| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Edward Thomas (fresh) SG - Guillermo Guzman (fresh) SF - Lino Zwagerman (fresh) PF - Randy Lister (fresh) C - Darell Wilber (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Wendell Williams (fresh) SG - Donald Hadley (fresh) SF - Bryan Fichter (fresh) PF - Joseph Milligan (fresh) C - Ryan Richards (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Ryan Richards wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:45 | Illinois | Donald Hadley hits a wide open fadeaway from the right wing on a great pass from Joseph Milligan | 0-2 |
| 19:37 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman buries a 3 pointer from the left wing on a great pass from Edward Thomas | 3-2 |
| 19:20 | Illinois | Donald Hadley's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 3-2 |
| 18:56 | Northwestern | Ryan Richards is called for the reach on Darell Wilber - foul #1 on Ryan Richards, team foul #1 | 3-2 |
| 18:44 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber clanks a fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 3-2 |
| 18:42 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan snags the defensive board | 3-2 |
| 18:40 | Illinois | Wendell Williams is hacked by Edward Thomas in the backcourt - foul #1 on Edward Thomas, team foul #1 | 3-2 |
| 18:34 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter misses the easy layup | 3-2 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter snags the offensive board | 3-2 |
| 18:13 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter comes up short on the driving attempt from the baseline | 3-2 |
| 18:11 | Northwestern | Randy Lister grabs the board | 3-2 |
| 17:56 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 3-2 |
| 17:54 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber tips it in | 5-2 |
| 17:45 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter slams it home set up by Wendell Williams and the foul's on Edward Thomas - foul #2 on Edward Thomas, team foul #2 | 5-4 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harley Medley (PG), Robert Goodrich (SG), Gregory Elrod (SF), Robert Savage (PF), Milton Swanson (C) Edward Thomas, Guillermo Guzman, Lino Zwagerman, Randy Lister, Darell Wilber | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dusty Beeler (PG), Billy Swann (SG), Frederick Dicus (PF) Wendell Williams, Donald Hadley, Joseph Milligan | |
| 17:45 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter misses the free throw | 5-4 |
| 17:45 | Northwestern | Robert Savage grabs the board | 5-4 |
| 17:33 | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich knocks in the jumper from the right wing | 7-4 |
| 17:08 | Illinois | Ryan Richards's pass is intercepted by Gregory Elrod | 7-4 |
| 16:46 | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich makes the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 10-4 |
| 16:31 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter makes the wide open fadeaway from close range and the foul's on Gregory Elrod - foul #1 on Gregory Elrod, team foul #3 | 10-6 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman (SG), Randy Lister (PF), Darell Wilber (C) Robert Goodrich, Robert Savage, Milton Swanson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG) Ryan Richards | |
| 16:31 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter makes the free throw | 10-7 |
| 16:11 | Northwestern | Donald Hadley picks off the pass by Guillermo Guzman | 10-7 |
| 16:08 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler banks in the layup set up by Donald Hadley | 10-9 |
| 16:03 | Northwestern | Dusty Beeler steals the ball from Randy Lister | 10-9 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Donald Hadley hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Dusty Beeler | 10-11 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Harley Medley (fresh) SG - Guillermo Guzman (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Gregory Elrod (fresh) PF - Randy Lister (fresh) C - Darell Wilber (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dusty Beeler (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - Donald Hadley (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Bryan Fichter (fairly fresh) 5 pts. PF - Billy Swann (fairly fresh) C - Frederick Dicus (fairly fresh) | |
| 15:43 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 10-11 |
| 15:42 | Illinois | Billy Swann grabs the defensive rebound | 10-11 |
| 15:23 | Illinois | Billy Swann knocks in the 3 from the left wing on a great pass from Donald Hadley | 10-14 |
| 15:17 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman misses badly on a 3 from straight away | 10-14 |
| 15:16 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber hits the follow up shot | 12-14 |
| 15:11 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter makes the jump hook from close range on a great pass from Donald Hadley | 12-16 |
| 15:04 | Northwestern | Randy Lister is hacked by Frederick Dicus - foul #1 on Frederick Dicus, team foul #2 | 12-16 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (PG), Lawrence Ridley (SG), Lino Zwagerman (SF), Robert Savage (PF), Milton Swanson (C) Harley Medley, Guillermo Guzman, Gregory Elrod, Randy Lister, Darell Wilber | |
| Subs | Illinois | Wendell Williams (PG), Joseph Milligan (PF), Ryan Richards (C) Dusty Beeler, Billy Swann, Frederick Dicus | |
| 14:47 | Northwestern | Milton Swanson drills a 3 from the left wing | 15-16 |
| 14:40 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 15-16 |
