| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Mueller (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - John Cooper (fresh) 9 pts. SF - Howard Perry (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. PF - Chris Galaz (fresh) 2 reb. C - Joseph Crowe (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Sean Burton (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Eugene Pfeiffer (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. SF - Orville Lange (fresh) PF - James Blair (fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. C - Terry Fleming (fresh) 2 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Howard Perry inbounds the ball | 32-23 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 19:43 | Illinois | Howard Perry comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 32-23 |
| 19:42 | Illinois | John Cooper grabs the offensive board | 32-23 |
| 19:33 | Illinois | Howard Perry comes up short on the fadeaway from the left side | 32-23 |
| 19:32 | Illinois | John Cooper grabs the offensive rebound | 32-23 |
| 19:15 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller is hacked by Sean Burton - foul #3 on Sean Burton, team foul #1 | 32-23 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Charles Foster (PG), Timothy Williams (PF) Sean Burton, James Blair | |
| 19:03 | Illinois | Howard Perry is denied on a layup by Orville Lange | 32-23 |
| 19:02 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming grabs the board | 32-23 |
| 18:47 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming connects on the shot in the lane on a great pass from Eugene Pfeiffer | 32-25 |
| 18:27 | Illinois | Terry Fleming picks off the pass by Joseph Crowe | 32-25 |
| 18:12 | Northwestern | Howard Perry takes the ball from Eugene Pfeiffer | 32-25 |
| 18:07 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 32-25 |
| 18:05 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Eugene Pfeiffer | 32-25 |
| 18:00 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams clanks a runner near the basket but he's hacked by John Cooper - foul #3 on John Cooper, team foul #1 | 32-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (PG), Thomas Combs (C) Charles Foster, Terry Fleming | |
| 18:00 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams makes the 1st free throw | 32-26 |
| 18:00 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams misses the 2nd free throw | 32-26 |
| 18:00 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe pulls down the rebound | 32-26 |
| 17:40 | Illinois | Howard Perry comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 32-26 |
| 17:39 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams pulls down the rebound | 32-26 |
| 17:15 | Northwestern | John Cooper blocks the short jumper by Eugene Pfeiffer | 32-26 |
| 17:13 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Joseph Crowe | 32-26 |
| 16:54 | Illinois | John Cooper loses the dribble to Thomas Combs | 32-26 |
| 16:29 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer loses the ball out of bounds | 32-26 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG), Monte Fisher (SG), Douglas Claiborne (SF), Noel McClatchey (PF), Dennis Oliver (C) Arnold Mueller, John Cooper, Howard Perry, Chris Galaz, Joseph Crowe | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Timothy Mayes (PG), Chuck Moore (SG), James Blair (SF), Chas Reimann (PF), Terry Fleming (C) Jeffery Brannen, Eugene Pfeiffer, Orville Lange, Timothy Williams, Thomas Combs | |
| 16:09 | Illinois | Douglas Claiborne makes the shot from the free throw line set up by Eddy Lovett | 34-26 |
| 15:53 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming misses the runner from the right block but the foul's on Monte Fisher - foul #2 on Monte Fisher, team foul #2 | 34-26 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Sean Burton (PG), Jeffery Brannen (SG) Timothy Mayes, Chuck Moore | |
| 15:53 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming makes the 1st free throw | 34-27 |
| 15:53 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming misses the 2nd free throw | 34-27 |
| 15:53 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver pulls down the rebound | 34-27 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Eddy Lovett (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Monte Fisher (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Douglas Claiborne (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Noel McClatchey (fresh) 3 pts. C - Dennis Oliver (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Sean Burton (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. SG - Jeffery Brannen (fresh) 3 ast. SF - James Blair (fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. PF - Chas Reimann (fresh) 4 pts. C - Terry Fleming (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 15:35 | Illinois | Noel McClatchey drills a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 37-27 |
| 15:10 | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 37-27 |
