| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (fresh) SG - Donald Hadley (fresh) SF - Reuben Thompson (fresh) PF - Dusty Beeler (fresh) C - Ralph Langford (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Barney Phares (fresh) SG - Guillermo Guzman (fresh) SF - Lino Zwagerman (fresh) PF - Randy Lister (fresh) C - James Welcher (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| 19:57 | Illinois | Guillermo Guzman is called for the reach on Donald Hadley in the backcourt - foul #1 on Guillermo Guzman, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:37 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler loses the dribble to Randy Lister | 0-0 |
| 19:17 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman knocks in the 3pt shot from the left corner | 0-3 |
| 18:55 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon makes the 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Dusty Beeler | 3-3 |
| 18:39 | Northwestern | James Welcher hits the front of the rim on the floater from the right side | 3-3 |
| 18:38 | Illinois | Ralph Langford grabs the defensive rebound | 3-3 |
| 18:19 | Illinois | Donald Hadley misses badly on the uncontested jump hook from close range | 3-3 |
| 18:18 | Northwestern | James Welcher gets the rebound | 3-3 |
| 18:13 | Northwestern | Lino Zwagerman hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 3-3 |
| 18:11 | Illinois | Ralph Langford grabs the defensive rebound | 3-3 |
| 18:07 | Illinois | Ralph Langford loses the dribble to Lino Zwagerman in the backcourt | 3-3 |
| 17:54 | Northwestern | James Welcher clanks a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 3-3 |
| 17:53 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson pulls down the rebound | 3-3 |
| 17:30 | Illinois | Ralph Langford is by himself and knocks in the fadeaway from the left block on a nice dish by Donald Hadley | 5-3 |
| 17:15 | Northwestern | James Welcher's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 5-3 |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryan Fichter (SF), Ryan Richards (PF), Joseph Milligan (C) Reuben Thompson, Dusty Beeler, Ralph Langford | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harley Medley (PG), Robert Goodrich (SG), Gregory Elrod (SF), Darell Wilber (PF) Barney Phares, Guillermo Guzman, Lino Zwagerman, Randy Lister | |
| 16:54 | Illinois | Ryan Richards misses the easy open layup | 5-3 |
| 16:53 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan gets the offensive rebound | 5-3 |
| 16:41 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon is called for a charge - foul #1 on Randy McGibbon, team foul #1 | 5-3 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ralph Langford (C) Donald Hadley | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Savage (C) James Welcher | |
| 16:22 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod throws a bad pass out of bounds | 5-3 |
| 16:20 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter is fouled in the backcourt by Harley Medley - foul #1 on Harley Medley, team foul #2 | 5-3 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Robert Savage takes the ball from Ryan Richards | 5-3 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - Joseph Milligan (fresh) SF - Bryan Fichter (fresh) PF - Ryan Richards (fresh) C - Ralph Langford (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Harley Medley (fresh) SG - Robert Goodrich (fresh) SF - Gregory Elrod (fresh) PF - Darell Wilber (fresh) C - Robert Savage (fresh) | |
| 15:36 | Northwestern | Robert Savage misses badly on a 3pt shot from straight away | 5-3 |
| 15:35 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan snags the defensive board | 5-3 |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Ralph Langford misses the dunk attempt but he's fouled by Robert Savage - foul #1 on Robert Savage, team foul #3 | 5-3 |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG), Reuben Thompson (SF), Dusty Beeler (PF) Joseph Milligan, Bryan Fichter, Ryan Richards | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Barney Phares (PG), Guillermo Guzman (SG), Lino Zwagerman (SF), Randy Lister (PF), James Welcher (C) Harley Medley, Robert Goodrich, Gregory Elrod, Darell Wilber, Robert Savage | |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Ralph Langford makes the 1st free throw | 6-3 |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Ralph Langford makes the 2nd free throw | 7-3 |
| 14:46 | Northwestern | Barney Phares loses the ball out of bounds | 7-3 |
| 14:23 | Illinois | Ralph Langford misses long on a shot from the left block | 7-3 |
| 14:21 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Randy Lister | 7-3 |
| 14:16 | Northwestern | James Welcher clanks a jumpshot from the left wing but the foul's on Reuben Thompson - foul #1 on Reuben Thompson, team foul #2 | 7-3 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Richards (C) Ralph Langford | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harley Medley (SF) Lino Zwagerman | |
| 14:16 | Northwestern | James Welcher makes the 1st free throw | 7-4 |
| 14:16 | Northwestern | James Welcher misses the 2nd free throw | 7-4 |
| 14:16 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ryan Richards | 7-4 |
