwestern | Edward Allen is called for traveling | 11-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Weber (SG), John Campbell (PF) Michael Collins, Dennis Hazelwood | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG), Michael Morgan (C) Edward Allen, Ante Zender | |
| 11:03 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar is fouled on the floor by Miroslav Koski - foul #1 on Miroslav Koski, team foul #8 | 11-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Scheiber (C) David Williams | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Ante Zender (C) Richard Bernhard, Michael Morgan | |
| 11:03 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar misses the 1st free throw | 11-8 |
| 11:03 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico gets the rebound | 11-8 |
| 10:42 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the floater from the left wing | 11-8 |
| 10:41 | Northwestern | Ante Zender pulls down the offensive rebound | 11-8 |
| 10:25 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski is fouled on the floor by Paul Weber - foul #2 on Paul Weber, team foul #4 | 11-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Collins (PG), David Williams (SF) Paul Weber, Lawrence Lamar | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG), Michael Morgan (SF), Alvin Campbell (C) Edward Allen, Miroslav Koski, Ante Zender | |
| 09:56 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson throws a bad pass out of bounds | 11-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Deady (SG) Jan Tarver | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Miroslav Koski (SF), Ante Zender (C) Thomas Simpson, Michael Morgan, Alvin Campbell | |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Ante Zender is called for the reach on Michael Collins - foul #2 on Ante Zender, team foul #9 | 11-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson (PG), Michael Morgan (C) Richard Bernhard, Ante Zender | |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Michael Collins makes the 1st free throw | 12-8 |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Michael Collins makes the 2nd free throw | 13-8 |
| 09:32 | Northwestern | Richard Deady steps in front of the Thomas Simpson pass in the backcourt | 13-8 |
| 09:19 | Illinois | John Campbell slams it home set up by David Williams | 15-8 |
| 09:07 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico loses the ball out of bounds against a doubleteam | 15-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar (SF), Dennis Hazelwood (C) John Campbell, Edward Scheiber | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alvin Campbell (C) Michael Morgan | |
| 08:57 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar is whistled for traveling | 15-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jan Tarver (SG) Richard Deady | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG) Edward Allen | |
| 08:33 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico buries a pull-up jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Miroslav Koski | 15-10 |
| 08:13 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar scores on a fadeaway jumper from the right side set up by Michael Collins | 17-10 |
| 07:55 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico misses the pull-up jumper from the free throw line but he's hacked by Michael Collins - foul #1 on Michael Collins, team foul #5 | 17-10 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Campbell (PF) David Williams | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Whitman (PG), Edward Allen (SG), Michael Morgan (C) Thomas Simpson, Richard Bernhard, Alvin Campbell | |
| 07:55 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico makes the 1st free throw | 17-11 |
| 07:55 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico makes the 2nd free throw | 17-12 |
| 07:43 | Illinois | The short jumper by Lawrence Lamar is denied by Michael Morgan | 17-12 |
| 07:41 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski gets the rebound | 17-12 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Collins (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jan Tarver (fresh) SF - Lawrence Lamar (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. PF - John Campbell (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Dennis Hazelwood (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Whitman (fresh) SG - Edward Allen (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Miroslav Koski (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Matthew Rico (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. C - Michael Morgan (fresh) | |
| 07:17 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico throws a bad pass out of bounds | 17-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Deady (SG), Edward Scheiber (C) Michael Collins, Dennis Hazelwood | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson (PG), Alvin Campbell (C) Robert Whitman, Michael Morgan | |
| 07:09 | Illinois | Jan Tarver misses the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 17-12 |
| 07:07 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber tips it but misses | 17-12 |
| 07:05 | Illinois | John Campbell grabs the offensive rebound | 17-12 |
| 06:49 | Illinois | Richard Deady jams it on a nice dish by Lawrence Lamar | 19-12 |
| 06:25 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson buries a jumper from the right side and he's hacked by Jan Tarver - foul #1 on Jan Tarver, team foul #6 | 19-14 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Weber (SG), David Williams (SF), Dennis Hazelwood (C) Jan Tarver, Lawrence Lamar, John Campbell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ante Zender (SF), Todd Brunner (C) Miroslav Koski, Alvin Campbell | |