| 15:09 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver snags the defensive board | 37-27 |
| 14:52 | Illinois | Noel McClatchey hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from straight away | 37-27 |
| 14:50 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming gets the rebound | 37-27 |
| 14:21 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming is denied on a dunk by Noel McClatchey | 37-27 |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Noel McClatchey gets the rebound | 37-27 |
| 14:07 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver is called for traveling | 37-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Mueller (PG), John Cooper (SG), Howard Perry (SF), Chris Galaz (PF), Joseph Crowe (C) Eddy Lovett, Monte Fisher, Douglas Claiborne, Noel McClatchey, Dennis Oliver | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer (SG), Orville Lange (SF), Timothy Williams (PF), Thomas Combs (C) Jeffery Brannen, James Blair, Chas Reimann, Terry Fleming | |
| 13:39 | Northwestern | Sean Burton misses long on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 37-27 |
| 13:38 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer snags the offensive board | 37-27 |
| 13:09 | Northwestern | Sean Burton evades the doubleteam and hits a floater from the left wing on a nice dish by Orville Lange | 37-29 |
| 12:47 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller connects on the 3 pointer from straight away | 40-29 |
| 12:20 | Northwestern | Thomas Combs is called for a moving pick - foul #2 on Thomas Combs, team foul #2 | 40-29 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Charles Foster (PG), James Blair (PF), Terry Fleming (C) Eugene Pfeiffer, Timothy Williams, Thomas Combs | |
| 11:53 | Illinois | James Blair swats the short shot by Chris Galaz | 40-29 |
| 11:52 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Arnold Mueller | 40-29 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Mueller (fresh) 15 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - John Cooper (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. SF - Howard Perry (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. 3 stl. PF - Chris Galaz (fresh) 2 reb. C - Joseph Crowe (fresh) 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Charles Foster (fresh) SG - Sean Burton (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. SF - Orville Lange (fresh) PF - James Blair (fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. C - Terry Fleming (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 11:39 | Illinois | John Cooper misses long on a shot from the baseline | 40-29 |
| 11:38 | Northwestern | James Blair gets the rebound | 40-29 |
| 11:33 | Northwestern | Sean Burton makes the 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Orville Lange | 40-32 |
| 11:09 | Illinois | John Cooper misses the lay-in | 40-32 |
| 11:07 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to James Blair | 40-32 |
| 10:44 | Northwestern | Sean Burton evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 40-32 |
| 10:42 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Joseph Crowe | 40-32 |
| 10:33 | Illinois | Howard Perry makes the fadeaway from the left side on a great pass from Arnold Mueller | 42-32 |
| 10:08 | Northwestern | Charles Foster misses the easy layup | 42-32 |
| 10:07 | Illinois | Chris Galaz snags the defensive board | 42-32 |
| 09:46 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 42-32 |
| 09:45 | Illinois | Howard Perry tips it but misses | 42-32 |
| 09:43 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe hits the follow up shot | 44-32 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| 09:39 | Northwestern | Joseph Crowe steps in front of the Sean Burton pass as he passes out of a doubleteam | 44-32 |
| 09:19 | Illinois | Howard Perry knocks in the jumpshot from the free throw line on a nice dish by John Cooper | 46-32 |
| 08:58 | Northwestern | James Blair can't connect on a runner from the baseline | 46-32 |
| 08:56 | Northwestern | Sean Burton misses the tip | 46-32 |
| 08:54 | Northwestern | James Blair tips it but misses | 46-32 |
| 08:53 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe pulls down the rebound | 46-32 |
| 08:28 | Illinois | Orville Lange is called for the reach on Howard Perry - foul #2 on Orville Lange, team foul #3 | 46-32 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG), Monte Fisher (SG), Douglas Claiborne (SF), Noel McClatchey (PF), Dennis Oliver (C) Arnold Mueller, John Cooper, Howard Perry, Chris Galaz, Joseph Crowe | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (PG), Eugene Pfeiffer (SG), Timothy Williams (PF), Thomas Combs (C) Charles Foster, Orville Lange, James Blair, Terry Fleming | |
| 08:13 | Illinois | Noel McClatchey's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 46-32 |