| 14:10 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon is by himself and knocks in the 3pt attempt from the right corner set up by Ryan Richards | 10-4 |
| 13:50 | Northwestern | Barney Phares's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 10-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryan Fichter (PG) Randy McGibbon | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod (SF), Robert Savage (PF) Guillermo Guzman, Randy Lister | |
| 13:48 | Illinois | Robert Savage is called for the reach on Reuben Thompson in the backcourt - foul #2 on Robert Savage, team foul #4 | 10-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Randy Lister (PF) Robert Savage | |
| 13:32 | Illinois | Barney Phares is called for the reach on Bryan Fichter - foul #1 on Barney Phares, team foul #5 | 10-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Milligan (C) Ryan Richards | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Romanoski (SG) Barney Phares | |
| 13:22 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler blows the layup but he's fouled by Randy Lister - foul #1 on Randy Lister, team foul #6 | 10-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (SG) Robert Romanoski | |
| 13:22 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler makes the 1st free throw | 11-4 |
| 13:22 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler makes the 2nd free throw | 12-4 |
| 13:07 | Northwestern | Harley Medley clanks a 3pt shot from the right corner | 12-4 |
| 13:06 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod can't tip it in | 12-4 |
| 13:05 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Donald Hadley | 12-4 |
| 13:01 | Illinois | Donald Hadley's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 12-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Romanoski (SG) Harley Medley | |
| 12:50 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod clanks a 3pt shot from the left corner | 12-4 |
| 12:48 | Northwestern | Randy Lister misses the tip | 12-4 |
| 12:46 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Reuben Thompson | 12-4 |
| 12:42 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson blows the wide open layup | 12-4 |
| 12:41 | Northwestern | James Welcher grabs the defensive rebound | 12-4 |
| 12:22 | Northwestern | Reuben Thompson is called for the reach on Gregory Elrod - foul #2 on Reuben Thompson, team foul #3 | 12-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy McGibbon (PG), Ryan Richards (PF), Ralph Langford (C) Reuben Thompson, Dusty Beeler, Joseph Milligan | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Barney Phares (PG), Guillermo Guzman (SG), Lino Zwagerman (SF), Darell Wilber (PF) Robert Goodrich, Robert Romanoski, Gregory Elrod, Randy Lister | |
| 12:15 | Northwestern | Lino Zwagerman's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 12-4 |
| 11:54 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Lino Zwagerman - foul #1 on Lino Zwagerman, team foul #7 | 12-4 |
| 11:54 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon makes the 1st free throw | 13-4 |
| 11:54 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon makes the 2nd free throw | 14-4 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (fairly fresh) 8 pts. SG - Donald Hadley (tiring) 1 ast. SF - Bryan Fichter (fairly fresh) PF - Ryan Richards (fresh) C - Ralph Langford (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Barney Phares (fresh) SG - Guillermo Guzman (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Lino Zwagerman (fresh) PF - Darell Wilber (fresh) C - James Welcher (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:30 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman misses the pull-up jumper from the left wing | 14-4 |
| 11:28 | Illinois | Ryan Richards pulls down the rebound | 14-4 |
| 11:11 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon can't connect on a jumper from the right side | 14-4 |
| 11:09 | Illinois | Ryan Richards can't tip it in | 14-4 |
| 11:08 | Illinois | Ryan Richards grabs the offensive board | 14-4 |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Donald Hadley connects on the open jumper from the baseline on a great pass from Randy McGibbon | 16-4 |
| 10:27 | Northwestern | James Welcher misses short on a runner from the baseline but the foul's on Ralph Langford - foul #1 on Ralph Langford, team foul #4 | 16-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Milligan (SG), Dusty Beeler (PF) Donald Hadley, Ralph Langford | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harley Medley (PG), Robert Goodrich (SG), Gregory Elrod (SF), Randy Lister (PF) Barney Phares, Guillermo Guzman, Lino Zwagerman, Darell Wilber | |
| 10:27 | Northwestern | James Welcher makes the 1st free throw | 16-5 |
| 10:27 | Northwestern | James Welcher misses the 2nd free throw | 16-5 |
| 10:27 | Illinois | Ryan Richards pulls down the rebound | 16-5 |
| 10:04 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon scores on a jumpshot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Bryan Fichter | 18-5 |
| 09:55 | Northwestern | James Welcher hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Harley Medley | 18-7 |
| 09:31 | Illinois | Ryan Richards connects on the jumpshot from the right wing on a nice dish by Bryan Fichter | 20-7 |
