| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fresh) 2 pts. 5 ast. SG - Albert Castle (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SF - Norman Simpson (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Justin McQuesten (fresh) 6 pts. C - Luis Massey (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Ed Kuklenski (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - George Hondo (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Leland Bopp (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Hamisi Asaro (fresh) 3 pts. C - Steven Mayer (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp inbounds the ball | 34-27 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 19:31 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer is hacked by Luis Massey - foul #2 on Luis Massey, team foul #1 | 34-27 |
| 19:13 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer misses the jumper from the left wing | 34-27 |
| 19:12 | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner snags the defensive board | 34-27 |
| 18:56 | Illinois | George Hondo steps in front of the Norman Simpson pass | 34-27 |
| 18:52 | Northwestern | George Hondo banks in the layup | 34-29 |
| 18:49 | Illinois | George Hondo takes the ball from Johnny Faulkner in the backcourt | 34-29 |
| 18:21 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp comes up short on the floater from close range | 34-29 |
| 18:19 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer tips it in | 34-31 |
| 17:57 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten scores on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line on a great pass from Johnny Faulkner | 36-31 |
| 17:28 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski hits a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by George Hondo | 36-33 |
| 17:12 | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner misses the jump hook from the baseline but he's fouled by Ed Kuklenski - foul #2 on Ed Kuklenski, team foul #1 | 36-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Reny (SG), Mark Weaver (C) Albert Castle, Luis Massey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt (PF) Hamisi Asaro | |
| 17:12 | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner misses the 1st free throw | 36-33 |
| 17:12 | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner makes the 2nd free throw | 37-33 |
| 16:43 | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt can't connect on a shot from the right wing | 37-33 |
| 16:42 | Illinois | Mark Weaver snags the defensive board | 37-33 |
| 16:27 | Illinois | Christopher Reny loses the ball out of bounds | 37-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Roberts (PG), Francis Saylor (PF) Johnny Faulkner, Justin McQuesten | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Rines (SF), James Hawkins (C) Ed Kuklenski, Steven Mayer | |
| 16:00 | Northwestern | James Hawkins comes up short on the driving attempt near the basket | 37-33 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Mark Weaver grabs the board | 37-33 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gregory Roberts (fresh) SG - Christopher Reny (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Norman Simpson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Francis Saylor (fresh) 6 pts. C - Mark Weaver (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Leland Bopp (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SG - George Hondo (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SF - John Rines (fresh) PF - Thomas Hunt (fresh) 2 blk. C - James Hawkins (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:53 | Illinois | Christopher Reny drills a 3pt shot from straight away | 40-33 |
| 15:24 | Northwestern | The jump hook by Leland Bopp is blocked by Mark Weaver | 40-33 |
| 15:22 | Illinois | Francis Saylor snags the defensive board | 40-33 |
| 15:03 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts knocks in the fadeaway from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Francis Saylor | 42-33 |
| 14:39 | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt misses the lay-in | 42-33 |
| 14:38 | Illinois | Mark Weaver snags the defensive board | 42-33 |
| 14:22 | Illinois | Christopher Reny is fouled on the floor by George Hondo - foul #2 on George Hondo, team foul #2 | 42-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner (PG), Albert Castle (SG), Justin McQuesten (PF), Luis Massey (C) Christopher Reny, Norman Simpson, Francis Saylor, Mark Weaver | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski (PG), Hamisi Asaro (PF), Steven Mayer (C) John Rines, Thomas Hunt, James Hawkins | |
| 14:09 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten throws a bad pass out of bounds | 42-33 |
| 13:55 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer hits a turnaround from close range | 42-35 |
| 13:43 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 42-35 |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Luis Massey grabs the offensive rebound | 42-35 |
| 13:36 | Illinois | Luis Massey misses the easy layup | 42-35 |
| 13:35 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski grabs the board | 42-35 |
| 13:15 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski connects on the jump hook from the left block set up by George Hondo | 42-37 |
| 13:02 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 42-37 |
| 13:00 | Illinois | Albert Castle snags the offensive board | 42-37 |
| 12:54 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten misses badly on a jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by Hamisi Asaro - foul #3 on Hamisi Asaro, team foul #3 | 42-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Mark Weaver (C) Gregory Roberts | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Rines (SF) Leland Bopp | |
| 12:54 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten makes the 1st free throw | 43-37 |
| 12:54 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten misses the 2nd free throw | 43-37 |
| 12:54 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro pulls down the rebound | 43-37 |
| 12:28 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro can't connect on a jumper in the paint | 43-37 |
| 12:27 | Illinois | Albert Castle gets the rebound | 43-37 |
| 12:11 | Illinois | Steven Mayer steals the ball from Luis Massey | 43-37 |
| 11:50 | Northwestern | John Rines can't connect on a jumper from the right side | 43-37 |
| 11:48 | Northwestern | John Rines can't tip it in | 43-37 |
