| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Aaron Olsen (fresh) SG - John Bentley (fresh) SF - Glen Malott (fresh) PF - Kyle Whiddon (fresh) C - David Willems (fresh) | |
| Lineup | NC State | PG - Mark Gioia (fresh) SG - Carlos Joyner (fresh) SF - Rick Brown (fresh) PF - Allen Pullins (fresh) C - Allen Hardy (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | David Willems wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | NC State | NC State is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| 19:46 | Illinois | Mark Gioia takes the ball from John Bentley | 0-0 |
| 19:31 | NC State | Rick Brown blows the layup but he's fouled by Glen Malott - foul #1 on Glen Malott, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:31 | NC State | Rick Brown makes the 1st free throw | 0-1 |
| 19:31 | NC State | Rick Brown misses the 2nd free throw | 0-1 |
| 19:31 | Illinois | David Willems gets the rebound | 0-1 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon clanks a jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by Allen Pullins - foul #1 on Allen Pullins, team foul #1 | 0-1 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon makes the 1st free throw | 1-1 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon makes the 2nd free throw | 2-1 |
| 18:59 | NC State | Mark Gioia comes up short on the fadeaway from the left side | 2-1 |
| 18:57 | Illinois | David Willems pulls down the rebound | 2-1 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen makes the wide open floater from the right wing | 4-1 |
| 18:06 | NC State | Rick Brown is hacked by Glen Malott - foul #2 on Glen Malott, team foul #2 | 4-1 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Werner (SF) Glen Malott | |
| Subs | NC State | | |
| 17:57 | NC State | Carlos Joyner comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 4-1 |
| 17:55 | Illinois | David Willems grabs the board | 4-1 |
| 17:32 | Illinois | The short jumper by David Willems is denied by Allen Pullins | 4-1 |
| 17:30 | Illinois | David Willems tips it in | 6-1 |
| 17:18 | NC State | Mark Gioia misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 6-1 |
| 17:17 | NC State | Mark Gioia gets the offensive rebound | 6-1 |
| 17:08 | NC State | Rick Brown double dribbles | 6-1 |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Bergeron (C) David Willems | |
| Subs | NC State | Ken Lebo (PG), Samuel Wolcott (SG), Carlton Amado (SF), Lucas Hiers (PF), Josef Kasowski (C) Mark Gioia, Carlos Joyner, Rick Brown, Allen Pullins, Allen Hardy | |
| 16:52 | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon is hacked by Ken Lebo - foul #1 on Ken Lebo, team foul #2 | 6-1 |
| 16:28 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen misses short on a jumpshot from the right side | 6-1 |
| 16:26 | NC State | Samuel Wolcott snags the defensive board | 6-1 |
| 16:17 | NC State | Ken Lebo makes the 3 from the left wing set up by Josef Kasowski | 6-4 |
| 16:15 | Illinois | James Werner throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 6-4 |
| 16:10 | NC State | Lucas Hiers evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 6-4 |
| 16:09 | Illinois | John Bentley grabs the board | 6-4 |
| 16:07 | Illinois | Ken Lebo is called for the reach on Johnny Bergeron in the backcourt - foul #2 on Ken Lebo, team foul #3 | 6-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | NC State | Carlos Joyner (SG) Ken Lebo | |
| 15:41 | Illinois | Josef Kasowski denies the turnaround by Aaron Olsen | 6-4 |
| 15:39 | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon gets the offensive rebound | 6-4 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Aaron Olsen (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - John Bentley (fairly fresh) SF - James Werner (fairly fresh) PF - Kyle Whiddon (tiring) 2 pts. C - Johnny Bergeron (fresh) | |
| Lineup | NC State | PG - Samuel Wolcott (fresh) SG - Carlos Joyner (fresh) SF - Carlton Amado (fresh) PF - Lucas Hiers (fresh) C - Josef Kasowski (fresh) | |
| 15:28 | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon misses long on a jump hook in the paint | 6-4 |
| 15:27 | NC State | Lucas Hiers gets the rebound | 6-4 |
| 15:18 | NC State | Carlton Amado comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 6-4 |
| 15:16 | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon gets the rebound | 6-4 |
| 14:51 | Illinois | John Bentley misses short on a fadeaway from the right wing | 6-4 |
| 14:49 | NC State | Carlton Amado grabs the board | 6-4 |
| 14:33 | NC State | Josef Kasowski misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 6-4 |
