| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Christopher West (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SG - Norman Jandreau (fresh) 5 pts. 6 reb. 3 stl. SF - Jerome Iler (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Jacob Hazelip (fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. C - Ronald Steenbergen (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Christopher Reny (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SF - Justin McQuesten (fresh) 2 ast. PF - Francis Saylor (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Luis Massey (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler inbounds the ball | 34-31 |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a flex offense and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:41 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 34-31 |
| 19:40 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler gets the offensive rebound | 34-31 |
| 19:26 | Syracuse | Jacob Hazelip knocks in the jumper from the left block on a great pass from Christopher West | 36-31 |
| 19:06 | Illinois | Christopher Reny misses long on a 3 pointer from straight away | 36-31 |
| 19:04 | Syracuse | The rebound goes to Jerome Iler | 36-31 |
| 18:50 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler is called for traveling | 36-31 |
| 18:29 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten makes the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 36-34 |
| 18:21 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler knocks in the jump hook in the lane on a nice dish by Norman Jandreau | 38-34 |
| 17:57 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten can't finish the layup | 38-34 |
| 17:56 | Syracuse | Jacob Hazelip grabs the board | 38-34 |
| 17:43 | Syracuse | Jacob Hazelip is hacked by Christopher Reny - foul #1 on Christopher Reny, team foul #1 | 38-34 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Adam Vanslyke (PF), Clyde Pate (C) Francis Saylor, Luis Massey | |
| 17:26 | Syracuse | Justin McQuesten steals the ball from Jacob Hazelip | 38-34 |
| 17:23 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten lays it in | 38-36 |
| 17:07 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler comes up short on the jumper from close range | 38-36 |
| 17:05 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten grabs the defensive rebound | 38-36 |
| 17:01 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten's pass is intercepted by Ronald Steenbergen | 38-36 |
| 16:33 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau drills a 3 from straight away on a nice dish by Ronald Steenbergen | 41-36 |
| 16:16 | Illinois | Norman Jandreau steps in front of the Johnny Faulkner pass | 41-36 |
| 15:52 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen drills a floater near the basket | 43-36 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Christopher West (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SG - Norman Jandreau (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. 4 stl. SF - Jerome Iler (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. PF - Jacob Hazelip (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. C - Ronald Steenbergen (fairly fresh) 7 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Christopher Reny (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SF - Justin McQuesten (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. PF - Adam Vanslyke (fresh) 8 pts. 5 reb. C - Clyde Pate (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 15:43 | Illinois | Clyde Pate misses the lay-in but he's fouled by Ronald Steenbergen - foul #3 on Ronald Steenbergen, team foul #1 | 43-36 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Andrew Smith (PF) Jacob Hazelip | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Roberts (PG), Francis Saylor (PF) Johnny Faulkner, Christopher Reny | |
| 15:43 | Illinois | Clyde Pate makes the 1st free throw | 43-37 |
| 15:43 | Illinois | Clyde Pate makes the 2nd free throw | 43-38 |
| 15:30 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler's fadeaway is rejected by Adam Vanslyke | 43-38 |
| 15:29 | Illinois | Francis Saylor gets the rebound | 43-38 |
| 15:01 | Illinois | Norman Jandreau is called for the reach on Justin McQuesten - foul #2 on Norman Jandreau, team foul #2 | 43-38 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Luis Massey (C) Clyde Pate | |
| 14:48 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts drills a 3 pointer from straight away on a great pass from Justin McQuesten | 43-41 |
| 14:34 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau is called for traveling | 43-41 |
| 14:21 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts drills a fadeaway from the right side on a nice dish by Francis Saylor | 43-43 |
| 14:11 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau misses the 3 from the right wing | 43-43 |
| 14:10 | Syracuse | Andrew Smith pulls down the offensive rebound | 43-43 |
