| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Kirk Heath (fresh) SG - Glenn Jacobs (fresh) SF - Mario Gaines (fresh) PF - Daniel Smith (fresh) C - Jason Siler (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Daniel Lee (fresh) SG - John Morrison (fresh) SF - Robert Hale (fresh) PF - Norman Provost (fresh) C - Lawrence Branson (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Penn State | Daniel Smith wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 19:41 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 0-0 |
| 19:40 | Penn State | Jason Siler tips it but misses | 0-0 |
| 19:39 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Daniel Lee | 0-0 |
| 19:26 | Illinois | John Morrison hits a 3 pointer from the right wing set up by Daniel Lee | 0-3 |
| 19:09 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs works out of a doubleteam and scores on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 3-3 |
| 18:50 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson clanks a driving attempt in the lane | 3-3 |
| 18:48 | Penn State | Daniel Smith pulls down the rebound | 3-3 |
| 18:24 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs is whistled for traveling | 3-3 |
| 17:55 | Illinois | Glenn Jacobs steals the ball from Lawrence Branson | 3-3 |
| 17:28 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs's 3 pointer is rejected by John Morrison | 3-3 |
| 17:27 | Illinois | Norman Provost grabs the board | 3-3 |
| 17:05 | Illinois | Robert Hale loses the dribble to Mario Gaines | 3-3 |
| 17:02 | Penn State | Kirk Heath hits the finger roll on a great pass from Mario Gaines | 5-3 |
| 16:48 | Illinois | John Morrison can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 5-3 |
| 16:46 | Illinois | Norman Provost hits the follow up shot | 5-5 |
| 16:20 | Penn State | Robert Hale steals it from Kirk Heath | 5-5 |
| 16:18 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson is hacked by Jason Siler in the backcourt - foul #1 on Jason Siler, team foul #1 | 5-5 |
| Subs | Penn State | Daniel Carrasco (PG), Jason Beene (SG), Nathan Foster (SF), Anthony Seabrooks (PF), Jared Phelps (C) Kirk Heath, Glenn Jacobs, Mario Gaines, Daniel Smith, Jason Siler | |
| Subs | Illinois | Louis Gordon (PG), John Mauriello (SG), James Myers (SF), Edward Davies (C) Daniel Lee, John Morrison, Robert Hale, Lawrence Branson | |
| 15:58 | Illinois | Norman Provost buries a turnaround near the basket | 5-7 |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Daniel Carrasco (fresh) SG - Jason Beene (fresh) SF - Nathan Foster (fresh) PF - Anthony Seabrooks (fresh) C - Jared Phelps (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Louis Gordon (fresh) SG - John Mauriello (fresh) SF - James Myers (fresh) PF - Norman Provost (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Edward Davies (fresh) | |
| 15:54 | Penn State | Nathan Foster misses the jumpshot from the right side but he's fouled by James Myers - foul #1 on James Myers, team foul #1 | 5-7 |
| 15:54 | Penn State | Nathan Foster makes the 1st free throw | 6-7 |
| 15:54 | Penn State | Nathan Foster makes the 2nd free throw | 7-7 |
| 15:25 | Illinois | James Myers is fouled on the floor by Jared Phelps - foul #1 on Jared Phelps, team foul #2 | 7-7 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lawrence Branson (C) Norman Provost | |
| 15:08 | Illinois | Louis Gordon is open and lays it up and in on a great pass from James Myers | 7-9 |
| 14:45 | Penn State | Daniel Carrasco is fouled on the floor by Edward Davies - foul #1 on Edward Davies, team foul #2 | 7-9 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Lee (PG), John Morrison (SG), Robert Hale (SF) Louis Gordon, John Mauriello, James Myers | |
| 14:16 | Penn State | Robert Hale is called for the reach on Nathan Foster - foul #1 on Robert Hale, team foul #3 | 7-9 |
| Subs | Penn State | Kirk Heath (PG), Mario Gaines (SF), Larry Scott (PF), Jason Siler (C) Daniel Carrasco, Nathan Foster, Anthony Seabrooks, Jared Phelps | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 14:00 | Penn State | Jason Beene makes the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 9-9 |
| 13:32 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson is alone and drills a floater from close range on a nice dish by Daniel Lee and he's hacked by Jason Beene - foul #1 on Jason Beene, team foul #3 | 9-11 |
