| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Richard Getz (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - Warren Jordan (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Smith (fresh) PF - Larry Yeary (fresh) C - James Welcher (fresh) 5 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Anthony Stevens (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Randy McGibbon (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. PF - David Saylors (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Paul Wason (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle inbounds the ball | 27-28 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:41 | Illinois | Larry Yeary blocks the short jumper by David Saylors | 27-28 |
| 19:40 | Northwestern | Robert Smith grabs the defensive rebound | 27-28 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | Richard Getz misses long on a jumper from the right wing but he's fouled by David Saylors - foul #1 on David Saylors, team foul #1 | 27-28 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | Richard Getz makes the 1st free throw | 28-28 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | Richard Getz misses the 2nd free throw | 28-28 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | Larry Yeary pulls down the offensive rebound | 28-28 |
| 19:13 | Northwestern | Richard Getz can't connect on a 3pt shot from straight away | 28-28 |
| 19:11 | Northwestern | Robert Smith pulls down the offensive rebound | 28-28 |
| 18:50 | Northwestern | Richard Getz can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 28-28 |
| 18:49 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle snags the defensive board | 28-28 |
| 18:30 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens connects on the 3 pointer from the left corner on a nice dish by Randy McGibbon | 28-31 |
| 18:14 | Northwestern | Warren Jordan misses the floater from the right side | 28-31 |
| 18:12 | Illinois | Paul Wason grabs the defensive rebound | 28-31 |
| 18:07 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle is fouled in the backcourt by Robert Smith - foul #1 on Robert Smith, team foul #1 | 28-31 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Wayne Dobson (PF), Michael Norton (C) Larry Yeary, James Welcher | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Hicks (PG), Daniel Olsen (SG), John Giancola (SF), Charles Howland (PF), Steven Bennett (C) Anthony Stevens, Randy McGibbon, Eugene Boyle, David Saylors, Paul Wason | |
| 17:43 | Illinois | Steven Bennett misses long on a shot from the right block | 28-31 |
| 17:41 | Illinois | Charles Howland tips it back up and in | 28-33 |
| 17:26 | Northwestern | Steven Bennett blocks the short jumper by Wayne Dobson | 28-33 |
| 17:25 | Northwestern | Robert Smith grabs the offensive rebound | 28-33 |
| 17:12 | Northwestern | Richard Getz knocks in the jumper from the left side on a great pass from Robert Smith | 30-33 |
| 16:50 | Illinois | John Giancola drills a 3pt shot from the right wing on a great pass from Bruce Hicks | 30-36 |
| 16:46 | Northwestern | Michael Norton is fouled on the floor by Steven Bennett - foul #2 on Steven Bennett, team foul #2 | 30-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Brian Ward (PG), James Welcher (C) Richard Getz, Michael Norton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Stevens (PG), Randy McGibbon (SG), Eugene Boyle (SF), David Saylors (PF), Paul Wason (C) Bruce Hicks, Daniel Olsen, John Giancola, Charles Howland, Steven Bennett | |
| 16:34 | Northwestern | Warren Jordan comes up short on the shot from the left wing but he's fouled by Randy McGibbon - foul #1 on Randy McGibbon, team foul #3 | 30-36 |
| 16:34 | Northwestern | Warren Jordan makes the 1st free throw | 31-36 |
| 16:34 | Northwestern | Warren Jordan makes the 2nd free throw | 32-36 |
| 16:09 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon throws a bad pass out of bounds | 32-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Larry Yeary (PF) Wayne Dobson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 15:50 | Northwestern | Eugene Boyle steals it from James Welcher | 32-36 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Brian Ward (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Warren Jordan (tiring) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Smith (tiring) 3 reb. PF - Larry Yeary (fresh) C - James Welcher (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Anthony Stevens (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SG - Randy McGibbon (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - David Saylors (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Paul Wason (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:27 | Illinois | James Welcher is called for the reach on Anthony Stevens - foul #1 on James Welcher, team foul #2 | 32-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Loughlin (SG), John Ashbaugh (SF), Michael Norton (C) Warren Jordan, Robert Smith, James Welcher | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Hicks (PG), Daniel Olsen (SG), Charles Howland (PF), Steven Bennett (C) Anthony Stevens, Randy McGibbon, David Saylors, Paul Wason | |