| 13:55 | Syracuse | Luis Massey swats the layup by Andrew Smith | 43-43 |
| 13:54 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau can't tip it in | 43-43 |
| 13:53 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau tips it back up and in | 45-43 |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the right side but he's hacked by Andrew Smith - foul #1 on Andrew Smith, team foul #3 | 45-43 |
| Subs | Syracuse | John Mendelsohn (SG), Thomas Zayas (SF), John Geib (C) Norman Jandreau, Jerome Iler, Ronald Steenbergen | |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Reny (SG) Francis Saylor | |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts makes the 1st free throw | 45-44 |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts makes the 2nd free throw | 45-45 |
| 13:19 | Syracuse | Christopher West hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 45-45 |
| 13:18 | Illinois | Luis Massey grabs the defensive rebound | 45-45 |
| 13:12 | Illinois | Christopher Reny can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 45-45 |
| 13:11 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten tips it but misses | 45-45 |
| 13:09 | Illinois | Adam Vanslyke tips it but misses | 45-45 |
| 13:08 | Illinois | Christopher Reny hits the follow up shot | 45-47 |
| 12:46 | Syracuse | John Geib misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 45-47 |
| 12:44 | Syracuse | The offensive rebound goes to John Mendelsohn | 45-47 |
| 12:29 | Syracuse | Christopher West is hacked by Gregory Roberts - foul #2 on Gregory Roberts, team foul #2 | 45-47 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Jerome Iler (SF), Jacob Hazelip (PF), Ronald Steenbergen (C) Thomas Zayas, Andrew Smith, John Geib | |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner (PG), James Young (SF), Clyde Pate (C) Gregory Roberts, Justin McQuesten, Luis Massey | |
| 12:15 | Syracuse | Christopher West makes the 3 from the left wing | 48-47 |
| 12:04 | Illinois | James Young clanks a jumpshot from the right side | 48-47 |
| 12:02 | Illinois | Adam Vanslyke hits the follow up shot | 48-49 |
| 11:38 | Syracuse | Johnny Faulkner is called for the reach on Jerome Iler - foul #1 on Johnny Faulkner, team foul #3 | 48-49 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau (SG) John Mendelsohn | |
| Subs | Illinois | Francis Saylor (PF) Christopher Reny | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Christopher West (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SG - Norman Jandreau (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 8 reb. 4 stl. SF - Jerome Iler (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. PF - Jacob Hazelip (fresh) 10 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. C - Ronald Steenbergen (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - James Young (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. SF - Adam Vanslyke (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 7 reb. PF - Francis Saylor (fresh) 1 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. C - Clyde Pate (fresh) 6 pts. | |
| 11:22 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler connects on the fadeaway from the left block on a nice dish by Christopher West and he's hacked by Adam Vanslyke - foul #2 on Adam Vanslyke, team foul #4 | 50-49 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Roberts (SG) James Young | |
| 11:22 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler makes the free throw | 51-49 |
| 11:05 | Illinois | Francis Saylor's layup is rejected by Jacob Hazelip | 51-49 |
| 11:03 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau grabs the board | 51-49 |
| 10:57 | Syracuse | Christopher West misses long on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 51-49 |
| 10:55 | Syracuse | Jacob Hazelip snags the offensive board | 51-49 |
| 10:38 | Syracuse | Christopher West knocks in the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Norman Jandreau | 53-49 |
| 10:18 | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner misses long on a fadeaway from the left side but the foul's on Jerome Iler - foul #2 on Jerome Iler, team foul #4 | 53-49 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Joseph Fischer (PG), Thomas Zayas (SF), John Geib (C) Christopher West, Jerome Iler, Ronald Steenbergen | |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Reny (SG), Justin McQuesten (SF), Mark Weaver (PF) Gregory Roberts, Adam Vanslyke, Francis Saylor | |
| 10:18 | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner misses the 1st free throw | 53-49 |
| 10:18 | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner misses the 2nd free throw | 53-49 |
| 10:18 | Syracuse | Thomas Zayas gets the rebound | 53-49 |
| 10:05 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau lays it up and in set up by Jacob Hazelip and the foul's on Christopher Reny - foul #2 on Christopher Reny, team foul #5 | 55-49 |