| 14:15 | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich clanks a 3 pointer from the right corner | 15-16 |
| 14:14 | Illinois | Donald Hadley pulls down the rebound | 15-16 |
| 14:12 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 15-16 |
| 14:03 | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley clanks a jumpshot from the left wing | 15-16 |
| 14:01 | Illinois | Ryan Richards grabs the defensive rebound | 15-16 |
| 13:52 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter buries a floater from the baseline on a nice dish by Wendell Williams | 15-18 |
| 13:33 | Northwestern | Milton Swanson drills a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line and he's hacked by Joseph Milligan - foul #1 on Joseph Milligan, team foul #3 | 17-18 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harley Medley (PG), Guillermo Guzman (SG), Randy Lister (PF), Darell Wilber (C) Robert Goodrich, Lawrence Ridley, Lino Zwagerman, Robert Savage | |
| Subs | Illinois | Charles Turner (PG), Billy Swann (SF) Wendell Williams, Bryan Fichter | |
| 13:33 | Northwestern | Milton Swanson makes the free throw | 18-18 |
| 13:29 | Illinois | Billy Swann is hacked by Randy Lister in the backcourt - foul #1 on Randy Lister, team foul #4 | 18-18 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lino Zwagerman (SF) Milton Swanson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 13:06 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan lays it up and in set up by Charles Turner | 18-20 |
| 13:01 | Northwestern | Lino Zwagerman can't connect on a jumpshot from the right wing | 18-20 |
| 13:00 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Charles Turner | 18-20 |
| 12:55 | Illinois | Ryan Richards's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 18-20 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod (SF) Lino Zwagerman | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 12:35 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod is whistled for traveling | 18-20 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (SG) Guillermo Guzman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dusty Beeler (SG) Donald Hadley | |
| 12:25 | Illinois | Darell Wilber swats the layup by Ryan Richards | 18-20 |
| 12:23 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan gets the offensive rebound | 18-20 |
| 12:13 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan can't connect on a runner in the paint but he's fouled by Robert Goodrich - foul #1 on Robert Goodrich, team foul #5 | 18-20 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley (SG), Robert Savage (C) Harley Medley, Darell Wilber | |
| Subs | Illinois | Wendell Williams (PG), Bryan Fichter (SF) Charles Turner, Billy Swann | |
| 12:13 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan misses the 1st free throw | 18-20 |
| 12:13 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the 2nd free throw | 18-21 |
| 11:54 | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich is hacked by Ryan Richards - foul #2 on Ryan Richards, team foul #4 | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lino Zwagerman (SF) Randy Lister | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG), Frederick Dicus (C) Dusty Beeler, Ryan Richards | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Goodrich (fresh) 5 pts. SG - Lawrence Ridley (fresh) SF - Lino Zwagerman (fairly fresh) PF - Gregory Elrod (fresh) C - Robert Savage (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Wendell Williams (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Donald Hadley (tiring) 4 pts. 3 ast. SF - Bryan Fichter (tiring) 9 pts. PF - Joseph Milligan (tiring) 3 pts. 2 reb. C - Frederick Dicus (fresh) | |
| 11:35 | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman (SG), Darell Wilber (C) Robert Goodrich, Gregory Elrod | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 11:32 | Illinois | Robert Savage is called for the reach on Joseph Milligan in the backcourt - foul #1 on Robert Savage, team foul #6 | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Randy Lister (PF) Robert Savage | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 11:12 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter misses the easy layup | 18-21 |
| 11:10 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Darell Wilber | 18-21 |
| 11:05 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman buries a turnaround near the basket set up by Lawrence Ridley | 20-21 |
| 10:56 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the shot from the left wing set up by Donald Hadley | 20-23 |
| 10:28 | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley scores on a jumpshot from the free throw line set up by Guillermo Guzman and the foul's on Joseph Milligan - foul #2 on Joseph Milligan, team foul #5 | 22-23 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harley Medley (SG), Gregory Elrod (SF), Robert Savage (PF), Milton Swanson (C) Guillermo Guzman, Lino Zwagerman, Randy Lister, Darell Wilber | |
| Subs | Illinois | Charles Turner (PG), Dusty Beeler (SG), Billy Swann (PF) Wendell Williams, Donald Hadley, Joseph Milligan | |
| 10:28 | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley makes the free throw | 23-23 |
| 10:08 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter blows the layup but he's fouled by Lawrence Ridley - foul #1 on Lawrence Ridley, team foul #7 | 23-23 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (SG) Lawrence Ridley | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:08 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter makes the 1st free throw | 23-24 |