| 15:02 | Illinois | Steven Bennett drills a driving attempt in the lane on a great pass from Charles Howland | 32-38 |
| 14:47 | Northwestern | Daniel Olsen steals it from John Ashbaugh | 32-38 |
| 14:32 | Illinois | Steven Bennett throws a bad pass out of bounds | 32-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Getz (PG), Wayne Dobson (PF), James Welcher (C) Brian Ward, Larry Yeary, Michael Norton | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Giancola (SF) Eugene Boyle | |
| 14:12 | Northwestern | John Ashbaugh's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 32-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Stevens (PG), Randy McGibbon (SG), Paul Wason (C) Bruce Hicks, John Giancola, Steven Bennett | |
| 13:57 | Illinois | Paul Wason makes the wide open runner near the basket on a nice dish by Anthony Stevens | 32-40 |
| 13:31 | Northwestern | James Welcher throws a bad pass out of bounds | 32-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Smith (SF) John Ashbaugh | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Giancola (SF), David Saylors (PF) Daniel Olsen, Charles Howland | |
| 13:07 | Illinois | David Saylors banks in the layup on a nice dish by Randy McGibbon and the foul's on Thomas Loughlin - foul #4 on Thomas Loughlin, team foul #3 | 32-42 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Warren Jordan (SG), Michael Norton (C) Thomas Loughlin, James Welcher | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Hicks (SG) Randy McGibbon | |
| 13:07 | Illinois | David Saylors makes the free throw | 32-43 |
| 12:40 | Northwestern | Richard Getz clanks a 3 from the left corner | 32-43 |
| 12:39 | Illinois | Paul Wason grabs the board | 32-43 |
| 12:10 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks hits a shot from the right side on a nice dish by John Giancola | 32-45 |
| 11:46 | Northwestern | Richard Getz is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on Richard Getz, team foul #4 | 32-45 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Brian Ward (PG), John Ashbaugh (SF), Larry Yeary (PF), James Welcher (C) Richard Getz, Robert Smith, Wayne Dobson, Michael Norton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy McGibbon (SG), Eugene Boyle (SF), Charles Howland (PF), Daniel Olsen (C) Anthony Stevens, John Giancola, David Saylors, Paul Wason | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Brian Ward (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Warren Jordan (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - John Ashbaugh (fresh) 3 pf. PF - Larry Yeary (fresh) C - James Welcher (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bruce Hicks (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Randy McGibbon (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Charles Howland (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Daniel Olsen (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 11:44 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon is hacked by Brian Ward in the backcourt - foul #1 on Brian Ward, team foul #5 | 32-45 |
| 11:34 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon is hacked by James Welcher - foul #2 on James Welcher, team foul #6 | 32-45 |
| 11:15 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle is open but comes up short on the jumpshot from the right wing | 32-45 |
| 11:14 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to James Welcher | 32-45 |
| 11:07 | Northwestern | Eugene Boyle is called for the reach on John Ashbaugh - foul #1 on Eugene Boyle, team foul #4 | 32-45 |
| 10:56 | Northwestern | Warren Jordan connects on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 34-45 |
| 10:36 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle comes up short on the jumper from the right block | 34-45 |
| 10:34 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to James Welcher | 34-45 |
| 10:28 | Northwestern | Larry Yeary drills a jumpshot from the left side on a great pass from Warren Jordan | 36-45 |
| 09:59 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon can't connect on a turnaround from close range but he's hacked by Warren Jordan - foul #2 on Warren Jordan, team foul #7 | 36-45 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Getz (PG), Robert Smith (SF), Wayne Dobson (PF), Michael Norton (C) Brian Ward, John Ashbaugh, Larry Yeary, James Welcher | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Saylors (PF), Steven Bennett (C) Bruce Hicks, Charles Howland | |
| 09:59 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon makes the 1st free throw | 36-46 |
| 09:59 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon makes the 2nd free throw | 36-47 |
