| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fresh) SG - Jeffrey Craig (fresh) SF - Robert Moralez (fresh) PF - Phillip Dean (fresh) C - David White (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Villanova | PG - James Washington (fresh) SG - Alfred Carr (fresh) SF - Justin Kiesel (fresh) PF - Edwin Buhr (fresh) C - Carl Fox (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | David White wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Villanova | Villanova is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| 19:41 | Illinois | Edwin Buhr takes the ball from Robert Moralez | 0-0 |
| 19:34 | Villanova | Jeffrey Craig steals it from James Washington | 0-0 |
| 19:05 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses the lay-in but he's hacked by Edwin Buhr - foul #1 on Edwin Buhr, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:05 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 1st free throw | 1-0 |
| 19:05 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 2nd free throw | 2-0 |
| 19:01 | Villanova | James Washington is hacked by Phillip Dean in the backcourt - foul #1 on Phillip Dean, team foul #1 | 2-0 |
| 18:44 | Villanova | Edwin Buhr is hacked by Jeffrey Craig - foul #1 on Jeffrey Craig, team foul #2 | 2-0 |
| 18:19 | Villanova | James Washington misses badly on the uncontested fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 2-0 |
| 18:17 | Illinois | Robert Moralez snags the defensive board | 2-0 |
| 17:55 | Illinois | Robert Moralez hits the front of the rim on the wide open driving attempt near the basket | 2-0 |
| 17:53 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Robert Moralez | 2-0 |
| 17:35 | Illinois | Robert Moralez hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 2-0 |
| 17:34 | Illinois | Robert Moralez tips it in | 4-0 |
| 17:16 | Villanova | Alfred Carr misses short on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 4-0 |
| 17:14 | Illinois | Robert Moralez gets the rebound | 4-0 |
| 16:54 | Illinois | Robert Moralez banks in the layup on a nice dish by Scott Blackwell and he's hacked by Justin Kiesel - foul #1 on Justin Kiesel, team foul #2 | 6-0 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Compton (SG) Jeffrey Craig | |
| Subs | Villanova | Donald Groves (PG), Thomas Frank (SG), William Langhorne (SF), Vernon Ray (C) James Washington, Alfred Carr, Justin Kiesel, Carl Fox | |
| 16:54 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses the free throw | 6-0 |
| 16:54 | Villanova | Donald Groves grabs the board | 6-0 |
| 16:35 | Villanova | Vernon Ray misses badly on a jumper from close range | 6-0 |
| 16:33 | Villanova | Vernon Ray misses the tip | 6-0 |
| 16:32 | Villanova | Donald Groves hits the follow up shot | 6-2 |
| 16:10 | Illinois | Phillip Dean's pass is intercepted by Donald Groves | 6-2 |
| 15:41 | Villanova | Vernon Ray connects on the floater from the baseline on a great pass from Donald Groves | 6-4 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Michael Compton (fairly fresh) SF - Robert Moralez (tiring) 4 pts. 4 reb. PF - Phillip Dean (tiring) C - David White (tiring) | |
| Lineup | Villanova | PG - Donald Groves (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Thomas Frank (fresh) SF - William Langhorne (fresh) PF - Edwin Buhr (tiring) C - Vernon Ray (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 15:39 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell is fouled in the backcourt by William Langhorne - foul #1 on William Langhorne, team foul #3 | 6-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Mickey Haworth (PG), Jeffrey Craig (SG), Ralph Hylton (SF), Anthony Golden (PF), Joseph Pearce (C) Scott Blackwell, Michael Compton, Robert Moralez, Phillip Dean, David White | |
| Subs | Villanova | Justin Kiesel (SF), Carl Fox (C) William Langhorne, Vernon Ray | |
| 15:27 | Illinois | Anthony Golden connects on the pull-up jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Jeffrey Craig | 8-4 |
| 14:58 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel misses the shot near the basket | 8-4 |