| 07:56 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer drills a fadeaway from the right wing | 46-34 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Eddy Lovett (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Monte Fisher (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Douglas Claiborne (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Noel McClatchey (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Dennis Oliver (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Jeffery Brannen (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Eugene Pfeiffer (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SF - Sean Burton (tiring) 7 pts. 3 pf. PF - Timothy Williams (fresh) 1 pts. C - Thomas Combs (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 07:44 | Illinois | Noel McClatchey's floater is knocked away by Thomas Combs | 46-34 |
| 07:43 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams snags the defensive board | 46-34 |
| 07:39 | Northwestern | Sean Burton clanks a pull-up jumper from the left wing but he's hacked by Noel McClatchey - foul #3 on Noel McClatchey, team foul #3 | 46-34 |
| 07:39 | Northwestern | Sean Burton makes the 1st free throw | 46-35 |
| 07:39 | Northwestern | Sean Burton makes the 2nd free throw | 46-36 |
| 07:20 | Illinois | Douglas Claiborne is fouled on the floor by Sean Burton - foul #4 on Sean Burton, team foul #4 | 46-36 |
| 07:04 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver knocks in the fadeaway in the paint on a great pass from Eddy Lovett and he's fouled by Eugene Pfeiffer - foul #3 on Eugene Pfeiffer, team foul #5 | 48-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Blair (SF), Chas Reimann (PF) Jeffery Brannen, Timothy Williams | |
| 07:04 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver makes the free throw | 49-36 |
| 06:49 | Northwestern | Sean Burton shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 49-36 |
| 06:47 | Illinois | Eddy Lovett snags the defensive board | 49-36 |
| 06:26 | Illinois | Douglas Claiborne is hacked by Eugene Pfeiffer - foul #4 on Eugene Pfeiffer, team foul #6 | 49-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (PG), Timothy Williams (PF), Terry Fleming (C) James Blair, Chas Reimann, Thomas Combs | |
| 06:08 | Illinois | Noel McClatchey scores on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 52-36 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 05:59 | Northwestern | Dennis Oliver picks off the pass by Terry Fleming | 52-36 |
| 05:57 | Illinois | Eugene Pfeiffer picks off the pass by Eddy Lovett in the backcourt | 52-36 |
| 05:52 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams hits a fadeaway jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Jeffery Brannen | 52-38 |
| 05:34 | Illinois | Douglas Claiborne hits the front of the rim on the floater from the left side | 52-38 |
| 05:33 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver grabs the offensive board | 52-38 |
| 05:24 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver drills a floater from the right block on a nice dish by Eddy Lovett | 54-38 |
| 05:15 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming connects on the jump hook from the right block | 54-40 |
| 05:15 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 54-40 |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Mueller (PG), John Cooper (SG), Howard Perry (SF), Chris Galaz (PF), Joseph Crowe (C) Eddy Lovett, Monte Fisher, Douglas Claiborne, Noel McClatchey, Dennis Oliver | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Orville Lange (SF), James Blair (PF), Thomas Combs (C) Jeffery Brannen, Timothy Williams, Terry Fleming | |
| 04:50 | Illinois | James Blair takes the ball from Joseph Crowe | 54-40 |
| 04:30 | Northwestern | Thomas Combs connects on the jumper from the left block | 54-42 |
| 04:07 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe misses long on a floater in the lane | 54-42 |
| 04:06 | Northwestern | Thomas Combs grabs the board | 54-42 |
| 03:47 | Northwestern | Sean Burton shoots over the doubleteam and knocks in the 3 pointer from the right corner | 54-45 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Mueller (fresh) 15 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - John Cooper (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. SF - Howard Perry (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. 3 stl. PF - Chris Galaz (fresh) 3 reb. C - Joseph Crowe (fresh) 2 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Sean Burton (tiring) 12 pts. 4 pf. SG - Eugene Pfeiffer (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. 3 stl. 4 pf. SF - Orville Lange (fresh) PF - James Blair (fresh) 11 pts. 8 reb. C - Thomas Combs (fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 03:35 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller misses short on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 54-45 |
| 03:34 | Northwestern | James Blair snags the defensive board | 54-45 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| 03:05 | Northwestern | James Blair buries a pull-up jumper from the left side | 54-47 |
| 02:46 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller misses the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 54-47 |