| 09:36 | Northwestern | Michael Norton loses the ball out of bounds | 36-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Philip Custer (PG), John Giancola (SF), Paul Wason (C) Daniel Olsen, Eugene Boyle, Steven Bennett | |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Michael Norton is called for the reach on Paul Wason - foul #2 on Michael Norton, team foul #8 | 36-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Stevens (PG) Philip Custer | |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Paul Wason misses the 1st free throw | 36-47 |
| 09:15 | Northwestern | Michael Norton snags the defensive board | 36-47 |
| 09:01 | Northwestern | Richard Getz misses the 3pt shot from the left wing | 36-47 |
| 08:59 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon gets the rebound | 36-47 |
| 08:30 | Illinois | John Giancola misses the 3 from the left corner | 36-47 |
| 08:29 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Michael Norton | 36-47 |
| 08:22 | Northwestern | Warren Jordan misses badly on a 3 from the right wing | 36-47 |
| 08:21 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Paul Wason | 36-47 |
| 07:52 | Illinois | John Giancola buries a 3 from the right wing | 36-50 |
| 07:37 | Northwestern | Michael Norton is fouled on the floor by Paul Wason - foul #3 on Paul Wason, team foul #5 | 36-50 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Brian Ward (PG), Thomas Loughlin (SG), John Ashbaugh (SF), Larry Yeary (PF), James Welcher (C) Richard Getz, Warren Jordan, Robert Smith, Wayne Dobson, Michael Norton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Hicks (PG), Daniel Olsen (SG), Eugene Boyle (SF), Charles Howland (PF), Steven Bennett (C) Anthony Stevens, Randy McGibbon, John Giancola, David Saylors, Paul Wason | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Brian Ward (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Thomas Loughlin (fresh) 3 pts. 4 pf. SF - John Ashbaugh (fresh) 3 pf. PF - Larry Yeary (fresh) 2 pts. C - James Welcher (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 8 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bruce Hicks (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Daniel Olsen (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Charles Howland (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Steven Bennett (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:26 | Northwestern | John Ashbaugh hits the front of the rim on the turnaround from the baseline | 36-50 |
| 07:25 | Illinois | Steven Bennett snags the defensive board | 36-50 |
| 07:09 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle misses badly on a 3 from the left corner | 36-50 |
| 07:07 | Northwestern | James Welcher gets the rebound | 36-50 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 07:02 | Northwestern | Bruce Hicks takes the ball from Brian Ward | 36-50 |
| 06:52 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks is called for 10 seconds | 36-50 |
| 06:42 | Northwestern | Brian Ward misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 36-50 |
| 06:41 | Northwestern | James Welcher gets the offensive rebound | 36-50 |
| 06:31 | Northwestern | Larry Yeary misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 36-50 |
| 06:29 | Illinois | Steven Bennett grabs the board | 36-50 |
| 06:10 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line but the foul's on Brian Ward - foul #2 on Brian Ward, team foul #9 | 36-50 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Getz (PG) Brian Ward | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Stevens (PG) Steven Bennett | |
| 06:10 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks makes the 1st free throw | 36-51 |
| 06:10 | Illinois | Bruce Hicks makes the 2nd free throw | 36-52 |
| 06:03 | Northwestern | John Ashbaugh's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 36-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Giancola (PF) Bruce Hicks | |
| 05:59 | Illinois | Charles Howland travels in the backcourt | 36-52 |
| 05:44 | Northwestern | Thomas Loughlin drills a 3 pointer from the right corner | 39-52 |
| 05:27 | Illinois | John Giancola is alone and drills a floater from the left wing and the foul's on Larry Yeary - foul #1 on Larry Yeary, team foul #10 | 39-54 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Wayne Dobson (PF) Larry Yeary | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Hicks (SG), David Saylors (PF), Paul Wason (C) Daniel Olsen, Eugene Boyle, Charles Howland | |
| 05:27 | Illinois | John Giancola makes the free throw | 39-55 |
| 05:09 | Northwestern | John Ashbaugh's floater is tipped away by John Giancola | 39-55 |
| 05:08 | Illinois | Paul Wason grabs the defensive rebound | 39-55 |
| 04:40 | Illinois | Wayne Dobson blocks the short jumper by John Giancola | 39-55 |
| 04:38 | Northwestern | Wayne Dobson pulls down the rebound | 39-55 |
| 04:33 | Northwestern | The jumper by Richard Getz is denied by Paul Wason | 39-55 |