| 14:56 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce grabs the defensive rebound | 8-4 |
| 14:28 | Illinois | Carl Fox blocks the short jumper by Anthony Golden | 8-4 |
| 14:27 | Villanova | The rebound goes to Carl Fox | 8-4 |
| 14:24 | Villanova | Mickey Haworth steps in front of the Justin Kiesel pass in the backcourt | 8-4 |
| 14:23 | Illinois | Mickey Haworth hits the finger roll | 10-4 |
| 13:59 | Villanova | Joseph Pearce swats the layup by Carl Fox | 10-4 |
| 13:57 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel grabs the offensive board | 10-4 |
| 13:31 | Villanova | Carl Fox comes up short on the shot from the right block | 10-4 |
| 13:29 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton grabs the board | 10-4 |
| 13:24 | Illinois | Justin Kiesel denies the turnaround by Mickey Haworth | 10-4 |
| 13:23 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel grabs the defensive rebound | 10-4 |
| 13:20 | Villanova | Jeffrey Craig is called for the reach on Thomas Frank in the backcourt - foul #2 on Jeffrey Craig, team foul #3 | 10-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Michael Compton (SG), Robert Moralez (SF), Phillip Dean (PF) Mickey Haworth, Jeffrey Craig, Ralph Hylton, Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Villanova | James Washington (PG), Alfred Carr (SG), William Langhorne (SF), Vernon Ray (PF), Andrew Schalk (C) Donald Groves, Thomas Frank, Justin Kiesel, Edwin Buhr, Carl Fox | |
| 12:59 | Villanova | Vernon Ray hits the front of the rim on the runner in the paint but the foul's on Robert Moralez - foul #1 on Robert Moralez, team foul #4 | 10-4 |
| Subs | Illinois | David White (C) Anthony Golden | |
| Subs | Villanova | | |
| 12:59 | Villanova | Vernon Ray makes the 1st free throw | 10-5 |
| 12:59 | Villanova | Vernon Ray misses the 2nd free throw | 10-5 |
| 12:59 | Villanova | Andrew Schalk grabs the offensive board | 10-5 |
| 12:40 | Villanova | Vernon Ray throws a bad pass out of bounds | 10-5 |
| 12:19 | Illinois | Phillip Dean is fouled on the floor by Vernon Ray - foul #1 on Vernon Ray, team foul #4 | 10-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | Mickey Haworth (PG) Scott Blackwell | |
| Subs | Villanova | | |
| 11:54 | Illinois | David White misses badly on a jumpshot from the left side but he's fouled by Andrew Schalk - foul #1 on Andrew Schalk, team foul #5 | 10-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Villanova | Michael Irving (PG), Justin Kiesel (SF), Travis Johnson (PF) James Washington, William Langhorne, Andrew Schalk | |
| 11:54 | Illinois | David White makes the 1st free throw | 11-5 |
| 11:54 | Illinois | David White makes the 2nd free throw | 12-5 |
| 11:28 | Villanova | Vernon Ray clanks a runner in the lane but he's fouled by Michael Compton - foul #1 on Michael Compton, team foul #5 | 12-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Golden (PF) Phillip Dean | |
| Subs | Villanova | Carl Fox (C) Justin Kiesel | |
| 11:28 | Villanova | Vernon Ray makes the 1st free throw | 12-6 |
| 11:28 | Villanova | Vernon Ray makes the 2nd free throw | 12-7 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Mickey Haworth (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - Michael Compton (fairly fresh) SF - Robert Moralez (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. PF - Anthony Golden (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - David White (tiring) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Villanova | PG - Michael Irving (fresh) SG - Alfred Carr (fairly fresh) SF - Travis Johnson (fresh) PF - Vernon Ray (fairly fresh) 5 pts. C - Carl Fox (fresh) | |
| 11:24 | Illinois | Mickey Haworth throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 12-7 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Villanova | Edwin Buhr (PF) Vernon Ray | |
| 11:06 | Villanova | Alfred Carr comes up short on the turnaround from the right block but he's fouled by David White - foul #1 on David White, team foul #6 | 12-7 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Eugene Wells (SF), Joseph Pearce (C) Mickey Haworth, Robert Moralez, David White | |