| 10:05 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau makes the free throw | 56-49 |
| 09:50 | Illinois | Christopher Reny connects on the 3pt attempt from the left corner set up by Johnny Faulkner | 56-52 |
| 09:28 | Syracuse | Thomas Zayas knocks in the jumper from the left block and he's fouled by Clyde Pate - foul #3 on Clyde Pate, team foul #6 | 58-52 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Christopher West (PG), John Mendelsohn (SG), Andrew Smith (PF) Joseph Fischer, Norman Jandreau, Jacob Hazelip | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Roberts (PG), Luis Massey (C) Johnny Faulkner, Mark Weaver | |
| 09:28 | Syracuse | Thomas Zayas makes the free throw | 59-52 |
| 09:17 | Illinois | Christopher Reny is whistled for a charge - foul #3 on Christopher Reny, team foul #7 | 59-52 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Adam Vanslyke (PF) Clyde Pate | |
| 08:53 | Syracuse | Adam Vanslyke is called for the reach on John Mendelsohn - foul #3 on Adam Vanslyke, team foul #8 | 59-52 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Jerome Iler (SF), Ronald Steenbergen (C) Thomas Zayas, John Geib | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 08:53 | Syracuse | John Mendelsohn makes the 1st free throw | 60-52 |
| 08:53 | Syracuse | John Mendelsohn makes the 2nd free throw | 61-52 |
| 08:34 | Illinois | Andrew Smith is called for the reach on Adam Vanslyke - foul #2 on Andrew Smith, team foul #5 | 61-52 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner (PG), Francis Saylor (PF) Gregory Roberts, Christopher Reny | |
| 08:22 | Illinois | Luis Massey buries a floater from the right side set up by Adam Vanslyke | 61-54 |
| 07:59 | Syracuse | Adam Vanslyke picks off the pass by Ronald Steenbergen | 61-54 |
| 07:55 | Illinois | Adam Vanslyke hits the finger roll | 61-56 |
| 07:39 | Syracuse | Christopher West misses the 3 pointer from the right wing | 61-56 |
| 07:37 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten grabs the board | 61-56 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Christopher West (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 3 ast. SG - John Mendelsohn (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Jerome Iler (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. PF - Andrew Smith (fresh) C - Ronald Steenbergen (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. SG - Justin McQuesten (tiring) 5 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Adam Vanslyke (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 7 reb. 3 pf. PF - Francis Saylor (fresh) 1 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. C - Luis Massey (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 07:26 | Illinois | Francis Saylor misses long on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 61-56 |
| 07:25 | Syracuse | Andrew Smith grabs the board | 61-56 |
| 07:19 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler's floater is tipped away by Francis Saylor | 61-56 |
| 07:17 | Illinois | Adam Vanslyke snags the defensive board | 61-56 |
| 07:09 | Illinois | Adam Vanslyke's pass is intercepted by John Mendelsohn | 61-56 |
| 06:47 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen can't connect on a floater from close range but the foul's on Luis Massey - foul #2 on Luis Massey, team foul #9 | 61-56 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Joseph Fischer (PG), Norman Jandreau (SG), Thomas Zayas (SF), Jacob Hazelip (PF) Christopher West, John Mendelsohn, Jerome Iler, Andrew Smith | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Roberts (PG), Christopher Reny (SG), James Young (SF), Mark Weaver (PF), Clyde Pate (C) Johnny Faulkner, Justin McQuesten, Adam Vanslyke, Francis Saylor, Luis Massey | |
| 06:47 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen makes the 1st free throw | 62-56 |
| 06:47 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen makes the 2nd free throw | 63-56 |
| 06:27 | Illinois | Christopher Reny misses the 3 pointer from the left corner | 63-56 |
| 06:26 | Illinois | Clyde Pate tips it but misses | 63-56 |
| 06:25 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau grabs the board | 63-56 |
| 05:59 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen scores on a driving attempt near the basket | 65-56 |
| 05:39 | Illinois | James Young loses the dribble to Norman Jandreau | 65-56 |
| 05:21 | Syracuse | Joseph Fischer misses the jumper from the left wing | 65-56 |
| 05:19 | Illinois | Mark Weaver grabs the defensive rebound | 65-56 |
| 05:10 | Illinois | James Young makes the floater from the left side on a nice dish by Mark Weaver | 65-58 |
| 04:51 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen is hacked by Clyde Pate - foul #4 on Clyde Pate, team foul #10 | 65-58 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Christopher West (PG), Jerome Iler (SF) Joseph Fischer, Thomas Zayas | |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner (PG), Justin McQuesten (SF), Francis Saylor (PF) Gregory Roberts, James Young, Mark Weaver | |