| Subs | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs (SG), Daniel Smith (PF) Jason Beene, Jason Siler | |
| Subs | Illinois | Louis Gordon (PG), Norman Provost (PF) Daniel Lee, Edward Davies | |
| 13:32 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson misses the free throw | 9-11 |
| 13:32 | Penn State | Daniel Smith grabs the defensive rebound | 9-11 |
| 13:10 | Penn State | Kirk Heath is by himself and knocks in the fadeaway from the right side | 11-11 |
| 12:53 | Illinois | Mario Gaines steals the ball from John Morrison | 11-11 |
| 12:29 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs works out of a doubleteam and scores on a 3pt attempt from the right corner on a great pass from Larry Scott | 14-11 |
| 12:25 | Illinois | John Morrison is hacked by Larry Scott in the backcourt - foul #1 on Larry Scott, team foul #4 | 14-11 |
| Subs | Penn State | Daniel Carrasco (PG), Nathan Foster (SF), Anthony Seabrooks (PF), Jared Phelps (C) Kirk Heath, Mario Gaines, Daniel Smith, Larry Scott | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Lee (PG), Edward Davies (C) John Morrison, Lawrence Branson | |
| 12:04 | Illinois | Edward Davies blows the dunk but he's hacked by Anthony Seabrooks - foul #1 on Anthony Seabrooks, team foul #5 | 14-11 |
| Subs | Penn State | Jason Beene (SG), Jason Siler (C) Glenn Jacobs, Jared Phelps | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Mauriello (SF) Robert Hale | |
| 12:04 | Illinois | Edward Davies makes the 1st free throw | 14-12 |
| 12:04 | Illinois | Edward Davies makes the 2nd free throw | 14-13 |
| 11:47 | Penn State | Norman Provost blocks the jumper by Nathan Foster | 14-13 |
| 11:46 | Illinois | Edward Davies grabs the board | 14-13 |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Daniel Carrasco (fresh) SG - Jason Beene (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Nathan Foster (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Anthony Seabrooks (fresh) C - Jason Siler (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Daniel Lee (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Louis Gordon (fresh) 2 pts. SF - John Mauriello (fresh) PF - Norman Provost (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Edward Davies (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 11:21 | Illinois | Edward Davies is by himself and knocks in the jumpshot from the right side on a nice dish by Daniel Lee | 14-15 |
| 11:17 | Penn State | Jason Beene hits a fadeaway near the basket | 16-15 |
| 10:52 | Illinois | John Mauriello misses short on a jumper from the baseline | 16-15 |
| 10:51 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to John Mauriello | 16-15 |
| 10:30 | Illinois | Louis Gordon lays it in on a great pass from John Mauriello | 16-17 |
| 10:12 | Penn State | Nathan Foster can't connect on a jumpshot from the left side | 16-17 |
| 10:11 | Penn State | Anthony Seabrooks hits the follow up shot | 18-17 |
| 09:57 | Illinois | Edward Davies misses short on a driving attempt from the baseline but the foul's on Anthony Seabrooks - foul #2 on Anthony Seabrooks, team foul #6 | 18-17 |
| Subs | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs (PG), Mario Gaines (SF), Daniel Smith (PF), Jared Phelps (C) Daniel Carrasco, Nathan Foster, Anthony Seabrooks, Jason Siler | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Morrison (SG), Robert Hale (SF), Lawrence Branson (C) Louis Gordon, John Mauriello, Norman Provost | |
| 09:57 | Illinois | Edward Davies makes the 1st free throw | 18-18 |
| 09:57 | Illinois | Edward Davies makes the 2nd free throw | 18-19 |
| 09:38 | Penn State | Mario Gaines misses badly on a runner near the basket | 18-19 |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson grabs the defensive rebound | 18-19 |
| 09:17 | Illinois | Edward Davies comes up short on the driving attempt near the basket | 18-19 |
| 09:16 | Penn State | Daniel Smith snags the defensive board | 18-19 |
| 08:50 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs evades the doubleteam but misses long on a jumpshot from the left wing | 18-19 |
| 08:48 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson snags the defensive board | 18-19 |
| 08:44 | Illinois | Daniel Lee's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 18-19 |
| Subs | Penn State | Kirk Heath (PG) Jason Beene | |
| Subs | Illinois | Norman Provost (PF) Edward Davies | |