| 04:32 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Paul Wason | 39-55 |
| 04:12 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens clanks a runner near the basket | 39-55 |
| 04:11 | Northwestern | James Welcher grabs the board | 39-55 |
| 04:05 | Northwestern | Thomas Loughlin is fouled on the floor by Paul Wason - foul #4 on Paul Wason, team foul #6 | 39-55 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Brian Ward (PG), Warren Jordan (SG), Michael Norton (C) Richard Getz, Thomas Loughlin, James Welcher | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Olsen (SG), Eugene Boyle (SF), Charles Howland (PF), Steven Bennett (C) Anthony Stevens, John Giancola, David Saylors, Paul Wason | |
| 03:52 | Northwestern | Brian Ward is fouled on the floor by Steven Bennett - foul #3 on Steven Bennett, team foul #7 | 39-55 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Philip Custer (PG) Bruce Hicks | |
| 03:52 | Northwestern | Brian Ward makes the 1st free throw | 40-55 |
| 03:52 | Northwestern | Brian Ward makes the 2nd free throw | 41-55 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 03:31 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen misses long on an open fadeaway from the left block but he's hacked by Michael Norton - foul #3 on Michael Norton, team foul #11 | 41-55 |
| 03:31 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen makes the 1st free throw | 41-56 |
| 03:31 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen makes the 2nd free throw | 41-57 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Brian Ward (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Warren Jordan (tiring) 8 pts. 2 ast. SF - John Ashbaugh (tiring) 3 pf. PF - Wayne Dobson (fairly fresh) 4 reb. C - Michael Norton (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Philip Custer (fresh) SG - Daniel Olsen (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. SF - Eugene Boyle (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Charles Howland (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Steven Bennett (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 03:13 | Northwestern | Michael Norton buries a runner from the baseline | 43-57 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen misses the driving attempt from close range but the foul's on Warren Jordan - foul #3 on Warren Jordan, team foul #12 | 43-57 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Hicks (PG), Randy McGibbon (SG), John Giancola (PF), Paul Wason (C) Philip Custer, Eugene Boyle, Charles Howland, Steven Bennett | |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen makes the 1st free throw | 43-58 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Daniel Olsen misses the 2nd free throw | 43-58 |
| 02:48 | Northwestern | Wayne Dobson grabs the board | 43-58 |
| 02:33 | Northwestern | Brian Ward hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 43-58 |
| 02:32 | Illinois | Paul Wason snags the defensive board | 43-58 |
| 02:30 | Illinois | Paul Wason is fouled in the backcourt by John Ashbaugh - foul #4 on John Ashbaugh, team foul #13 | 43-58 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Saylors (PF) Daniel Olsen | |
| 02:30 | Illinois | Paul Wason misses the 1st free throw | 43-58 |
| 02:30 | Illinois | Paul Wason misses the 2nd free throw | 43-58 |
| 02:30 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Wayne Dobson | 43-58 |
| 02:18 | Northwestern | Brian Ward makes the 3pt shot from the left wing set up by Warren Jordan | 46-58 |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Warren Jordan takes the ball from Bruce Hicks in the backcourt | 46-58 |
| 02:10 | Northwestern | Warren Jordan hits the finger roll | 48-58 |
| 01:41 | Illinois | David Saylors hits a fadeaway from the left block set up by Randy McGibbon | 48-60 |
| 01:27 | Northwestern | Wayne Dobson misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 48-60 |
| 01:25 | Northwestern | Wayne Dobson grabs the offensive rebound | 48-60 |
| 01:07 | Northwestern | Warren Jordan travels with the ball | 48-60 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Stevens (PG), Eugene Boyle (SF) Bruce Hicks, John Giancola | |
| 00:52 | Illinois | David Saylors hits the front of the rim on the turnaround from close range | 48-60 |
| 00:51 | Northwestern | Wayne Dobson pulls down the rebound | 48-60 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+5) | |
| 00:46 | Northwestern | John Ashbaugh hits the front of the rim on the floater from the left side | 48-60 |
| 00:44 | Illinois | Eugene Boyle pulls down the rebound | 48-60 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+5) | |
| 00:17 | Illinois | David Saylors's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 48-60 |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | Wayne Dobson lays it in on a great pass from Warren Jordan | 50-60 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Anthony Stevens runs out the clock | 50-60 |