| 04:51 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen makes the 1st free throw | 66-58 |
| 04:51 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen misses the 2nd free throw | 66-58 |
| 04:51 | Illinois | Clyde Pate snags the defensive board | 66-58 |
| 04:30 | Illinois | Clyde Pate hits a 3pt jumper from straight away on a nice dish by Johnny Faulkner | 66-61 |
| 04:11 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau clanks a 3 from the left wing | 66-61 |
| 04:10 | Illinois | Clyde Pate snags the defensive board | 66-61 |
| 03:56 | Illinois | Clyde Pate misses long on a fadeaway from the baseline | 66-61 |
| 03:55 | Syracuse | Jacob Hazelip pulls down the rebound | 66-61 |
| 03:36 | Syracuse | Jerome Iler's floater is tipped away by Clyde Pate | 66-61 |
| 03:34 | Illinois | Francis Saylor grabs the board | 66-61 |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Christopher West (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 3 ast. SG - Norman Jandreau (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 10 reb. 5 stl. SF - Jerome Iler (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. PF - Jacob Hazelip (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 10 reb. 3 blk. C - Ronald Steenbergen (tiring) 12 pts. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fresh) 2 pts. 5 ast. SG - Christopher Reny (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Justin McQuesten (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. PF - Francis Saylor (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 4 reb. 3 blk. C - Clyde Pate (fresh) 9 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. | |
| 03:20 | Illinois | Francis Saylor loses the dribble to Ronald Steenbergen | 66-61 |
| 03:07 | Syracuse | Christopher West misses short on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 66-61 |
| 03:06 | Syracuse | The offensive rebound goes to Norman Jandreau | 66-61 |
| 02:52 | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau clanks a jumpshot from the left side | 66-61 |
| 02:51 | Illinois | Clyde Pate pulls down the rebound | 66-61 |
| 02:29 | Illinois | Christopher West is called for the reach on Johnny Faulkner - foul #1 on Christopher West, team foul #6 | 66-61 |
| Subs | Syracuse | John Mendelsohn (SG), Andrew Smith (PF), John Geib (C) Norman Jandreau, Jacob Hazelip, Ronald Steenbergen | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Roberts (SG), James Young (SF), Adam Vanslyke (PF), Luis Massey (C) Christopher Reny, Justin McQuesten, Francis Saylor, Clyde Pate | |
| 02:14 | Illinois | James Young is called for the offensive foul - foul #2 on James Young, team foul #11 | 66-61 |
| 02:12 | Syracuse | Syracuse calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 66-61 |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Justin McQuesten (SF) James Young | |
| 01:57 | Syracuse | John Geib misses the dunk attempt | 66-61 |
| 01:56 | Syracuse | John Geib hits the follow up shot | 68-61 |
| 01:56 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 68-61 |
| Subs | Syracuse | Norman Jandreau (SG), Jacob Hazelip (PF), Ronald Steenbergen (C) John Mendelsohn, Andrew Smith, John Geib | |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Reny (SG), Francis Saylor (PF) Gregory Roberts, Adam Vanslyke | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a flex offense and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Christopher Reny hits a wide open 3 from straight away on a great pass from Justin McQuesten | 68-64 |
| 01:18 | Syracuse | Christopher West scores on a 3pt shot from straight away | 71-64 |
| 01:04 | Illinois | Christopher Reny misses the 3pt shot from the left wing | 71-64 |
| 01:03 | Syracuse | Ronald Steenbergen pulls down the rebound | 71-64 |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:44 | Syracuse | Christopher West misses the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 71-64 |
| 00:42 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Justin McQuesten | 71-64 |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:35 | Illinois | Norman Jandreau steps in front of the Justin McQuesten pass | 71-64 |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| 00:33 | Syracuse | Johnny Faulkner is called for the reach on Christopher West in the backcourt - foul #2 on Johnny Faulkner, team foul #12 | 71-64 |
| 00:33 | Syracuse | Christopher West makes the 1st free throw | 72-64 |
| 00:33 | Syracuse | Christopher West makes the 2nd free throw | 73-64 |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Christopher West steps in front of the Francis Saylor pass | 73-64 |
| 00:24 | Syracuse | Christopher West hits the finger roll | 75-64 |
| 00:19 | Illinois | Jacob Hazelip picks off the pass by Christopher Reny | 75-64 |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:00 | Syracuse | Christopher West runs out the clock | 75-64 |