| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Santacruz (fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SG - Edward Schrader (fresh) 7 pts. SF - Richard Burns (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. PF - Terry Freeman (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. C - Gary Bradley (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Butler | PG - Eric Furlow (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Turpin (fresh) 1 ast. SF - John Weber (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Richard Schantz (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Houston Smith (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 3 blk. | |
| 20:00 | Butler | John Weber inbounds the ball | 35-26 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Butler | Butler is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| 19:47 | Butler | John Weber scores on a turnaround from the baseline on a great pass from Eric Furlow | 35-28 |
| 19:41 | Illinois | Gary Bradley connects on the floater from the baseline on a great pass from Edward Schrader | 37-28 |
| 19:31 | Butler | Eric Furlow can't connect on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 37-28 |
| 19:29 | Illinois | Gary Bradley pulls down the rebound | 37-28 |
| 19:15 | Illinois | Terry Freeman loses the ball out of bounds | 37-28 |
| 18:53 | Butler | Houston Smith connects on the jumpshot from the free throw line set up by Robert Turpin | 37-30 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Gary Bradley hits the front of the rim on the shot from the free throw line but the foul's on Richard Schantz - foul #3 on Richard Schantz, team foul #1 | 37-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Butler | Henry Fortune (PF) Richard Schantz | |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Gary Bradley makes the 1st free throw | 38-30 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Gary Bradley misses the 2nd free throw | 38-30 |
| 18:32 | Butler | Henry Fortune gets the rebound | 38-30 |
| 18:26 | Butler | John Weber can't finish the layup | 38-30 |
| 18:24 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Gary Bradley | 38-30 |
| 18:05 | Illinois | Edward Schrader connects on the 3pt attempt from straight away set up by Richard Burns | 41-30 |
| 17:51 | Butler | Houston Smith steps out of bounds on the sideline | 41-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | Roger Maciel (SF), Edward Trynowski (C) Richard Burns, Gary Bradley | |
| Subs | Butler | | |
| 17:29 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski misses the easy layup but the foul's on Houston Smith - foul #2 on Houston Smith, team foul #2 | 41-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Timmons (PG) Michael Santacruz | |
| Subs | Butler | Marcus Craig (SF) John Weber | |
| 17:29 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski makes the 1st free throw | 42-30 |
| 17:29 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski misses the 2nd free throw | 42-30 |
| 17:29 | Butler | Houston Smith grabs the board | 42-30 |
| 17:05 | Butler | Eric Furlow clanks a pull-up jumper from the left wing but the foul's on James Timmons - foul #1 on James Timmons, team foul #1 | 42-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Boone (PF) Terry Freeman | |
| Subs | Butler | Joseph King (SG), Michael McCade (C) Robert Turpin, Houston Smith | |
| 17:05 | Butler | Eric Furlow makes the 1st free throw | 42-31 |
| 17:05 | Butler | Eric Furlow makes the 2nd free throw | 42-32 |
| 16:52 | Illinois | Johnny Boone's fadeaway is rejected by Henry Fortune | 42-32 |
| 16:50 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski grabs the offensive board | 42-32 |
| 16:30 | Illinois | Edward Schrader misses short on a shot from the left wing | 42-32 |
| 16:28 | Illinois | Johnny Boone snags the offensive board | 42-32 |
| 16:12 | Illinois | James Timmons is fouled on the floor by Henry Fortune - foul #1 on Henry Fortune, team foul #3 | 42-32 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Santacruz (PG), Richard Burns (SF), Terry Freeman (PF), Gary Bradley (C) Edward Schrader, Roger Maciel, Johnny Boone, Edward Trynowski | |
| Subs | Butler | Robert Turpin (SG), John Weber (SF) Eric Furlow, Marcus Craig | |