| 11:47 | Northwestern | George Hondo gets the offensive rebound | 43-37 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fresh) 3 pts. 6 ast. SG - Albert Castle (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SF - Justin McQuesten (fresh) 9 pts. PF - Luis Massey (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - Mark Weaver (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Ed Kuklenski (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - George Hondo (tiring) 10 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - John Rines (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Hamisi Asaro (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. C - Steven Mayer (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 11:26 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski can't connect on a floater from the right wing but he's hacked by Johnny Faulkner - foul #2 on Johnny Faulkner, team foul #2 | 43-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Reny (SG), Norman Simpson (SF) Albert Castle, Luis Massey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt (PF) Hamisi Asaro | |
| 11:26 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski makes the 1st free throw | 43-38 |
| 11:26 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski misses the 2nd free throw | 43-38 |
| 11:26 | Illinois | Mark Weaver grabs the board | 43-38 |
| 11:11 | Illinois | Christopher Reny knocks in the 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Johnny Faulkner | 46-38 |
| 10:50 | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt misses the jumpshot from the right wing but he's hacked by Mark Weaver - foul #1 on Mark Weaver, team foul #3 | 46-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Roberts (PG), Francis Saylor (PF) Johnny Faulkner, Justin McQuesten | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Leland Bopp (PG), James Hawkins (C) Ed Kuklenski, Steven Mayer | |
| 10:50 | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt makes the 1st free throw | 46-39 |
| 10:50 | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt misses the 2nd free throw | 46-39 |
| 10:50 | Illinois | Francis Saylor gets the rebound | 46-39 |
| 10:43 | Illinois | Leland Bopp is called for the reach on Christopher Reny - foul #1 on Leland Bopp, team foul #4 | 46-39 |
| 10:38 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts throws a bad pass out of bounds | 46-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Duerr (C) Mark Weaver | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 10:18 | Northwestern | George Hondo hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right wing but he's hacked by Thomas Duerr - foul #1 on Thomas Duerr, team foul #4 | 46-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Albert Castle (SG) Christopher Reny | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski (PG) John Rines | |
| 10:18 | Northwestern | George Hondo misses the 1st free throw | 46-39 |
| 10:18 | Northwestern | George Hondo misses the 2nd free throw | 46-39 |
| 10:18 | Illinois | Francis Saylor gets the rebound | 46-39 |
| 10:01 | Illinois | Albert Castle throws a bad pass out of bounds | 46-39 |
| 09:39 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski hits a floater from the free throw line on a great pass from George Hondo | 46-41 |
| 09:29 | Illinois | Francis Saylor hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left side | 46-41 |
| 09:28 | Illinois | Francis Saylor snags the offensive board | 46-41 |
| 09:09 | Illinois | Albert Castle clanks a fadeaway from the left side | 46-41 |
| 09:08 | Northwestern | George Hondo gets the rebound | 46-41 |
| 09:03 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski can't connect on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 46-41 |
| 09:01 | Illinois | Thomas Duerr gets the rebound | 46-41 |
| 08:57 | Illinois | Albert Castle misses long on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 46-41 |
| 08:56 | Illinois | Norman Simpson grabs the offensive rebound | 46-41 |
| 08:47 | Illinois | Norman Simpson is whistled for traveling | 46-41 |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner (PG), Justin McQuesten (PF), Luis Massey (C) Norman Simpson, Francis Saylor, Thomas Duerr | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Rines (SF), Hamisi Asaro (PF), Steven Mayer (C) Leland Bopp, Thomas Hunt, James Hawkins | |
| 08:24 | Northwestern | John Rines is hacked by Johnny Faulkner - foul #3 on Johnny Faulkner, team foul #5 | 46-41 |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Reny (SG) Albert Castle | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 08:07 | Northwestern | John Rines is hacked by Christopher Reny - foul #1 on Christopher Reny, team foul #6 | 46-41 |
| 07:49 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski can't connect on a shot from just outside the lane | 46-41 |
| 07:48 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro hits the follow up shot | 46-43 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fresh) 3 pts. 7 ast. 3 pf. SG - Christopher Reny (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Gregory Roberts (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Justin McQuesten (fresh) 9 pts. C - Luis Massey (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Ed Kuklenski (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - George Hondo (tiring) 10 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - John Rines (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Hamisi Asaro (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Steven Mayer (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 07:27 | Illinois | The jumper by Gregory Roberts is denied by Steven Mayer | 46-43 |
| 07:26 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer snags the defensive board | 46-43 |
| 07:03 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer clanks a pull-up jumper from the right side | 46-43 |
| 07:02 | Illinois | Luis Massey grabs the board | 46-43 |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Christopher Reny hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from just outside the lane | 46-43 |
| 06:54 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro grabs the defensive rebound | 46-43 |
| 06:43 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro clanks a fadeaway from the free throw line | 46-43 |
| 06:42 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski snags the offensive board | 46-43 |
| 06:31 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer misses badly on a jump hook from the left block but he's fouled by Luis Massey - foul #3 on Luis Massey, team foul #7 | 46-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Albert Castle (SG), Norman Simpson (SF) Christopher Reny, Gregory Roberts | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt (SG), Leland Bopp (SF) George Hondo, John Rines | |