| 09:11 | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich buries a fadeaway from the right side | 20-9 |
| 08:54 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter misses the dunk attempt but he's hacked by Gregory Elrod - foul #1 on Gregory Elrod, team foul #8 | 20-9 |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG), Ralph Langford (C) Joseph Milligan, Ryan Richards | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Romanoski (SG), Kevin McKanic (SF) Robert Goodrich, James Welcher | |
| 08:54 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter makes the 1st free throw | 21-9 |
| 08:54 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter misses the 2nd free throw | 21-9 |
| 08:54 | Northwestern | Randy Lister snags the defensive board | 21-9 |
| 08:40 | Northwestern | Harley Medley misses long on a 3pt shot from straight away | 21-9 |
| 08:38 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter snags the defensive board | 21-9 |
| 08:33 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon loses the ball out of bounds | 21-9 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Barney Phares (PG), Darell Wilber (C) Harley Medley, Gregory Elrod | |
| 08:13 | Northwestern | Ralph Langford blocks the jumper by Darell Wilber | 21-9 |
| 08:12 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber tips it but misses | 21-9 |
| 08:10 | Northwestern | Robert Romanoski grabs the offensive board | 21-9 |
| 07:54 | Northwestern | Barney Phares buries a 3pt attempt from the left wing set up by Robert Romanoski | 21-12 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy McGibbon (tiring) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Donald Hadley (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Bryan Fichter (tiring) 1 pts. PF - Dusty Beeler (tiring) 2 pts. C - Ralph Langford (tiring) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Barney Phares (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - Robert Romanoski (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Kevin McKanic (fresh) PF - Randy Lister (tiring) 3 reb. C - Darell Wilber (fairly fresh) | |
| 07:52 | Illinois | Donald Hadley is hacked by Barney Phares in the backcourt - foul #2 on Barney Phares, team foul #9 | 21-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman (SG), James Welcher (C) Barney Phares, Randy Lister | |
| 07:52 | Illinois | Donald Hadley makes the 1st free throw | 22-12 |
| 07:52 | Illinois | Donald Hadley misses the 2nd free throw | 22-12 |
| 07:52 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber grabs the board | 22-12 |
| 07:32 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber buries a jump hook from the right block set up by Robert Romanoski and he's fouled by Ralph Langford - foul #2 on Ralph Langford, team foul #5 | 22-14 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Milligan (SG), Ryan Richards (C) Donald Hadley, Ralph Langford | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Harley Medley (PG), Lino Zwagerman (SF), Gregory Elrod (C) Robert Romanoski, Kevin McKanic, James Welcher | |
| 07:32 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber misses the free throw | 22-14 |
| 07:32 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler gets the rebound | 22-14 |
| 07:26 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon is called for traveling in the backcourt | 22-14 |
| 07:17 | Northwestern | Joseph Milligan steps in front of the Guillermo Guzman pass | 22-14 |
| 07:15 | Illinois | Harley Medley is called for the reach on Randy McGibbon in the backcourt - foul #2 on Harley Medley, team foul #10 | 22-14 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (PG), James Welcher (C) Harley Medley, Darell Wilber | |
| 07:15 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon makes the 1st free throw | 23-14 |
| 07:15 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon makes the 2nd free throw | 24-14 |
| 06:50 | Northwestern | James Welcher misses badly on a 3 from the left wing | 24-14 |
| 06:48 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to James Welcher | 24-14 |
| 06:35 | Northwestern | Lino Zwagerman buries a 3 from the right wing | 24-17 |
| 06:14 | Illinois | Bryan Fichter comes up short on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 24-17 |
| 06:12 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler can't tip it in | 24-17 |
| 06:11 | Northwestern | James Welcher gets the rebound | 24-17 |
| 06:05 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod double dribbles | 24-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG), Reuben Thompson (SF), Ralph Langford (C) Joseph Milligan, Bryan Fichter, Dusty Beeler | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Romanoski (PG), Kevin McKanic (SF), Randy Lister (PF), Darell Wilber (C) Robert Goodrich, Lino Zwagerman, Gregory Elrod, James Welcher | |
| 05:37 | Illinois | Ryan Richards is open but can't throw it down | 24-17 |
| 05:36 | Illinois | Donald Hadley grabs the offensive rebound | 24-17 |
| 05:13 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon is by himself and knocks in the fadeaway from the left side on a great pass from Donald Hadley | 26-17 |
| 04:46 | Northwestern | Ralph Langford swats the shot by Randy Lister | 26-17 |