| Subs | Villanova | | |
| 11:06 | Villanova | Alfred Carr makes the 1st free throw | 12-8 |
| 11:06 | Villanova | Alfred Carr makes the 2nd free throw | 12-9 |
| 11:03 | Illinois | Michael Compton's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 12-9 |
| 10:49 | Villanova | Alfred Carr clanks a runner in the paint | 12-9 |
| 10:47 | Villanova | Travis Johnson hits the follow up shot | 12-11 |
| 10:29 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell hits a shot from the right block set up by Michael Compton | 14-11 |
| 10:27 | Villanova | Alfred Carr double dribbles in the backcourt | 14-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | Phillip Dean (PF) Anthony Golden | |
| Subs | Villanova | James Washington (SG), William Langhorne (SF), Vernon Ray (PF) Alfred Carr, Travis Johnson, Edwin Buhr | |
| 10:07 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell's floater is tipped away by William Langhorne | 14-11 |
| 10:06 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Joseph Pearce | 14-11 |
| 09:42 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell throws it down on a great pass from Phillip Dean | 16-11 |
| 09:29 | Villanova | James Washington connects on the turnaround in the paint on a great pass from Carl Fox | 16-13 |
| 09:05 | Illinois | Eugene Wells's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 16-13 |
| Subs | Illinois | Mickey Haworth (PG), Robert Moralez (SF), Ralph Hylton (PF), David White (C) Michael Compton, Eugene Wells, Phillip Dean, Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Villanova | Donald Groves (PG), Thomas Frank (SG), Justin Kiesel (SF), Edwin Buhr (PF), Andrew Schalk (C) Michael Irving, James Washington, William Langhorne, Vernon Ray, Carl Fox | |
| 08:43 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel misses badly on a driving attempt from the right block but the foul's on Scott Blackwell - foul #1 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #7 | 16-13 |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Golden (PF) Scott Blackwell | |
| Subs | Villanova | | |
| 08:43 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel makes the 1st free throw | 16-14 |
| 08:43 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel makes the 2nd free throw | 16-15 |
| 08:40 | Illinois | Justin Kiesel steals it from Ralph Hylton in the backcourt | 16-15 |
| 08:17 | Villanova | Donald Groves misses long on a turnaround in the lane | 16-15 |
| 08:15 | Illinois | David White pulls down the rebound | 16-15 |
| 07:59 | Illinois | Robert Moralez hits the front of the rim on the jumper from close range | 16-15 |
| 07:58 | Villanova | Edwin Buhr gets the rebound | 16-15 |
| 07:38 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel buries a floater from the left side on a nice dish by Donald Groves | 16-17 |
| 07:12 | Illinois | Robert Moralez hits a turnaround in the lane on a nice dish by Mickey Haworth | 18-17 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Mickey Haworth (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Moralez (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. SF - Ralph Hylton (fairly fresh) PF - Anthony Golden (tiring) 2 pts. C - David White (tiring) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Villanova | PG - Donald Groves (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Thomas Frank (fairly fresh) SF - Justin Kiesel (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Edwin Buhr (tired) C - Andrew Schalk (fairly fresh) | |
| 06:47 | Villanova | Robert Moralez takes the ball from Donald Groves | 18-17 |
| 06:44 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton hits the finger roll set up by Robert Moralez | 20-17 |
| 06:22 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel can't connect on an uncontested shot from the left block | 20-17 |
| 06:21 | Illinois | Anthony Golden gets the rebound | 20-17 |