| 06:31 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer makes the 1st free throw | 46-44 |
| 06:31 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer makes the 2nd free throw | 46-45 |
| 06:24 | Illinois | Albert Castle misses the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 46-45 |
| 06:23 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer grabs the board | 46-45 |
| 06:16 | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 46-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Mark Weaver (C) Luis Massey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Hawkins (PF) Hamisi Asaro | |
| 05:59 | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner's pass is intercepted by Steven Mayer | 46-45 |
| 05:36 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer can't throw it down | 46-45 |
| 05:35 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski gets the offensive rebound | 46-45 |
| 05:07 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer buries a floater from the left wing and he's fouled by Johnny Faulkner - foul #4 on Johnny Faulkner, team foul #8 | 46-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Roberts (PG), Luis Massey (PF) Johnny Faulkner, Justin McQuesten | |
| Subs | Northwestern | George Hondo (SG), John Rines (SF) Ed Kuklenski, James Hawkins | |
| 05:07 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer makes the free throw | 46-48 |
| 05:00 | Illinois | Mark Weaver is fouled on the floor by George Hondo - foul #3 on George Hondo, team foul #5 | 46-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro (PF), James Hawkins (C) George Hondo, Steven Mayer | |
| 04:49 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts misses short on a jumpshot from the left side but he's fouled by Hamisi Asaro - foul #4 on Hamisi Asaro, team foul #6 | 46-48 |
| 04:49 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts makes the 1st free throw | 47-48 |
| 04:49 | Illinois | Gregory Roberts makes the 2nd free throw | 48-48 |
| 04:28 | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt scores on a floater from the right block on a nice dish by Hamisi Asaro and the foul's on Luis Massey - foul #4 on Luis Massey, team foul #9 | 48-50 |
| 04:28 | Northwestern | Thomas Hunt misses the free throw | 48-50 |
| 04:28 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Mark Weaver | 48-50 |
| 04:10 | Illinois | Albert Castle knocks in the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 51-50 |
| 03:49 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp is fouled on the floor by Mark Weaver - foul #2 on Mark Weaver, team foul #10 | 51-50 |
| Subs | Illinois | Johnny Faulkner (PG), Justin McQuesten (PF) Gregory Roberts, Luis Massey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski (PG), George Hondo (SG), Steven Mayer (C) Thomas Hunt, John Rines, James Hawkins | |
| 03:49 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp makes the 1st free throw | 51-51 |
| 03:49 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp makes the 2nd free throw | 51-52 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Johnny Faulkner (fresh) 3 pts. 7 ast. 4 pf. SG - Albert Castle (fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - Norman Simpson (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Justin McQuesten (fresh) 9 pts. C - Mark Weaver (fresh) 2 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Ed Kuklenski (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - George Hondo (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SF - Leland Bopp (fairly fresh) 6 pts. PF - Hamisi Asaro (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 4 pf. C - Steven Mayer (fresh) 13 pts. 6 reb. 2 stl. 3 pf. | |
| 03:31 | Illinois | Albert Castle hits a 3 from the left wing | 54-52 |
| 03:07 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski misses badly on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 54-52 |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Mark Weaver snags the defensive board | 54-52 |
| 02:53 | Illinois | Albert Castle comes up short on the 3pt attempt from straight away | 54-52 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp grabs the board | 54-52 |
| 02:22 | Northwestern | Justin McQuesten steals it from Steven Mayer | 54-52 |
| 02:09 | Illinois | Albert Castle can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 54-52 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Mark Weaver snags the offensive board | 54-52 |
| 01:58 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 54-52 |
| 01:56 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Albert Castle | 54-52 |
| 01:43 | Illinois | Mark Weaver is hacked by Ed Kuklenski - foul #3 on Ed Kuklenski, team foul #7 | 54-52 |
| 01:43 | Illinois | Mark Weaver makes the 1st free throw | 55-52 |
| 01:43 | Illinois | Mark Weaver makes the 2nd free throw | 56-52 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 01:36 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left corner | 56-52 |
| 01:34 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp snags the offensive board | 56-52 |
| 01:27 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski connects on the pull-up jumper from the left side | 56-54 |
| 01:14 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten comes up short on the 3 from the right corner | 56-54 |
| 01:12 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer pulls down the rebound | 56-54 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:52 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp misses short on a jumpshot from the left wing | 56-54 |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro grabs the offensive rebound | 56-54 |
| 00:39 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp banks in the layup set up by George Hondo | 56-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:13 | Illinois | Mark Weaver knocks in the driving attempt in the paint on a nice dish by Albert Castle and the foul's on George Hondo - foul #4 on George Hondo, team foul #8 | 58-56 |
| 00:13 | Illinois | Mark Weaver makes the free throw | 59-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:08 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski buries a 3pt attempt from straight away on a nice dish by George Hondo | 59-59 |
| 00:08 | Illinois | Illinois calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 4 full remaining) | 59-59 |
| Subs | Illinois | Luis Massey (C) Mark Weaver | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Justin McQuesten knocks in the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 62-59 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | George Hondo hits the front of the rim on the fullcourt shot | 62-59 |