| 08:23 | Penn State | Daniel Smith is called for traveling | 18-19 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Louis Gordon (PG) Daniel Lee | |
| 08:21 | Illinois | Louis Gordon loses the dribble to Kirk Heath in the backcourt | 18-19 |
| 08:07 | Penn State | Kirk Heath misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 18-19 |
| 08:06 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson gets the rebound | 18-19 |
| 08:02 | Illinois | Mario Gaines is called for the reach on Louis Gordon in the backcourt - foul #1 on Mario Gaines, team foul #7 | 18-19 |
| Subs | Penn State | Albert Small (SG), Larry Scott (PF), Jason Siler (C) Glenn Jacobs, Daniel Smith, Jared Phelps | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 08:02 | Illinois | Louis Gordon makes the 1st free throw | 18-20 |
| 08:02 | Illinois | Louis Gordon misses the 2nd free throw | 18-20 |
| 08:02 | Penn State | The rebound goes to Jason Siler | 18-20 |
| 07:35 | Penn State | Albert Small clanks a shot from the right side | 18-20 |
| 07:34 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson pulls down the rebound | 18-20 |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Kirk Heath (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Albert Small (fresh) SF - Mario Gaines (fairly fresh) 1 ast. 2 stl. PF - Larry Scott (fresh) C - Jason Siler (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Louis Gordon (fresh) 5 pts. SG - John Morrison (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Robert Hale (fresh) PF - Norman Provost (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Lawrence Branson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:14 | Illinois | Louis Gordon is fouled on the floor by Kirk Heath - foul #1 on Kirk Heath, team foul #8 | 18-20 |
| Subs | Penn State | Jason Beene (SG), Nathan Foster (SF) Albert Small, Mario Gaines | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Mauriello (SG), James Myers (SF) John Morrison, Robert Hale | |
| 07:14 | Illinois | Louis Gordon misses the 1st free throw | 18-20 |
| 07:14 | Penn State | Jason Beene grabs the defensive rebound | 18-20 |
| 06:47 | Penn State | Kirk Heath misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line but he's hacked by Lawrence Branson - foul #1 on Lawrence Branson, team foul #4 | 18-20 |
| Subs | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs (SG), Daniel Smith (PF), Jared Phelps (C) Jason Beene, Larry Scott, Jason Siler | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Lee (PG) Louis Gordon | |
| 06:47 | Penn State | Kirk Heath makes the 1st free throw | 19-20 |
| 06:47 | Penn State | Kirk Heath misses the 2nd free throw | 19-20 |
| 06:47 | Illinois | Norman Provost grabs the defensive rebound | 19-20 |
| 06:20 | Illinois | Daniel Smith takes the ball from Lawrence Branson | 19-20 |
| 05:54 | Penn State | Kirk Heath misses long on an open 3pt shot from the right wing | 19-20 |
| 05:52 | Illinois | John Mauriello grabs the board | 19-20 |
| 05:47 | Illinois | Kirk Heath steps in front of the Daniel Lee pass in the backcourt | 19-20 |
| 05:32 | Penn State | Kirk Heath is alone and drills a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 22-20 |
| 05:08 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson hits a jump hook from close range on a great pass from Norman Provost | 22-22 |
| 04:58 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 22-22 |
| 04:57 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson grabs the board | 22-22 |
| 04:55 | Illinois | Daniel Lee is hacked by Kirk Heath in the backcourt - foul #2 on Kirk Heath, team foul #9 | 22-22 |
| Subs | Penn State | Daniel Carrasco (PG), Jason Beene (SG), Mario Gaines (SF), Larry Scott (PF), Jason Siler (C) Kirk Heath, Glenn Jacobs, Nathan Foster, Daniel Smith, Jared Phelps | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Morrison (SG), Louis Gordon (SF), Edward Davies (PF), Robert Hale (C) John Mauriello, James Myers, Norman Provost, Lawrence Branson | |
| 04:55 | Illinois | Daniel Lee makes the 1st free throw | 22-23 |
| 04:55 | Illinois | Daniel Lee misses the 2nd free throw | 22-23 |
| 04:55 | Penn State | Jason Siler snags the defensive board | 22-23 |
| 04:35 | Penn State | Jason Beene misses short on a shot from the right side | 22-23 |
| 04:33 | Illinois | Louis Gordon pulls down the rebound | 22-23 |
| 04:14 | Illinois | Daniel Lee makes the wide open fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by John Morrison | 22-25 |