| 14:32 | NC State | The offensive rebound goes to Samuel Wolcott | 6-4 |
| 14:20 | NC State | Lucas Hiers clanks a floater from just outside the lane | 6-4 |
| 14:18 | Illinois | James Werner grabs the board | 6-4 |
| 14:16 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen is whistled for traveling in the backcourt | 6-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Donnell Guarino (C) Johnny Bergeron | |
| Subs | NC State | Mark Gioia (PG), Rick Brown (SF), Allen Pullins (PF), Allen Hardy (C) Carlos Joyner, Carlton Amado, Lucas Hiers, Josef Kasowski | |
| 14:05 | NC State | Rick Brown loses the dribble to James Werner | 6-4 |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 6-4 |
| 13:41 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to James Werner | 6-4 |
| 13:22 | Illinois | John Bentley blows the wide open layup | 6-4 |
| 13:20 | NC State | Samuel Wolcott grabs the defensive rebound | 6-4 |
| 13:13 | NC State | Allen Hardy is hacked by James Werner - foul #1 on James Werner, team foul #3 | 6-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | David Willems (PF) Kyle Whiddon | |
| Subs | NC State | Lucas Hiers (PF) Allen Pullins | |
| 12:59 | NC State | Lucas Hiers misses short on a 3 from the left corner | 6-4 |
| 12:57 | Illinois | Donnell Guarino grabs the defensive rebound | 6-4 |
| 12:54 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen is fouled in the backcourt by Mark Gioia - foul #1 on Mark Gioia, team foul #4 | 6-4 |
| 12:38 | Illinois | David Willems misses the fadeaway from the left block but the foul's on Rick Brown - foul #1 on Rick Brown, team foul #5 | 6-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Bergeron (C) Donnell Guarino | |
| Subs | NC State | Carlos Joyner (SG), Carlton Amado (SF) Mark Gioia, Rick Brown | |
| 12:38 | Illinois | David Willems makes the 1st free throw | 7-4 |
| 12:38 | Illinois | David Willems makes the 2nd free throw | 8-4 |
| 12:26 | NC State | Allen Hardy hits a shot from the right side set up by Samuel Wolcott and he's hacked by Johnny Bergeron - foul #1 on Johnny Bergeron, team foul #4 | 8-6 |
| 12:26 | NC State | Allen Hardy misses the free throw | 8-6 |
| 12:26 | Illinois | The rebound goes to John Bentley | 8-6 |
| 12:09 | Illinois | The jumper by John Bentley is denied by Lucas Hiers | 8-6 |
| 12:07 | NC State | Lucas Hiers grabs the defensive rebound | 8-6 |
| 11:54 | NC State | Aaron Olsen is called for the reach on Carlos Joyner - foul #1 on Aaron Olsen, team foul #5 | 8-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | NC State | Josef Kasowski (C) Allen Hardy | |
| 11:38 | NC State | James Werner doubles Lucas Hiers and is called for the reach - foul #2 on James Werner, team foul #6 | 8-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon (SG), Donnell Guarino (C) James Werner, Johnny Bergeron | |
| Subs | NC State | Mark Gioia (PG) Samuel Wolcott | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Aaron Olsen (tiring) 2 pts. SG - Kyle Whiddon (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. SF - John Bentley (tiring) PF - David Willems (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. C - Donnell Guarino (fresh) | |
| Lineup | NC State | PG - Mark Gioia (fresh) SG - Carlos Joyner (fresh) SF - Carlton Amado (fairly fresh) PF - Lucas Hiers (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Josef Kasowski (fresh) | |
| 11:24 | NC State | Mark Gioia buries a jump hook in the paint set up by Carlos Joyner and he's fouled by John Bentley - foul #1 on John Bentley, team foul #7 | 8-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | NC State | Jason Kim (SG), Rick Brown (SF) Carlos Joyner, Carlton Amado | |
| 11:24 | NC State | Mark Gioia makes the free throw | 8-9 |
| 11:06 | Illinois | John Bentley clanks a fadeaway from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Rick Brown - foul #2 on Rick Brown, team foul #6 | 8-9 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | NC State | Carlton Amado (SF), Allen Pullins (PF) Rick Brown, Lucas Hiers | |
| 11:06 | Illinois | John Bentley misses the 1st free throw | 8-9 |
| 11:06 | Illinois | John Bentley makes the 2nd free throw | 9-9 |
| 10:47 | NC State | Carlton Amado can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 9-9 |
| 10:46 | Illinois | Donnell Guarino pulls down the rebound | 9-9 |
| 10:25 | Illinois | David Willems clanks a shot near the basket | 9-9 |
| 10:23 | NC State | Josef Kasowski grabs the defensive rebound | 9-9 |
| 10:13 | NC State | David Willems steals it from Mark Gioia | 9-9 |
| 09:51 | Illinois | John Bentley connects on the jumpshot from the left wing | 11-9 |