| 06:25 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson makes the free throw | 19-15 |
| 06:13 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber loses the ball out of bounds | 19-15 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG) Edward Allen | |
| 05:52 | Northwestern | Dennis Hazelwood denies the turnaround by Matthew Rico | 19-15 |
| 05:51 | Illinois | David Williams gets the rebound | 19-15 |
| 05:31 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber scores on a fadeaway in the paint on a nice dish by Richard Deady | 21-15 |
| 05:02 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner misses badly on a jumpshot from the right wing | 21-15 |
| 05:01 | Illinois | Richard Deady pulls down the rebound | 21-15 |
| 04:49 | Illinois | Paul Weber banks in the layup set up by Richard Deady | 23-15 |
| 04:22 | Northwestern | Ante Zender connects on the floater from the left side | 23-17 |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Richard Deady comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by Thomas Simpson - foul #2 on Thomas Simpson, team foul #10 | 23-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar (SF), John Campbell (PF) Edward Scheiber, Dennis Hazelwood | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Whitman (PG), Edward Allen (SG), Miroslav Koski (SF) Thomas Simpson, Richard Bernhard, Matthew Rico | |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Richard Deady misses the 1st free throw | 23-17 |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Richard Deady misses the 2nd free throw | 23-17 |
| 04:11 | Northwestern | Edward Allen pulls down the rebound | 23-17 |
| 03:43 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner scores on a runner from the baseline | 23-19 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Richard Deady (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Paul Weber (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Lawrence Lamar (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. PF - John Campbell (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - David Williams (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Whitman (fresh) SG - Edward Allen (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Miroslav Koski (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ante Zender (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Todd Brunner (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 03:20 | Illinois | Lawrence Lamar clanks a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 23-19 |
| 03:18 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner gets the rebound | 23-19 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | Edward Allen connects on the jumper from the right wing | 23-21 |
| 02:36 | Illinois | Paul Weber is fouled on the floor by Robert Whitman - foul #2 on Robert Whitman, team foul #11 | 23-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jan Tarver (PG), Dennis Hazelwood (C) Richard Deady, David Williams | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson (PG), Matthew Rico (PF) Robert Whitman, Miroslav Koski | |
| 02:36 | Illinois | Paul Weber misses the 1st free throw | 23-21 |
| 02:36 | Illinois | Paul Weber makes the 2nd free throw | 24-21 |
| 02:10 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson is fouled on the floor by Paul Weber - foul #3 on Paul Weber, team foul #7 | 24-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Collins (PG), Edward Scheiber (C) Paul Weber, Dennis Hazelwood | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski (SF) Matthew Rico | |
| 02:10 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson makes the 1st free throw | 24-22 |
| 02:10 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson makes the 2nd free throw | 24-23 |
| 01:54 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber misses long on a shot from the left block | 24-23 |
| 01:53 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Edward Allen | 24-23 |
| 01:28 | Northwestern | Edward Allen hits a turnaround from close range | 24-25 |
| 01:13 | Illinois | John Campbell is hacked by Ante Zender - foul #3 on Ante Zender, team foul #12 | 24-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Matthew Rico (PF) Ante Zender | |
| 01:13 | Illinois | John Campbell makes the 1st free throw | 25-25 |
| 01:13 | Illinois | John Campbell makes the 2nd free throw | 26-25 |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | Jan Tarver is called for the reach on Edward Allen - foul #2 on Jan Tarver, team foul #8 | 26-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | David Williams (SF), Dennis Hazelwood (C) Lawrence Lamar, John Campbell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alvin Campbell (SF) Miroslav Koski | |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | Edward Allen makes the 1st free throw | 26-26 |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | Edward Allen misses the 2nd free throw | 26-26 |
| 00:50 | Illinois | Edward Scheiber pulls down the rebound | 26-26 |
| 00:28 | Illinois | Dennis Hazelwood throws a bad pass out of bounds | 26-26 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Deady (SF) Edward Scheiber | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski (SF) Alvin Campbell | |
| 00:04 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski misses the lay-in | 26-26 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Richard Deady | 26-26 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Richard Deady misses badly on a halfcourt shot | 26-26 |