| Lineup | Long Beach State | PG - Travis Finch (fresh) SG - Jason McCollum (fresh) SF - James Annis (fresh) PF - Frank Daugherty (fresh) C - John Paulson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Anthony Stevens (fresh) SG - Randy McGibbon (fresh) SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) PF - David Saylors (fresh) C - Paul Wason (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Paul Wason wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Long Beach State | Long Beach State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:39 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens can't connect on a 3pt shot from straight away | 0-0 |
| 19:37 | Long Beach State | John Paulson gets the rebound | 0-0 |
| 19:15 | Long Beach State | James Annis is fouled on the floor by Eugene Boyle - foul #1 on Eugene Boyle, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:01 | Long Beach State | John Paulson comes up short on the driving attempt in the paint | 0-0 |
| 18:59 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon gets the rebound | 0-0 |
| 18:34 | Illinois | David Saylors is called for the illegal screen - foul #1 on David Saylors, team foul #2 | 0-0 |
| 18:12 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum hits a 3pt shot from the right corner on a great pass from Travis Finch | 3-0 |
| 17:51 | Illinois | James Annis is called for the reach on Eugene Boyle - foul #1 on James Annis, team foul #1 | 3-0 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Maurice Sabol (PG), Rich Roberts (SG), Joe Wells (SF), Christopher Bruening (PF), Erik Fossett (C) Travis Finch, Jason McCollum, James Annis, Frank Daugherty, John Paulson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 17:42 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon hits a 3 from the right corner set up by Anthony Stevens | 3-3 |
| 17:13 | Long Beach State | Christopher Bruening drills a runner from the right block | 5-3 |
| 16:44 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle misses the runner in the lane | 5-3 |
| 16:43 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon tips it in | 5-5 |
| 16:20 | Long Beach State | Christopher Bruening misses long on a shot from close range but he's hacked by David Saylors - foul #2 on David Saylors, team foul #3 | 5-5 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Travis Finch (PG), Jason McCollum (SG), John Paulson (C) Maurice Sabol, Rich Roberts, Erik Fossett | |
| Subs | Illinois | Charles Howland (PF) David Saylors | |
| 16:20 | Long Beach State | Christopher Bruening makes the 1st free throw | 6-5 |
| 16:20 | Long Beach State | Christopher Bruening makes the 2nd free throw | 7-5 |
| 15:51 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon misses short on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 7-5 |
| 15:50 | Illinois | Paul Wason grabs the offensive board | 7-5 |
| Lineup | Long Beach State | PG - Travis Finch (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Jason McCollum (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Joe Wells (fresh) PF - Christopher Bruening (fresh) 4 pts. C - John Paulson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Anthony Stevens (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Randy McGibbon (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) PF - Charles Howland (fresh) C - Paul Wason (fresh) | |
| 15:32 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle buries a runner in the lane on a nice dish by Randy McGibbon | 7-7 |
| 15:05 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum misses badly on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 7-7 |
| 15:03 | Illinois | Charles Howland grabs the board | 7-7 |
| 14:47 | Illinois | Jason McCollum steps in front of the Paul Wason pass | 7-7 |
| 14:29 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 7-7 |
| 14:28 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch tips it home | 9-7 |
| 14:05 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle is fouled on the floor by Christopher Bruening - foul #1 on Christopher Bruening, team foul #2 | 9-7 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Rich Roberts (PG), James Annis (SF), Frank Daugherty (PF), Erik Fossett (C) Travis Finch, Joe Wells, Christopher Bruening, John Paulson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Hicks (PG), Daniel Olsen (SG), John Giancola (SF), Steven Bennett (C) Anthony Stevens, Randy McGibbon, Eugene Boyle, Paul Wason | |
| 13:49 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen misses long on a 3 from the left wing | 9-7 |
| 13:47 | Long Beach State | James Annis pulls down the rebound | 9-7 |
| 13:43 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum misses badly on a 3 from straight away | 9-7 |
| 13:42 | Long Beach State | The offensive rebound goes to Erik Fossett | 9-7 |
| 13:20 | Long Beach State | Daniel Olsen takes the ball from Jason McCollum | 9-7 |
| 13:15 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks lays it up and in set up by Daniel Olsen | 9-9 |
| 12:52 | Long Beach State | Frank Daugherty drills a fadeaway in the lane and he's hacked by Steven Bennett - foul #1 on Steven Bennett, team foul #4 | 11-9 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Travis Finch (PG), Christopher Bruening (PF) Jason McCollum, Erik Fossett | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 12:52 | Long Beach State | Frank Daugherty makes the free throw | 12-9 |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Charles Howland misses the jumper from just outside the lane but the foul's on Rich Roberts - foul #1 on Rich Roberts, team foul #3 | 12-9 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum (SG), William Barrett (PF) Rich Roberts, Christopher Bruening | |