| 16:00 | Illinois | Michael Santacruz misses badly on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 42-32 |
| 15:59 | Butler | Michael McCade grabs the board | 42-32 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Santacruz (fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SG - James Timmons (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Richard Burns (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. PF - Terry Freeman (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. C - Gary Bradley (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Butler | PG - Joseph King (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Robert Turpin (fresh) 2 ast. SF - John Weber (fresh) 7 pts. PF - Henry Fortune (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Michael McCade (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 15:54 | Butler | Robert Turpin banks in the layup | 42-34 |
| 15:37 | Illinois | Richard Burns can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 42-34 |
| 15:35 | Butler | Joseph King gets the rebound | 42-34 |
| 15:16 | Butler | Henry Fortune lays it in | 42-36 |
| 14:59 | Illinois | Gary Bradley scores on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line on a nice dish by James Timmons | 44-36 |
| 14:38 | Butler | Joseph King misses short on a shot from the left side | 44-36 |
| 14:36 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Terry Freeman | 44-36 |
| 14:31 | Illinois | Michael Santacruz's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 44-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | Roger Maciel (SG), Johnny Boone (PF), Edward Trynowski (C) James Timmons, Terry Freeman, Gary Bradley | |
| Subs | Butler | Eric Furlow (PG), Andrew Kitchen (SG), Marcus Craig (SF), Richard Schantz (PF), Houston Smith (C) Joseph King, Robert Turpin, John Weber, Henry Fortune, Michael McCade | |
| 14:14 | Butler | Marcus Craig's pass is intercepted by Edward Trynowski | 44-36 |
| 14:06 | Illinois | Richard Burns travels with the ball | 44-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Schrader (SG) Richard Burns | |
| Subs | Butler | | |
| 13:45 | Butler | Houston Smith drills a jumper in the lane on a nice dish by Eric Furlow and the foul's on Michael Santacruz - foul #3 on Michael Santacruz, team foul #2 | 44-38 |
| 13:45 | Butler | Houston Smith makes the free throw | 44-39 |
| 13:23 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski makes the pull-up jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Michael Santacruz | 46-39 |
| 13:08 | Butler | Richard Schantz clanks a turnaround from the right block but the foul's on Michael Santacruz - foul #4 on Michael Santacruz, team foul #3 | 46-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Timmons (PG), Terry Freeman (PF), Gary Bradley (C) Michael Santacruz, Roger Maciel, Johnny Boone | |
| Subs | Butler | Robert Turpin (SG), John Weber (SF) Andrew Kitchen, Marcus Craig | |
| 13:08 | Butler | Richard Schantz makes the 1st free throw | 46-40 |
| 13:08 | Butler | Richard Schantz makes the 2nd free throw | 46-41 |
| 12:53 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski misses the jumper in the lane | 46-41 |
| 12:52 | Butler | Richard Schantz pulls down the rebound | 46-41 |
| 12:35 | Butler | Robert Turpin is hacked by Edward Schrader - foul #3 on Edward Schrader, team foul #4 | 46-41 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Burns (SF) Edward Trynowski | |
| Subs | Butler | | |
| 12:14 | Butler | Terry Freeman denies the turnaround by Richard Schantz | 46-41 |
| 12:13 | Butler | Houston Smith tips it but misses | 46-41 |
| 12:11 | Butler | The offensive rebound goes to Eric Furlow | 46-41 |
| 12:05 | Butler | Richard Schantz can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 46-41 |
| 12:03 | Illinois | Edward Schrader grabs the board | 46-41 |
| 11:49 | Illinois | Edward Schrader comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 46-41 |