| 02:44 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer pulls down the rebound | 54-47 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 02:18 | Northwestern | Sean Burton works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the turnaround from close range but he's hacked by Howard Perry - foul #1 on Howard Perry, team foul #4 | 54-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG), Monte Fisher (SG), Douglas Claiborne (SF), Noel McClatchey (PF), Dennis Oliver (C) Arnold Mueller, John Cooper, Howard Perry, Chris Galaz, Joseph Crowe | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (PG), Chuck Moore (SG), Timothy Williams (PF), Terry Fleming (C) Eugene Pfeiffer, Orville Lange, James Blair, Thomas Combs | |
| 02:18 | Northwestern | Sean Burton makes the 1st free throw | 54-48 |
| 02:18 | Northwestern | Sean Burton makes the 2nd free throw | 54-49 |
| 02:14 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 54-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Mueller (PG), John Cooper (SG), Howard Perry (SF), Chris Galaz (PF), Joseph Crowe (C) Eddy Lovett, Monte Fisher, Douglas Claiborne, Noel McClatchey, Dennis Oliver | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Blair (SF) Sean Burton | |
| 02:00 | Illinois | Howard Perry connects on the jump hook from close range on a great pass from John Cooper | 56-49 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 01:49 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming clanks a shot from the right wing | 56-49 |
| 01:47 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams tips it back up and in | 56-51 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 01:28 | Illinois | Howard Perry clanks a floater from the free throw line | 56-51 |
| 01:27 | Northwestern | Chuck Moore gets the rebound | 56-51 |
| 01:22 | Northwestern | Chuck Moore knocks in the jumpshot from the free throw line on a nice dish by Timothy Williams | 56-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Chris Galaz misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the left side but the foul's on Timothy Williams - foul #2 on Timothy Williams, team foul #7 | 56-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Sean Burton (PG), Eugene Pfeiffer (SG), Orville Lange (SF) Jeffery Brannen, Chuck Moore, Timothy Williams | |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Chris Galaz makes the 1st free throw | 57-53 |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Chris Galaz makes the 2nd free throw | 58-53 |
| 00:40 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming clanks a runner from the right block | 58-53 |
| 00:38 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe snags the defensive board | 58-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe is fouled in the backcourt by Sean Burton - foul #5 on Sean Burton, team foul #8 | 58-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Monte Fisher (SG) Chris Galaz | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (PG) Sean Burton | |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe misses the 1st free throw | 58-53 |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Howard Perry grabs the offensive board | 58-53 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Howard Perry is fouled on the floor by Terry Fleming - foul #2 on Terry Fleming, team foul #9 | 58-53 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Howard Perry makes the 1st free throw | 59-53 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Howard Perry misses the 2nd free throw | 59-53 |
| 00:33 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Orville Lange | 59-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:27 | Northwestern | Howard Perry takes the ball from Jeffery Brannen | 59-53 |
| 00:24 | Illinois | John Cooper is hacked by Jeffery Brannen in the backcourt - foul #2 on Jeffery Brannen, team foul #10 | 59-53 |
| 00:24 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 1st free throw | 60-53 |
| 00:24 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 2nd free throw | 61-53 |
| 00:19 | Northwestern | Orville Lange loses the dribble to Joseph Crowe | 61-53 |
| 00:18 | Illinois | Jeffery Brannen is called for the reach on Howard Perry in the backcourt - foul #3 on Jeffery Brannen, team foul #11 | 61-53 |
| 00:18 | Illinois | Howard Perry makes the 1st free throw | 62-53 |
| 00:18 | Illinois | Howard Perry makes the 2nd free throw | 63-53 |
| 00:12 | Northwestern | James Blair drills a floater from the left side | 63-55 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | John Cooper is fouled in the backcourt by Eugene Pfeiffer - foul #5 on Eugene Pfeiffer, team foul #12 | 63-55 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Chuck Moore (SG) Eugene Pfeiffer | |
| 00:09 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 1st free throw | 64-55 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 2nd free throw | 65-55 |
| 00:02 | Northwestern | James Blair misses short on a jumpshot from the left wing | 65-55 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | John Cooper snags the defensive board | 65-55 |