| 06:17 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses badly on a floater from the right block but the foul's on Thomas Frank - foul #1 on Thomas Frank, team foul #6 | 20-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Jeffrey Craig (SG), Phillip Dean (PF), Joseph Pearce (C) Mickey Haworth, Ralph Hylton, Anthony Golden, David White | |
| Subs | Villanova | James Washington (PG), Alfred Carr (SG), William Langhorne (SF), Vernon Ray (PF), Carl Fox (C) Donald Groves, Thomas Frank, Justin Kiesel, Edwin Buhr, Andrew Schalk | |
| 06:17 | Illinois | Robert Moralez makes the 1st free throw | 21-17 |
| 06:17 | Illinois | Robert Moralez makes the 2nd free throw | 22-17 |
| 06:15 | Villanova | Scott Blackwell takes the ball from William Langhorne in the backcourt | 22-17 |
| 06:13 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell hits the finger roll | 24-17 |
| 06:11 | Villanova | James Washington is fouled in the backcourt by Jeffrey Craig - foul #3 on Jeffrey Craig, team foul #8 | 24-17 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Compton (SG), Eugene Wells (SF) Jeffrey Craig, Robert Moralez | |
| Subs | Villanova | | |
| 06:11 | Villanova | James Washington makes the 1st free throw | 24-18 |
| 06:11 | Villanova | James Washington makes the 2nd free throw | 24-19 |
| 05:45 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce misses the jumper from close range | 24-19 |
| 05:43 | Villanova | William Langhorne gets the rebound | 24-19 |
| 05:19 | Villanova | Alfred Carr hits the front of the rim on the wide open runner from close range | 24-19 |
| 05:18 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce grabs the board | 24-19 |
| 05:13 | Illinois | Alfred Carr steals the ball from Eugene Wells in the backcourt | 24-19 |
| 05:11 | Villanova | Alfred Carr lays it in | 24-21 |
| 05:09 | Illinois | Eugene Wells is fouled in the backcourt by James Washington - foul #1 on James Washington, team foul #7 | 24-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Villanova | Michael Irving (PG), Travis Johnson (SF) James Washington, William Langhorne | |
| 05:09 | Illinois | Eugene Wells makes the 1st free throw | 25-21 |
| 05:09 | Illinois | Eugene Wells misses the 2nd free throw | 25-21 |
| 05:09 | Villanova | Vernon Ray snags the defensive board | 25-21 |
| 04:57 | Villanova | Carl Fox is hacked by Joseph Pearce - foul #1 on Joseph Pearce, team foul #9 | 25-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Moralez (SG), Rick Henry (SF) Michael Compton, Eugene Wells | |
| Subs | Villanova | Justin Kiesel (SF) Vernon Ray | |
| 04:57 | Villanova | Carl Fox makes the 1st free throw | 25-22 |
| 04:57 | Villanova | Carl Fox makes the 2nd free throw | 25-23 |
| 04:52 | Illinois | Michael Irving is called for the reach on Scott Blackwell in the backcourt - foul #1 on Michael Irving, team foul #8 | 25-23 |
| 04:52 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 1st free throw | 26-23 |
| 04:52 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses the 2nd free throw | 26-23 |
| 04:52 | Villanova | Carl Fox grabs the defensive rebound | 26-23 |
| 04:29 | Villanova | Justin Kiesel banks in the wide open layup set up by Carl Fox | 26-25 |
| 04:06 | Illinois | Robert Moralez is open and lays it up and in set up by Rick Henry | 28-25 |
| 03:46 | Villanova | Carl Fox banks in the layup on a nice dish by Travis Johnson | 28-27 |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Michael Irving is called for the reach on Scott Blackwell in the backcourt - foul #2 on Michael Irving, team foul #9 | 28-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Compton (SG), Anthony Golden (PF), David White (C) Rick Henry, Phillip Dean, Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Villanova | James Washington (SG), Vernon Ray (PF) Alfred Carr, Travis Johnson | |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 1st free throw | 29-27 |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses the 2nd free throw | 29-27 |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Anthony Golden pulls down the offensive rebound | 29-27 |
| 03:24 | Illinois | Vernon Ray blocks the short jumper by Scott Blackwell | 29-27 |
| 03:22 | Villanova | James Washington pulls down the rebound | 29-27 |