| 04:45 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ryan Richards | 26-17 |
| 04:30 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon misses the shot in the lane | 26-17 |
| 04:29 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Kevin McKanic | 26-17 |
| 04:17 | Northwestern | Randy Lister loses the dribble to Ralph Langford | 26-17 |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon misses badly on the uncontested shot from the free throw line | 26-17 |
| 04:10 | Northwestern | Guillermo Guzman grabs the defensive rebound | 26-17 |
| 04:03 | Northwestern | Darell Wilber is called for traveling | 26-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryan Fichter (PG), Joseph Milligan (SG), Dusty Beeler (PF) Randy McGibbon, Donald Hadley, Ryan Richards | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (PG), Lino Zwagerman (SF), Gregory Elrod (PF), James Welcher (C) Robert Romanoski, Kevin McKanic, Randy Lister, Darell Wilber | |
| 03:34 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan is alone and drills a driving attempt from the baseline on a great pass from Bryan Fichter | 28-17 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bryan Fichter (tiring) 1 pts. SG - Joseph Milligan (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. SF - Reuben Thompson (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - Dusty Beeler (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Ralph Langford (tiring) 4 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Goodrich (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Guillermo Guzman (tiring) 3 pts. SF - Lino Zwagerman (fairly fresh) 3 pts. PF - Gregory Elrod (fresh) C - James Welcher (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 03:13 | Northwestern | James Welcher clanks a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 28-17 |
| 03:11 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Bryan Fichter | 28-17 |
| 03:05 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan connects on the fadeaway from close range on a nice dish by Ralph Langford | 30-17 |
| 02:54 | Northwestern | Lino Zwagerman clanks a 3 from the right corner | 30-17 |
| 02:53 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod snags the offensive board | 30-17 |
| 02:39 | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod's layup is rejected by Ralph Langford | 30-17 |
| 02:38 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan gets the rebound | 30-17 |
| 02:35 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan is fouled in the backcourt by James Welcher - foul #1 on James Welcher, team foul #11 | 30-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy McGibbon (PG), Donald Hadley (SG) Bryan Fichter, Ralph Langford | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Barney Phares (PG), Harley Medley (SG), Robert Savage (PF) Robert Goodrich, Guillermo Guzman, Gregory Elrod | |
| 02:35 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the 1st free throw | 31-17 |
| 02:35 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan makes the 2nd free throw | 32-17 |
| 02:17 | Northwestern | Barney Phares can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 32-17 |
| 02:15 | Northwestern | Barney Phares grabs the offensive rebound | 32-17 |
| 02:01 | Northwestern | Harley Medley scores on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing and he's fouled by Dusty Beeler - foul #1 on Dusty Beeler, team foul #6 | 32-19 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ryan Richards (PF) Dusty Beeler | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gregory Elrod (SF) Lino Zwagerman | |
| 02:01 | Northwestern | Harley Medley misses the free throw | 32-19 |
| 02:01 | Illinois | Joseph Milligan pulls down the rebound | 32-19 |
| 01:32 | Illinois | Randy McGibbon misses long on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 32-19 |
| 01:30 | Northwestern | Harley Medley gets the rebound | 32-19 |
| 01:25 | Northwestern | Barney Phares knocks in the floater in the lane and he's hacked by Randy McGibbon - foul #2 on Randy McGibbon, team foul #7 | 32-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Romanoski (SG), Randy Lister (PF) Gregory Elrod, James Welcher | |
| 01:25 | Northwestern | Barney Phares makes the free throw | 32-22 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | Donald Hadley is open and buries a jump hook in the paint set up by Randy McGibbon | 34-22 |
| 00:55 | Northwestern | Harley Medley scores on a 3 from the right wing set up by Robert Romanoski | 34-25 |
| 00:32 | Illinois | Donald Hadley is called for the offensive foul - foul #1 on Donald Hadley, team foul #8 | 34-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryan Fichter (PG), Dusty Beeler (PF), Ralph Langford (C) Randy McGibbon, Ryan Richards, Joseph Milligan | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Goodrich (SG), Gregory Elrod (SF), Darell Wilber (PF), James Welcher (C) Robert Romanoski, Harley Medley, Randy Lister, Robert Savage | |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | Bryan Fichter takes the ball from James Welcher | 34-25 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Ralph Langford makes the floater from close range | 36-25 |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Barney Phares misses badly on a halfcourt shot | 36-25 |