| 10:08 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter makes the 2nd free throw | 23-25 |
| 09:42 | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich can't connect on a fadeaway from the right wing | 23-25 |
| 09:40 | Illinois | Billy Swann pulls down the rebound | 23-25 |
| 09:25 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus drills a floater from the free throw line on a nice dish by Charles Turner | 23-27 |
| 09:11 | Northwestern | Harley Medley is fouled on the floor by Charles Turner - foul #1 on Charles Turner, team foul #6 | 23-27 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lino Zwagerman (SF), Darell Wilber (C) Robert Savage, Milton Swanson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG) Bryan Fichter | |
| 08:52 | Northwestern | Harley Medley misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 23-27 |
| 08:51 | Illinois | Donald Hadley grabs the board | 23-27 |
| 08:30 | Illinois | Charles Turner makes the 3pt jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Donald Hadley | 23-30 |
| 08:20 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber blows the layup | 23-30 |
| 08:18 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Lino Zwagerman | 23-30 |
| 08:06 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod drills a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line on a great pass from Robert Goodrich | 25-30 |
| 07:40 | Illinois | Billy Swann misses the wide open fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 25-30 |
| 07:38 | Illinois | Billy Swann pulls down the offensive rebound | 25-30 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Harley Medley (fairly fresh) SG - Robert Goodrich (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Lino Zwagerman (tiring) PF - Gregory Elrod (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Darell Wilber (tiring) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Charles Turner (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - Donald Hadley (tiring) 4 pts. 5 ast. SF - Dusty Beeler (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Billy Swann (tiring) 3 pts. 3 reb. C - Frederick Dicus (tiring) 2 pts. | |
| 07:20 | Illinois | Charles Turner is hacked by Harley Medley - foul #1 on Harley Medley, team foul #8 | 25-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley (PG), Guillermo Guzman (SG), Randy Lister (PF), Robert Savage (C) Harley Medley, Robert Goodrich, Gregory Elrod, Darell Wilber | |
| Subs | Illinois | Wendell Williams (PG), Bryan Fichter (SF) Dusty Beeler, Frederick Dicus | |
| 07:20 | Illinois | Charles Turner makes the 1st free throw | 25-31 |
| 07:20 | Illinois | Charles Turner makes the 2nd free throw | 25-32 |
| 07:09 | Northwestern | Robert Savage connects on the jump hook in the lane on a nice dish by Lawrence Ridley | 27-32 |
| 06:47 | Illinois | Donald Hadley misses long on a jumpshot from the right wing | 27-32 |
| 06:45 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman grabs the defensive rebound | 27-32 |
| 06:38 | Northwestern | Billy Swann steals the ball from Lawrence Ridley | 27-32 |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Lawrence Ridley is called for the reach on Charles Turner - foul #2 on Lawrence Ridley, team foul #9 | 27-32 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harley Medley (PG), Milton Swanson (SF) Lawrence Ridley, Lino Zwagerman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Milligan (PF), Ryan Richards (C) Donald Hadley, Billy Swann | |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Charles Turner misses the 1st free throw | 27-32 |
| 06:22 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman gets the rebound | 27-32 |
| 06:06 | Northwestern | Robert Savage misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 27-32 |
| 06:04 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan grabs the defensive rebound | 27-32 |
| 05:51 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter connects on the open jumpshot from the left wing on a great pass from Wendell Williams | 27-34 |
| 05:31 | Northwestern | Randy Lister hits a 3 pointer from the left wing | 30-34 |
| 05:13 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter hits a runner from the right block on a great pass from Wendell Williams | 30-36 |
| 04:54 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman misses badly on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 30-36 |
| 04:53 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter gets the rebound | 30-36 |
| 04:48 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan is hacked by Randy Lister in the backcourt - foul #2 on Randy Lister, team foul #10 | 30-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (PG), Lino Zwagerman (SF), Gregory Elrod (PF), Darell Wilber (C) Harley Medley, Milton Swanson, Randy Lister, Robert Savage | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG), Dusty Beeler (SF) Charles Turner, Bryan Fichter | |
| 04:48 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the 1st free throw | 30-37 |
| 04:48 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the 2nd free throw | 30-38 |
| 04:27 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod's floater is knocked away by Dusty Beeler | 30-38 |
| 04:26 | Illinois | Ryan Richards gets the rebound | 30-38 |
| 04:02 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan hits the finger roll on a great pass from Ryan Richards | 30-40 |
| 03:58 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 30-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Thomas (PG), Randy Lister (PF) Guillermo Guzman, Lino Zwagerman | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 03:44 | Illinois | Ryan Richards is hacked by Robert Goodrich - foul #2 on Robert Goodrich, team foul #11 | 30-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Billy Swann (SF) Donald Hadley | |