| Subs | Illinois | Eugene Boyle (SF) John Giancola | |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Charles Howland makes the 1st free throw | 12-10 |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Charles Howland makes the 2nd free throw | 12-11 |
| 12:01 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum misses the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 12-11 |
| 11:59 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks pulls down the rebound | 12-11 |
| 11:41 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle comes up short on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 12-11 |
| 11:39 | Long Beach State | Frank Daugherty grabs the board | 12-11 |
| Lineup | Long Beach State | PG - Travis Finch (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jason McCollum (fresh) 3 pts. SF - James Annis (fresh) PF - William Barrett (fresh) C - Frank Daugherty (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bruce Hicks (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Daniel Olsen (fresh) SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Charles Howland (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Steven Bennett (fresh) | |
| 11:21 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum scores on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 15-11 |
| 11:00 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen is fouled on the floor by Jason McCollum - foul #1 on Jason McCollum, team foul #4 | 15-11 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Maurice Sabol (PG), Joe Wells (SF), Christopher Bruening (PF), John Paulson (C) Jason McCollum, James Annis, William Barrett, Frank Daugherty | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Stevens (PG), Randy McGibbon (SG), Paul Wason (C) Bruce Hicks, Charles Howland, Steven Bennett | |
| 10:40 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 15-11 |
| 10:38 | Long Beach State | Christopher Bruening pulls down the rebound | 15-11 |
| 10:17 | Long Beach State | Paul Wason blocks the short jumper by John Paulson | 15-11 |
| 10:15 | Illinois | Paul Wason grabs the defensive rebound | 15-11 |
| 09:59 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle drills a fadeaway from the free throw line | 15-13 |
| 09:34 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch misses long on a jumpshot from the right side | 15-13 |
| 09:32 | Long Beach State | John Paulson snags the offensive board | 15-13 |
| 09:10 | Long Beach State | Anthony Stevens takes the ball from Christopher Bruening | 15-13 |
| 09:04 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 15-13 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Rich Roberts (PG), Jason McCollum (SG), James Annis (SF), Frank Daugherty (PF), Erik Fossett (C) Maurice Sabol, Travis Finch, Joe Wells, Christopher Bruening, John Paulson | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Giancola (SF), Charles Howland (PF) Eugene Boyle, Daniel Olsen | |
| 08:43 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum misses badly on a 3pt shot from straight away | 15-13 |
| 08:41 | Illinois | Charles Howland gets the rebound | 15-13 |
| 08:20 | Illinois | Paul Wason double dribbles | 15-13 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Travis Finch (PG), John Paulson (C) Rich Roberts, Erik Fossett | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 08:03 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch misses badly on a fadeaway from the right block | 15-13 |
| 08:01 | Long Beach State | The offensive rebound goes to Jason McCollum | 15-13 |
| 07:46 | Long Beach State | Frank Daugherty is fouled on the floor by Charles Howland - foul #1 on Charles Howland, team foul #5 | 15-13 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Rich Roberts (PG), Christopher Bruening (PF) Travis Finch, John Paulson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 07:28 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum throws a bad pass out of bounds | 15-13 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Travis Finch (PG), Joe Wells (SF), John Paulson (C) Rich Roberts, James Annis, Frank Daugherty | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Olsen (SG) Randy McGibbon | |
| Lineup | Long Beach State | PG - Travis Finch (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jason McCollum (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Joe Wells (fresh) PF - Christopher Bruening (fresh) 4 pts. C - John Paulson (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Anthony Stevens (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Daniel Olsen (fresh) SF - John Giancola (fresh) PF - Charles Howland (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Paul Wason (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 06:59 | Illinois | Jason McCollum steals the ball from Anthony Stevens | 15-13 |
| 06:55 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch can't finish the layup | 15-13 |
| 06:54 | Illinois | John Giancola grabs the board | 15-13 |
| 06:28 | Illinois | John Giancola loses the dribble to Travis Finch | 15-13 |
| 06:25 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch banks in the layup | 17-13 |
| 06:11 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens drills a 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by John Giancola | 17-16 |
| 05:49 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch can't connect on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 17-16 |
| 05:47 | Illinois | Paul Wason pulls down the rebound | 17-16 |