| 09:44 | NC State | Mark Gioia makes the jumper from the left block set up by Jason Kim | 11-11 |
| 09:23 | Illinois | Jason Kim picks off the pass by Kyle Whiddon | 11-11 |
| 09:11 | NC State | Mark Gioia scores on a fadeaway from the right side and the foul's on Aaron Olsen - foul #2 on Aaron Olsen, team foul #8 | 11-13 |
| Subs | Illinois | Glen Malott (SF), Johnny Bergeron (PF) Aaron Olsen, Donnell Guarino | |
| Subs | NC State | Carlos Joyner (SG), Samuel Wolcott (SF), Lucas Hiers (PF), Allen Hardy (C) Jason Kim, Carlton Amado, Allen Pullins, Josef Kasowski | |
| 09:11 | NC State | Mark Gioia makes the free throw | 11-14 |
| 08:48 | Illinois | David Willems makes the turnaround from the right block | 13-14 |
| 08:36 | NC State | Lucas Hiers misses the lay-in but he's hacked by Johnny Bergeron - foul #2 on Johnny Bergeron, team foul #9 | 13-14 |
| Subs | Illinois | Donnell Guarino (C) Johnny Bergeron | |
| Subs | NC State | Jason Kim (SF) Mark Gioia | |
| 08:36 | NC State | Lucas Hiers misses the 1st free throw | 13-14 |
| 08:36 | NC State | Lucas Hiers makes the 2nd free throw | 13-15 |
| 08:33 | Illinois | Glen Malott is whistled for a carry in the backcourt | 13-15 |
| 08:23 | NC State | Carlos Joyner misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 13-15 |
| 08:22 | Illinois | Donnell Guarino grabs the defensive rebound | 13-15 |
| 07:57 | Illinois | Allen Hardy steps in front of the John Bentley pass | 13-15 |
| 07:35 | NC State | Carlos Joyner drills a driving attempt from the left block on a nice dish by Samuel Wolcott | 13-17 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Bentley (tired) 3 pts. SG - Kyle Whiddon (tired) 2 pts. 2 reb. SF - Glen Malott (fresh) PF - David Willems (tiring) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - Donnell Guarino (fairly fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | NC State | PG - Samuel Wolcott (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SG - Carlos Joyner (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jason Kim (fairly fresh) 1 ast. PF - Lucas Hiers (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Allen Hardy (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:06 | Illinois | David Willems is alone and throws it down set up by Glen Malott | 15-17 |
| 07:01 | NC State | Carlos Joyner is alone and drills a 3 from the left corner on a great pass from Samuel Wolcott | 15-20 |
| 06:59 | Illinois | Lucas Hiers steps in front of the John Bentley pass in the backcourt | 15-20 |
| 06:46 | NC State | Lucas Hiers shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the runner near the basket | 15-20 |
| 06:45 | NC State | Jason Kim hits the follow up shot | 15-22 |
| 06:27 | Illinois | John Bentley hits a turnaround from the right block | 17-22 |
| 06:08 | NC State | Allen Hardy's fadeaway is rejected by David Willems | 17-22 |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Glen Malott grabs the defensive rebound | 17-22 |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 17-22 |
| Subs | Illinois | Aaron Olsen (PG), James Werner (PF), Johnny Bergeron (C) Kyle Whiddon, David Willems, Donnell Guarino | |
| Subs | NC State | Mark Gioia (PG), Ken Lebo (SG), Allen Pullins (PF), Josef Kasowski (C) Carlos Joyner, Jason Kim, Lucas Hiers, Allen Hardy | |
| 05:41 | Illinois | Johnny Bergeron can't connect on a jump hook from the right block | 17-22 |
| 05:39 | NC State | Josef Kasowski grabs the board | 17-22 |
| 05:25 | NC State | Josef Kasowski is fouled on the floor by James Werner - foul #3 on James Werner, team foul #10 | 17-22 |
| Subs | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon (PF) James Werner | |
| Subs | NC State | Carlton Amado (SF) Mark Gioia | |
| 05:25 | NC State | Josef Kasowski misses the 1st free throw | 17-22 |
| 05:25 | NC State | Josef Kasowski misses the 2nd free throw | 17-22 |
| 05:25 | Illinois | Glen Malott gets the rebound | 17-22 |
| 05:06 | Illinois | Glen Malott drills a floater from the left side and he's hacked by Josef Kasowski - foul #1 on Josef Kasowski, team foul #7 | 19-22 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | NC State | Lucas Hiers (PF) Allen Pullins | |
| 05:06 | Illinois | Glen Malott makes the free throw | 20-22 |
| 04:48 | NC State | Lucas Hiers hits the front of the rim on the shot from close range | 20-22 |
| 04:47 | NC State | Josef Kasowski tips it in | 20-24 |
| 04:45 | Illinois | Glen Malott's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 20-24 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | NC State | Carlos Joyner (SG) Carlton Amado | |
| 04:37 | NC State | Ken Lebo misses badly on a jumpshot from the left wing | 20-24 |