| 11:47 | Butler | Richard Schantz grabs the defensive rebound | 46-41 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Timmons (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Edward Schrader (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Richard Burns (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. PF - Terry Freeman (fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. C - Gary Bradley (fresh) 10 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Butler | PG - Eric Furlow (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SG - Robert Turpin (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - John Weber (fresh) 7 pts. PF - Richard Schantz (fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. C - Houston Smith (fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. 3 blk. | |
| 11:42 | Butler | John Weber comes up short on the fadeaway from the right block | 46-41 |
| 11:40 | Illinois | Terry Freeman gets the rebound | 46-41 |
| 11:16 | Illinois | Gary Bradley knocks in the fadeaway in the paint on a great pass from Richard Burns | 48-41 |
| 10:53 | Butler | Terry Freeman steps in front of the John Weber pass | 48-41 |
| 10:37 | Illinois | Edward Schrader scores on a 3pt jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Richard Burns | 51-41 |
| 10:20 | Butler | Terry Freeman swats the layup by John Weber | 51-41 |
| 10:18 | Illinois | James Timmons pulls down the rebound | 51-41 |
| 09:59 | Illinois | John Weber steals the ball from Edward Schrader | 51-41 |
| 09:47 | Butler | John Weber loses the dribble to Edward Schrader | 51-41 |
| 09:27 | Illinois | John Weber picks off the pass by Edward Schrader | 51-41 |
| 09:09 | Butler | Terry Freeman takes the ball from Richard Schantz | 51-41 |
| 08:53 | Illinois | The 3pt attempt by James Timmons is denied by John Weber | 51-41 |
| 08:52 | Butler | The rebound goes to John Weber | 51-41 |
| 08:46 | Butler | Eric Furlow is hacked by James Timmons - foul #2 on James Timmons, team foul #5 | 51-41 |
| Subs | Illinois | Roger Maciel (PG), Kwabena Abdel (SF), Johnny Boone (PF), Edward Trynowski (C) James Timmons, Richard Burns, Terry Freeman, Gary Bradley | |
| Subs | Butler | Joseph King (PG), Marcus Craig (SG), Michael McCade (SF), Henry Fortune (PF), Sean Champlin (C) Eric Furlow, Robert Turpin, John Weber, Richard Schantz, Houston Smith | |
| 08:23 | Butler | Sean Champlin buries a 3pt shot from the left corner | 51-44 |
| 08:07 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 51-44 |
| 08:05 | Butler | Marcus Craig gets the rebound | 51-44 |
| 07:43 | Butler | Joseph King is hacked by Edward Schrader - foul #4 on Edward Schrader, team foul #6 | 51-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Santacruz (PG) Edward Schrader | |
| Subs | Butler | | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Santacruz (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. 4 pf. SG - Roger Maciel (fresh) SF - Kwabena Abdel (fresh) PF - Johnny Boone (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Edward Trynowski (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Butler | PG - Joseph King (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Marcus Craig (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. SF - Michael McCade (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Henry Fortune (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Sean Champlin (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 07:33 | Butler | Henry Fortune blows the layup | 51-44 |
| 07:32 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Edward Trynowski | 51-44 |
| 07:27 | Illinois | Roger Maciel hits a pull-up jumper from the right side and the foul's on Marcus Craig - foul #1 on Marcus Craig, team foul #4 | 53-44 |
| 07:27 | Illinois | Roger Maciel misses the free throw | 53-44 |
| 07:27 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel snags the offensive board | 53-44 |
| 07:14 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski buries a driving attempt from close range on a nice dish by Roger Maciel and he's hacked by Marcus Craig - foul #2 on Marcus Craig, team foul #5 | 55-44 |
| 07:14 | Illinois | Edward Trynowski makes the free throw | 56-44 |
| 06:46 | Butler | Sean Champlin clanks a 3 pointer from the left corner | 56-44 |
| 06:45 | Butler | Marcus Craig tips it home | 56-46 |
| 06:26 | Illinois | Roger Maciel loses the ball out of bounds | 56-46 |
| Subs | Illinois | Terry Freeman (PF) Johnny Boone | |
| Subs | Butler | Robert Turpin (SG), Richard Schantz (PF) Michael McCade, Sean Champlin | |
| 06:13 | Butler | Henry Fortune hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 56-46 |
| 06:12 | Illinois | Terry Freeman pulls down the rebound | 56-46 |