| 05:27 | Illinois | Paul Wason misses short on a shot from the right side but he's hacked by Joe Wells - foul #1 on Joe Wells, team foul #5 | 17-16 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Rich Roberts (PG), James Annis (SF), Frank Daugherty (PF), Erik Fossett (C) Travis Finch, Joe Wells, Christopher Bruening, John Paulson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Hicks (PG), Randy McGibbon (SG), Eugene Boyle (SF), David Saylors (PF) Anthony Stevens, Daniel Olsen, John Giancola, Charles Howland | |
| 05:27 | Illinois | Paul Wason misses the 1st free throw | 17-16 |
| 05:27 | Illinois | Paul Wason makes the 2nd free throw | 17-17 |
| 05:13 | Long Beach State | Frank Daugherty misses the easy layup but he's fouled by David Saylors - foul #3 on David Saylors, team foul #6 | 17-17 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Travis Finch (PG) Jason McCollum | |
| Subs | Illinois | Charles Howland (PF), Steven Bennett (C) David Saylors, Paul Wason | |
| 05:13 | Long Beach State | Frank Daugherty makes the 1st free throw | 18-17 |
| 05:13 | Long Beach State | Frank Daugherty misses the 2nd free throw | 18-17 |
| 05:13 | Illinois | Charles Howland grabs the defensive rebound | 18-17 |
| 04:44 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks knocks in the jumpshot from the right wing on a nice dish by Randy McGibbon | 18-19 |
| 04:15 | Long Beach State | Bruce Hicks steps in front of the Travis Finch pass | 18-19 |
| 04:10 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks clanks a jumper from the right wing | 18-19 |
| 04:09 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle tips it but misses | 18-19 |
| 04:08 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch grabs the board | 18-19 |
| 03:43 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch clanks a shot from the right block | 18-19 |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Charles Howland pulls down the rebound | 18-19 |
| 03:36 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks is called for traveling | 18-19 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Maurice Sabol (PG), Jason McCollum (SG), John Paulson (C) Travis Finch, Rich Roberts, Erik Fossett | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Olsen (PF) Charles Howland | |
| 03:10 | Long Beach State | Eugene Boyle is called for the reach on James Annis - foul #2 on Eugene Boyle, team foul #7 | 18-19 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Travis Finch (PG) Maurice Sabol | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Stevens (PG), Paul Wason (C) Bruce Hicks, Steven Bennett | |
| 03:10 | Long Beach State | James Annis misses the 1st free throw | 18-19 |
| 03:10 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Paul Wason | 18-19 |
| Lineup | Long Beach State | PG - Travis Finch (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jason McCollum (fresh) 6 pts. 2 stl. SF - James Annis (fresh) PF - Frank Daugherty (fresh) 4 pts. C - John Paulson (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Anthony Stevens (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randy McGibbon (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Daniel Olsen (fresh) C - Paul Wason (fresh) 1 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 02:46 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens misses badly on a jumpshot from the right side | 18-19 |
| 02:44 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon hits the follow up shot | 18-21 |
| 02:20 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum hits a jumpshot from the left side | 20-21 |
| 01:53 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle can't connect on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 20-21 |
| 01:52 | Long Beach State | The rebound goes to Frank Daugherty | 20-21 |
| 01:28 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch misses badly on a jumpshot from the right wing but he's hacked by Anthony Stevens - foul #1 on Anthony Stevens, team foul #8 | 20-21 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Joe Wells (SF), Christopher Bruening (PF), Erik Fossett (C) James Annis, Frank Daugherty, John Paulson | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Giancola (SF), Charles Howland (PF) Randy McGibbon, Eugene Boyle | |
| 01:28 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch misses the 1st free throw | 20-21 |
| 01:28 | Long Beach State | Travis Finch makes the 2nd free throw | 21-21 |
| 00:59 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen misses long on a floater from the right wing but the foul's on Jason McCollum - foul #2 on Jason McCollum, team foul #6 | 21-21 |
| Subs | Long Beach State | Rich Roberts (PG), John Paulson (C) Travis Finch, Erik Fossett | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Bennett (C) Paul Wason | |
| 00:59 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen misses the 1st free throw | 21-21 |
| 00:59 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen makes the 2nd free throw | 21-22 |
| 00:42 | Long Beach State | Jason McCollum makes the 3pt jumper from the left corner set up by Rich Roberts | 24-22 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Christopher Bruening takes the ball from Charles Howland | 24-22 |
| 00:14 | Long Beach State | Anthony Stevens steps in front of the Rich Roberts pass in the backcourt | 24-22 |
| 00:12 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens lays it in | 24-24 |
| 00:04 | Long Beach State | Christopher Bruening knocks in the jumpshot from the right side on a nice dish by Jason McCollum | 26-24 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen can't connect on a halfcourt shot | 26-24 |