| 04:35 | Illinois | Glen Malott snags the defensive board | 20-24 |
| 04:15 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 20-24 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | NC State | Mark Gioia (PG), Allen Hardy (C) Ken Lebo, Josef Kasowski | |
| 04:04 | NC State | Lucas Hiers buries a 3pt jumper from the left wing set up by Mark Gioia | 20-27 |
| 03:41 | Illinois | Johnny Bergeron hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from close range but the foul's on Samuel Wolcott - foul #1 on Samuel Wolcott, team foul #8 | 20-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | David Willems (C) Kyle Whiddon | |
| Subs | NC State | Rick Brown (SF), Josef Kasowski (C) Samuel Wolcott, Lucas Hiers | |
| 03:41 | Illinois | Johnny Bergeron misses the 1st free throw | 20-27 |
| 03:41 | Illinois | Johnny Bergeron misses the 2nd free throw | 20-27 |
| 03:41 | NC State | Carlos Joyner gets the rebound | 20-27 |
| 03:18 | NC State | Mark Gioia's fadeaway is rejected by Johnny Bergeron | 20-27 |
| 03:17 | NC State | Josef Kasowski tips it back up and in | 20-29 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Aaron Olsen (tiring) 2 pts. SG - John Bentley (very tired) 5 pts. SF - Glen Malott (tiring) 3 pts. 3 reb. PF - Johnny Bergeron (fairly fresh) C - David Willems (tiring) 8 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | NC State | PG - Mark Gioia (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SG - Carlos Joyner (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Rick Brown (fresh) 1 pts. PF - Allen Hardy (fresh) 2 pts. C - Josef Kasowski (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 02:58 | Illinois | John Bentley connects on the open fadeaway from the left side | 22-29 |
| 02:37 | NC State | Allen Hardy is hacked by Johnny Bergeron - foul #3 on Johnny Bergeron, team foul #11 | 22-29 |
| Subs | Illinois | Kyle Whiddon (PF) Johnny Bergeron | |
| Subs | NC State | Ken Lebo (PG), Samuel Wolcott (SG), Allen Pullins (PF) Mark Gioia, Carlos Joyner, Josef Kasowski | |
| 02:37 | NC State | Allen Hardy makes the 1st free throw | 22-30 |
| 02:37 | NC State | Allen Hardy makes the 2nd free throw | 22-31 |
| 02:10 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen misses badly on a shot from the right wing but he's fouled by Rick Brown - foul #3 on Rick Brown, team foul #9 | 22-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | NC State | Carlton Amado (SF), Edward Scull (C) Rick Brown, Allen Hardy | |
| 02:10 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen makes the 1st free throw | 23-31 |
| 02:10 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen makes the 2nd free throw | 24-31 |
| 01:57 | NC State | Allen Pullins comes up short on the jumper from the right block | 24-31 |
| 01:56 | Illinois | David Willems pulls down the rebound | 24-31 |
| 01:39 | Illinois | David Willems knocks in the fadeaway near the basket on a great pass from Aaron Olsen | 26-31 |
| 01:32 | NC State | Ken Lebo splits the doubleteam and buries a 3 from the right wing on a great pass from Samuel Wolcott | 26-34 |
| 01:06 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen comes up short on the 3pt shot from the right wing | 26-34 |
| 01:05 | NC State | Allen Pullins grabs the defensive rebound | 26-34 |
| 00:57 | NC State | Ken Lebo evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 26-34 |
| 00:55 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Glen Malott | 26-34 |
| 00:53 | Illinois | Carlton Amado is called for the reach on Aaron Olsen in the backcourt - foul #1 on Carlton Amado, team foul #10 | 26-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | Donnell Guarino (C) David Willems | |
| Subs | NC State | Jason Kim (SG), Lucas Hiers (PF), Josef Kasowski (C) Samuel Wolcott, Allen Pullins, Edward Scull | |
| 00:53 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen makes the 1st free throw | 27-34 |
| 00:53 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen makes the 2nd free throw | 28-34 |
| 00:45 | NC State | Aaron Olsen takes the ball from Ken Lebo | 28-34 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | Aaron Olsen banks in the layup | 30-34 |
| 00:33 | NC State | Ken Lebo splits the doubleteam but misses short on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 30-34 |
| 00:32 | NC State | Lucas Hiers tips it in | 30-36 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | John Bentley misses badly on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 30-36 |
| 00:01 | NC State | Josef Kasowski pulls down the rebound | 30-36 |
| 00:00 | NC State | Josef Kasowski can't connect on a fullcourt shot | 30-36 |