| 06:05 | Illinois | Kwabena Abdel comes up short on the jumper from the free throw line | 56-46 |
| 06:03 | Butler | Joseph King gets the rebound | 56-46 |
| 05:47 | Butler | Henry Fortune misses short on a shot in the lane | 56-46 |
| 05:45 | Illinois | Terry Freeman gets the rebound | 56-46 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Butler | Butler is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| 05:29 | Illinois | Terry Freeman knocks in the driving attempt from the left block on a nice dish by Michael Santacruz | 58-46 |
| 05:08 | Butler | Marcus Craig's pass is intercepted by Kwabena Abdel | 58-46 |
| 04:39 | Illinois | Michael Santacruz scores on a fadeaway from just outside the lane set up by Edward Trynowski | 60-46 |
| 04:39 | Butler | Butler calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 60-46 |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Schrader (SG), Richard Burns (SF), Gary Bradley (C) Roger Maciel, Kwabena Abdel, Edward Trynowski | |
| Subs | Butler | Eric Furlow (PG), John Weber (SF), Houston Smith (C) Joseph King, Marcus Craig, Henry Fortune | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Butler | Butler is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 04:31 | Butler | Robert Turpin is whistled for a carry | 60-46 |
| 04:03 | Illinois | Houston Smith is called for the reach on Richard Burns - foul #3 on Houston Smith, team foul #6 | 60-46 |
| 03:48 | Illinois | Robert Turpin is called for the reach on Edward Schrader - foul #1 on Robert Turpin, team foul #7 | 60-46 |
| 03:48 | Illinois | Edward Schrader misses the 1st free throw | 60-46 |
| 03:48 | Butler | John Weber gets the rebound | 60-46 |
| 03:35 | Butler | Eric Furlow scores on a jumper from just outside the lane | 60-48 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Santacruz (fresh) 7 pts. 5 ast. 4 pf. SG - Edward Schrader (fresh) 13 pts. 1 ast. 4 pf. SF - Richard Burns (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. PF - Terry Freeman (fresh) 9 pts. 9 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. C - Gary Bradley (fresh) 12 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Butler | PG - Eric Furlow (fresh) 9 pts. 3 ast. SG - Robert Turpin (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - John Weber (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. PF - Richard Schantz (fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. C - Houston Smith (fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. 3 blk. 3 pf. | |
| 03:13 | Illinois | Eric Furlow steps in front of the Gary Bradley pass | 60-48 |
| 03:10 | Butler | Eric Furlow lays it up and in | 60-50 |
| 02:49 | Illinois | Richard Burns knocks in the runner in the lane | 62-50 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Butler | Butler is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 02:38 | Butler | Terry Freeman is called for the reach on Richard Schantz - foul #1 on Terry Freeman, team foul #7 | 62-50 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Timmons (PG), Roger Maciel (SG) Michael Santacruz, Edward Schrader | |
| Subs | Butler | Joseph King (PG), Marcus Craig (SG), Michael McCade (SF), Henry Fortune (C) Eric Furlow, Robert Turpin, John Weber, Houston Smith | |
| 02:38 | Butler | Richard Schantz makes the 1st free throw | 62-51 |
| 02:38 | Butler | Richard Schantz makes the 2nd free throw | 62-52 |
| 02:36 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 62-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Schrader (SG) Roger Maciel | |
| Subs | Butler | Eric Furlow (PG), Robert Turpin (SG), John Weber (SF), Houston Smith (C) Joseph King, Marcus Craig, Michael McCade, Henry Fortune | |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Richard Burns can't connect on a floater in the lane but he's hacked by Eric Furlow - foul #2 on Eric Furlow, team foul #8 | 62-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Santacruz (PG) James Timmons | |
| Subs | Butler | Joseph King (PG), Marcus Craig (SG), Michael McCade (SF), Henry Fortune (PF), Sean Champlin (C) Eric Furlow, Robert Turpin, John Weber, Richard Schantz, Houston Smith | |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Richard Burns misses the 1st free throw | 62-52 |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Richard Burns makes the 2nd free throw | 63-52 |
