| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Russell Main (fresh) SG - Michael Lockhart (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Richard Ward (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. PF - Clayton Jeon (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. C - Jeremy Clark (fresh) 7 pts. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Daniel Everitt (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Kim Richardson (fresh) 7 pts. SF - Eric Holcomb (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Ryan Jones (fresh) 4 pts. 3 blk. C - Delbert Chandler (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Richard Ward inbounds the ball | 27-22 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 19:34 | Illinois | Richard Ward connects on the floater from the left wing on a great pass from Russell Main | 29-22 |
| 19:15 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt drills a pull-up jumper from the right side set up by Kim Richardson | 29-24 |
| 18:57 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon connects on the jumpshot from the left wing on a nice dish by Russell Main | 31-24 |
| 18:32 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt misses short on a shot from the right side but the foul's on Russell Main - foul #3 on Russell Main, team foul #1 | 31-24 |
| 18:32 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt makes the 1st free throw | 31-25 |
| 18:32 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt misses the 2nd free throw | 31-25 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon grabs the board | 31-25 |
| 18:03 | Illinois | Russell Main's floater is tipped away by Delbert Chandler | 31-25 |
| 18:02 | Syracuse | Delbert Chandler grabs the defensive rebound | 31-25 |
| 17:38 | Syracuse | The jump hook by Daniel Everitt is blocked by Clayton Jeon | 31-25 |
| 17:36 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark snags the defensive board | 31-25 |
| 17:21 | Illinois | Russell Main scores on a fadeaway jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Richard Ward and the foul's on Delbert Chandler - foul #3 on Delbert Chandler, team foul #1 | 33-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Anthony Beaufort (C) Delbert Chandler | |
| 17:21 | Illinois | Russell Main makes the free throw | 34-25 |
| 16:59 | Syracuse | Richard Ward steps in front of the Anthony Beaufort pass | 34-25 |
| 16:41 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 34-25 |
| 16:40 | Syracuse | The rebound goes to Ryan Jones | 34-25 |
| 16:19 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson is whistled for a carry | 34-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Bell (PG), William Frye (C) Russell Main, Jeremy Clark | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon comes up short on the shot from the right wing but the foul's on Ryan Jones - foul #2 on Ryan Jones, team foul #2 | 34-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Delbert Chandler (C) Anthony Beaufort | |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon makes the 1st free throw | 35-25 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon makes the 2nd free throw | 36-25 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Keith Bell (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Michael Lockhart (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Richard Ward (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. PF - Clayton Jeon (fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. C - William Frye (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Daniel Everitt (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SG - Kim Richardson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Eric Holcomb (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Ryan Jones (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 3 blk. C - Delbert Chandler (fresh) 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 15:38 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt scores on a 3pt shot from the left corner on a nice dish by Kim Richardson | 36-28 |
| 15:14 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 36-28 |
| 15:12 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt gets the rebound | 36-28 |
| 14:45 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt misses the 3 pointer from the right wing | 36-28 |
| 14:43 | Illinois | Richard Ward pulls down the rebound | 36-28 |
| 14:19 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon buries a jumpshot from the right side set up by Keith Bell | 38-28 |
| 13:57 | Syracuse | Delbert Chandler clanks a driving attempt from the baseline | 38-28 |
| 13:55 | Syracuse | Eric Holcomb gets the offensive rebound | 38-28 |
| 13:33 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson connects on the 3 from the right wing | 38-31 |
| 13:15 | Illinois | Delbert Chandler blocks the short jumper by William Frye | 38-31 |
| 13:13 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to William Frye | 38-31 |
| 12:55 | Illinois | A charge is called on Richard Ward - foul #3 on Richard Ward, team foul #2 | 38-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | Russell Main (PG), Scott Weber (SG), Jeremy Clark (C) Michael Lockhart, Richard Ward, William Frye | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Anthony Beaufort (C) Delbert Chandler | |
| 12:36 | Syracuse | Scott Weber takes the ball from Daniel Everitt | 38-31 |
| 12:15 | Illinois | Russell Main banks in the layup | 40-31 |
| 11:59 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 40-31 |
| 11:57 | Syracuse | Anthony Beaufort tips it in | 40-33 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Russell Main (fresh) 5 pts. 3 pf. SG - Scott Weber (fresh) 2 stl. SF - Keith Bell (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Clayton Jeon (fairly fresh) 14 pts. 3 reb. C - Jeremy Clark (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Daniel Everitt (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SG - Kim Richardson (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 2 ast. SF - Eric Holcomb (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ryan Jones (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 3 blk. C - Anthony Beaufort (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:41 | Illinois | Keith Bell hits a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 42-33 |