| 03:19 | Villanova | Vernon Ray is fouled in the backcourt by Robert Moralez - foul #2 on Robert Moralez, team foul #10 | 29-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | Mickey Haworth (PG) Scott Blackwell | |
| Subs | Villanova | William Langhorne (SF), Edwin Buhr (PF) Justin Kiesel, Carl Fox | |
| 03:19 | Villanova | Vernon Ray misses the 1st free throw | 29-27 |
| 03:19 | Villanova | Vernon Ray makes the 2nd free throw | 29-28 |
| 03:00 | Illinois | David White misses long on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 29-28 |
| 02:58 | Villanova | William Langhorne pulls down the rebound | 29-28 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Mickey Haworth (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Michael Compton (tired) 1 ast. SF - Robert Moralez (tiring) 10 pts. 4 reb. PF - Anthony Golden (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - David White (tired) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Villanova | PG - Michael Irving (fairly fresh) SG - James Washington (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SF - William Langhorne (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Edwin Buhr (tired) C - Vernon Ray (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 02:29 | Villanova | Vernon Ray connects on the driving attempt in the paint on a great pass from Michael Irving | 29-30 |
| 02:29 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 29-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (SG), Eugene Wells (SF), Phillip Dean (PF) Michael Compton, Robert Moralez, Anthony Golden | |
| Subs | Villanova | Donald Groves (PG), Thomas Frank (SF), Andrew Schalk (C) Michael Irving, William Langhorne, Edwin Buhr | |
| 02:25 | Illinois | Andrew Schalk steps in front of the Scott Blackwell pass in the backcourt | 29-30 |
| 02:12 | Villanova | Donald Groves buries a shot from the free throw line set up by Thomas Frank | 29-32 |
| 02:07 | Illinois | Mickey Haworth is hacked by Donald Groves in the backcourt - foul #1 on Donald Groves, team foul #10 | 29-32 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Pearce (C) David White | |
| Subs | Villanova | Alfred Carr (SG), Carl Fox (C) James Washington, Andrew Schalk | |
| 02:07 | Illinois | Mickey Haworth makes the 1st free throw | 30-32 |
| 02:07 | Illinois | Mickey Haworth misses the 2nd free throw | 30-32 |
| 02:07 | Villanova | Carl Fox gets the rebound | 30-32 |
| 01:41 | Villanova | Alfred Carr is open and scores on a jump hook from close range on a nice dish by Thomas Frank | 30-34 |
| 01:12 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell double dribbles | 30-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Compton (SG), Rick Henry (SF), Ralph Hylton (PF) Scott Blackwell, Eugene Wells, Phillip Dean | |
| Subs | Villanova | Michael Irving (PG), Justin Kiesel (SF), Travis Johnson (PF), Andrew Schalk (C) Donald Groves, Thomas Frank, Vernon Ray, Carl Fox | |
| 01:02 | Villanova | Alfred Carr hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left wing | 30-34 |
| 01:01 | Illinois | Michael Compton grabs the board | 30-34 |
| 00:32 | Illinois | Mickey Haworth connects on the pull-up jumper from the right wing | 32-34 |
| 00:19 | Villanova | Rick Henry picks off the pass by Andrew Schalk | 32-34 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Travis Johnson is called for the reach on Ralph Hylton - foul #1 on Travis Johnson, team foul #11 | 32-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Robert Moralez (SG), Anthony Golden (PF), David White (C) Mickey Haworth, Michael Compton, Rick Henry, Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Villanova | James Washington (SG), William Langhorne (SF), Vernon Ray (PF), Carl Fox (C) Alfred Carr, Justin Kiesel, Travis Johnson, Andrew Schalk | |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton misses the 1st free throw | 32-34 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton misses the 2nd free throw | 32-34 |
| 00:02 | Villanova | The rebound goes to Carl Fox | 32-34 |
| 00:00 | Villanova | Carl Fox clanks a fullcourt shot | 32-34 |