| 01:56 | Butler | Marcus Craig buries a runner from the left block set up by Michael McCade | 63-54 |
| 01:36 | Illinois | Terry Freeman misses long on a floater from just outside the lane | 63-54 |
| 01:35 | Butler | Marcus Craig grabs the defensive rebound | 63-54 |
| 01:35 | Butler | Butler calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 63-54 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Butler | Eric Furlow (PG), Robert Turpin (SG), John Weber (SF), Richard Schantz (PF), Houston Smith (C) Joseph King, Marcus Craig, Michael McCade, Henry Fortune, Sean Champlin | |
| 01:19 | Butler | Richard Schantz's floater is tipped away by Terry Freeman | 63-54 |
| 01:18 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Gary Bradley | 63-54 |
| 01:03 | Illinois | Gary Bradley comes up short on the turnaround from the left block | 63-54 |
| 01:02 | Butler | The rebound goes to John Weber | 63-54 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Butler | Butler is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:57 | Butler | Eric Furlow's pass is intercepted by Terry Freeman | 63-54 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Butler | Butler is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:56 | Illinois | Michael Santacruz is fouled in the backcourt by Eric Furlow - foul #3 on Eric Furlow, team foul #9 | 63-54 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Timmons (SG) Edward Schrader | |
| Subs | Butler | | |
| 00:56 | Illinois | Michael Santacruz makes the 1st free throw | 64-54 |
| 00:56 | Illinois | Michael Santacruz makes the 2nd free throw | 65-54 |
| 00:49 | Butler | John Weber scores on a fadeaway in the paint on a great pass from Eric Furlow | 65-56 |
| 00:47 | Illinois | Gary Bradley is hacked by Robert Turpin in the backcourt - foul #2 on Robert Turpin, team foul #10 | 65-56 |
| 00:47 | Illinois | Gary Bradley makes the 1st free throw | 66-56 |
| 00:47 | Illinois | Gary Bradley makes the 2nd free throw | 67-56 |
| 00:42 | Butler | John Weber connects on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 67-59 |
| 00:41 | Illinois | Gary Bradley is fouled in the backcourt by Eric Furlow - foul #4 on Eric Furlow, team foul #11 | 67-59 |
| 00:41 | Illinois | Gary Bradley makes the 1st free throw | 68-59 |
| 00:41 | Illinois | Gary Bradley makes the 2nd free throw | 69-59 |
| 00:36 | Butler | Richard Schantz lays it in | 69-61 |
| 00:35 | Illinois | Eric Furlow is called for the reach on James Timmons in the backcourt - foul #5 on Eric Furlow, team foul #12 | 69-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Butler | Joseph King (PG) Eric Furlow | |
| 00:35 | Illinois | James Timmons misses the 1st free throw | 69-61 |
| 00:35 | Illinois | James Timmons makes the 2nd free throw | 70-61 |
| 00:29 | Butler | Terry Freeman takes the ball from Joseph King | 70-61 |
| 00:28 | Illinois | Robert Turpin is called for the reach on Gary Bradley in the backcourt - foul #3 on Robert Turpin, team foul #13 | 70-61 |
| 00:28 | Illinois | Gary Bradley misses the 1st free throw | 70-61 |
| 00:28 | Illinois | Gary Bradley misses the 2nd free throw | 70-61 |
| 00:28 | Butler | Richard Schantz gets the rebound | 70-61 |
| 00:24 | Butler | Houston Smith misses long on a 3 from the left wing | 70-61 |
| 00:22 | Butler | Robert Turpin snags the offensive board | 70-61 |
| 00:18 | Butler | John Weber misses the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 70-61 |
| 00:17 | Butler | Joseph King pulls down the offensive rebound | 70-61 |
| 00:13 | Butler | Richard Schantz clanks a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 70-61 |
| 00:12 | Illinois | James Timmons gets the rebound | 70-61 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Joseph King is called for the reach on James Timmons in the backcourt - foul #2 on Joseph King, team foul #14 | 70-61 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | James Timmons misses the 1st free throw | 70-61 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | James Timmons makes the 2nd free throw | 71-61 |
| 00:04 | Butler | Houston Smith blows the layup | 71-61 |
| 00:03 | Butler | Joseph King snags the offensive board | 71-61 |
| 00:00 | Butler | Michael Santacruz steals the ball from Richard Schantz | 71-61 |