| 03:47 | Penn State | Jason Beene misses the floater from the right side but the foul's on Robert Hale - foul #2 on Robert Hale, team foul #5 | 22-25 |
| Subs | Penn State | Anthony Seabrooks (PF) Larry Scott | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lawrence Branson (C) Daniel Lee | |
| 03:47 | Penn State | Jason Beene makes the 1st free throw | 23-25 |
| 03:47 | Penn State | Jason Beene makes the 2nd free throw | 24-25 |
| 03:25 | Illinois | Edward Davies misses the easy layup | 24-25 |
| 03:24 | Illinois | Louis Gordon grabs the offensive rebound | 24-25 |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Daniel Carrasco (fresh) SG - Jason Beene (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Mario Gaines (fresh) 1 ast. 2 stl. PF - Anthony Seabrooks (fresh) 2 pts. C - Jason Siler (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Louis Gordon (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. SG - John Morrison (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Hale (fresh) PF - Edward Davies (fresh) 6 pts. C - Lawrence Branson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 03:18 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson comes up short on the turnaround from the left block | 24-25 |
| 03:17 | Penn State | Anthony Seabrooks snags the defensive board | 24-25 |
| 02:57 | Penn State | Jason Beene's pass is intercepted by Robert Hale | 24-25 |
| 02:54 | Illinois | Robert Hale blows the layup | 24-25 |
| 02:52 | Illinois | Louis Gordon hits the follow up shot | 24-27 |
| 02:23 | Penn State | Jason Beene hits a shot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Daniel Carrasco | 26-27 |
| 02:11 | Illinois | Edward Davies misses badly on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 26-27 |
| 02:10 | Illinois | Robert Hale pulls down the offensive rebound | 26-27 |
| 01:48 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson hits the front of the rim on the floater from close range | 26-27 |
| 01:46 | Penn State | Anthony Seabrooks grabs the defensive rebound | 26-27 |
| 01:31 | Penn State | Jason Beene can't connect on a jumper from the free throw line | 26-27 |
| 01:29 | Illinois | John Morrison pulls down the rebound | 26-27 |
| 01:27 | Illinois | John Morrison is fouled in the backcourt by Jason Beene - foul #2 on Jason Beene, team foul #10 | 26-27 |
| Subs | Penn State | Kirk Heath (PG), Glenn Jacobs (SG), Nathan Foster (SF), Daniel Smith (PF), Jared Phelps (C) Daniel Carrasco, Jason Beene, Mario Gaines, Anthony Seabrooks, Jason Siler | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Lee (PG), John Mauriello (SF), Norman Provost (PF) Louis Gordon, Robert Hale, Edward Davies | |
| 01:27 | Illinois | John Morrison makes the 1st free throw | 26-28 |
| 01:27 | Illinois | John Morrison misses the 2nd free throw | 26-28 |
| 01:27 | Penn State | Jared Phelps grabs the board | 26-28 |
| 01:13 | Penn State | Daniel Smith can't connect on an uncontested runner from close range but he's fouled by John Morrison - foul #1 on John Morrison, team foul #6 | 26-28 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Myers (SF) John Morrison | |
| 01:13 | Penn State | Daniel Smith makes the 1st free throw | 27-28 |
| 01:13 | Penn State | Daniel Smith misses the 2nd free throw | 27-28 |
| 01:13 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Norman Provost | 27-28 |
| 01:11 | Illinois | Kirk Heath is called for the reach on Daniel Lee in the backcourt - foul #3 on Kirk Heath, team foul #11 | 27-28 |
| Subs | Penn State | Albert Small (SG) Kirk Heath | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 01:11 | Illinois | Daniel Lee misses the 1st free throw | 27-28 |
| 01:11 | Illinois | Daniel Lee makes the 2nd free throw | 27-29 |
| 00:42 | Penn State | James Myers is called for the reach on Glenn Jacobs - foul #2 on James Myers, team foul #7 | 27-29 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Davies (C) Lawrence Branson | |
| 00:42 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs makes the 1st free throw | 28-29 |
| 00:42 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs makes the 2nd free throw | 29-29 |
| 00:22 | Illinois | Jared Phelps picks off the pass by Edward Davies | 29-29 |
| 00:01 | Penn State | Glenn Jacobs works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right wing | 29-29 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Edward Davies | 29-29 |