| 03:44 | Illinois | Ryan Richards misses the 1st free throw | 30-40 |
| 03:44 | Illinois | Ryan Richards makes the 2nd free throw | 30-41 |
| 03:29 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber comes up short on the runner from the right block but he's fouled by Ryan Richards - foul #3 on Ryan Richards, team foul #7 | 30-41 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley (SG) Robert Goodrich | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryan Fichter (SF) Ryan Richards | |
| 03:29 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber makes the 1st free throw | 31-41 |
| 03:29 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber makes the 2nd free throw | 32-41 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Edward Thomas (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Lawrence Ridley (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Gregory Elrod (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Randy Lister (tiring) 3 pts. C - Darell Wilber (tiring) 6 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Wendell Williams (tiring) 4 ast. SG - Dusty Beeler (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SF - Bryan Fichter (tiring) 15 pts. 2 reb. PF - Joseph Milligan (tiring) 9 pts. 3 reb. C - Billy Swann (tiring) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:13 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan hits the front of the rim on the shot in the paint | 32-41 |
| 03:12 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod pulls down the rebound | 32-41 |
| 03:08 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Bryan Fichter - foul #1 on Bryan Fichter, team foul #8 | 32-41 |
| 03:08 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod makes the 1st free throw | 33-41 |
| 03:08 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod makes the 2nd free throw | 34-41 |
| 02:54 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter throws it down on a nice dish by Wendell Williams | 34-43 |
| 02:50 | Northwestern | The short jumper by Lawrence Ridley is denied by Joseph Milligan | 34-43 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter snags the defensive board | 34-43 |
| 02:46 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler's pass is intercepted by Darell Wilber in the backcourt | 34-43 |
| 02:24 | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley misses the shot from the left wing | 34-43 |
| 02:23 | Northwestern | Randy Lister hits the follow up shot | 36-43 |
| 02:15 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan can't connect on an uncontested jumpshot from the right wing | 36-43 |
| 02:14 | Illinois | Wendell Williams grabs the offensive rebound | 36-43 |
| 01:55 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter clanks a fadeaway from close range | 36-43 |
| 01:53 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Darell Wilber | 36-43 |
| 01:48 | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 36-43 |
| 01:46 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber snags the offensive board | 36-43 |
| 01:37 | Northwestern | Wendell Williams is called for the reach on Edward Thomas - foul #1 on Wendell Williams, team foul #9 | 36-43 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (SG), Harley Medley (SF), Robert Savage (PF), Milton Swanson (C) Lawrence Ridley, Gregory Elrod, Randy Lister, Darell Wilber | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG), Frederick Dicus (C) Dusty Beeler, Billy Swann | |
| 01:37 | Northwestern | Edward Thomas misses the 1st free throw | 36-43 |
| 01:37 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Donald Hadley | 36-43 |
| 01:18 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan misses the lay-in but the foul's on Milton Swanson - foul #1 on Milton Swanson, team foul #12 | 36-43 |
| 01:18 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the 1st free throw | 36-44 |
| 01:18 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the 2nd free throw | 36-45 |
| 01:01 | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich misses badly on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 36-45 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan gets the rebound | 36-45 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 36-45 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Ridley (SG) Edward Thomas | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:42 | Illinois | Robert Goodrich is called for the reach on Frederick Dicus - foul #3 on Robert Goodrich, team foul #13 | 36-45 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman (SG) Robert Goodrich | |
| Subs | Illinois | Charles Turner (PG), Dusty Beeler (SF) Wendell Williams, Bryan Fichter | |
| 00:42 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus makes the 1st free throw | 36-46 |
| 00:42 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus makes the 2nd free throw | 36-47 |
| 00:23 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman clanks a 3 pointer from the left corner | 36-47 |
| 00:22 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler gets the rebound | 36-47 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan is wide open but clanks a shot from the right block | 36-47 |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Charles Turner pulls down the offensive rebound | 36-47 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | The clock runs out | 36-47 |