| 11:17 | Syracuse | Eric Holcomb drills a floater from close range on a great pass from Kim Richardson | 42-35 |
| 10:53 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark is hacked by Daniel Everitt - foul #1 on Daniel Everitt, team foul #3 | 42-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Lockhart (SG), Richard Ward (SF), William Frye (PF) Scott Weber, Keith Bell, Clayton Jeon | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Delbert Chandler (C) Anthony Beaufort | |
| 10:33 | Illinois | Russell Main throws a bad pass out of bounds | 42-35 |
| 10:17 | Syracuse | Eric Holcomb connects on the jumpshot from the left side and the foul's on Richard Ward - foul #4 on Richard Ward, team foul #3 | 42-37 |
| 10:17 | Syracuse | Eric Holcomb makes the free throw | 42-38 |
| 10:03 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark drills a jumper in the lane on a great pass from Michael Lockhart | 44-38 |
| 09:37 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson can't finish the layup | 44-38 |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark pulls down the rebound | 44-38 |
| 09:31 | Illinois | Russell Main is fouled on the floor by Kim Richardson - foul #2 on Kim Richardson, team foul #4 | 44-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Weber (PG) Russell Main | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 09:14 | Illinois | Michael Lockhart is hacked by Kim Richardson - foul #3 on Kim Richardson, team foul #5 | 44-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Bell (PG) Scott Weber | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 09:02 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark misses the fadeaway from the right block but the foul's on Delbert Chandler - foul #4 on Delbert Chandler, team foul #6 | 44-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Anthony Beaufort (C) Delbert Chandler | |
| 09:02 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark makes the 1st free throw | 45-38 |
| 09:02 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark makes the 2nd free throw | 46-38 |
| 08:39 | Syracuse | Michael Lockhart is called for the reach on Ryan Jones - foul #1 on Michael Lockhart, team foul #4 | 46-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Weber (SF), Clayton Jeon (PF) Richard Ward, Jeremy Clark | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 08:20 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson misses long on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 46-38 |
| 08:19 | Illinois | William Frye snags the defensive board | 46-38 |
| 08:04 | Illinois | William Frye buries a shot in the paint on a great pass from Clayton Jeon and the foul's on Anthony Beaufort - foul #3 on Anthony Beaufort, team foul #7 | 48-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Russell Main (PG) Keith Bell | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 08:04 | Illinois | William Frye makes the free throw | 49-38 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-4) | |
| 07:56 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones is hacked by Clayton Jeon - foul #1 on Clayton Jeon, team foul #5 | 49-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Delbert Chandler (C) Anthony Beaufort | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Russell Main (fresh) 5 pts. 3 pf. SG - Michael Lockhart (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Scott Weber (fresh) 2 stl. PF - Clayton Jeon (fresh) 14 pts. 3 reb. C - William Frye (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Daniel Everitt (tiring) 11 pts. 2 ast. SG - Kim Richardson (tiring) 10 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SF - Eric Holcomb (tiring) 11 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ryan Jones (tiring) 4 pts. 2 reb. 3 blk. C - Delbert Chandler (fresh) 4 reb. 2 blk. 4 pf. | |
| 07:40 | Syracuse | Clayton Jeon swats the layup by Daniel Everitt | 49-38 |
| 07:38 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon gets the rebound | 49-38 |
| 07:33 | Illinois | Russell Main is hacked by Daniel Everitt - foul #2 on Daniel Everitt, team foul #8 | 49-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Bell (SF), Jeremy Clark (C) Michael Lockhart, William Frye | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 07:33 | Illinois | Russell Main misses the 1st free throw | 49-38 |
| 07:33 | Syracuse | Delbert Chandler gets the rebound | 49-38 |
| 07:13 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 49-38 |
| 07:11 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones grabs the offensive board | 49-38 |
| 07:06 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt hits the front of the rim on the 3 from straight away | 49-38 |
| 07:05 | Illinois | Scott Weber pulls down the rebound | 49-38 |
| 06:44 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark knocks in the turnaround from close range set up by Russell Main | 51-38 |
| 06:25 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt can't connect on a 3 from straight away | 51-38 |
| 06:24 | Syracuse | Delbert Chandler hits the follow up shot | 51-40 |
| 06:00 | Illinois | Daniel Everitt steals it from Scott Weber | 51-40 |
| 05:54 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt misses badly on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 51-40 |
| 05:52 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson hits the follow up shot | 51-42 |
| 05:52 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 51-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Lockhart (SG), Richard Ward (SF) Scott Weber, Keith Bell | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 05:23 | Illinois | Daniel Everitt is called for the reach on Russell Main - foul #3 on Daniel Everitt, team foul #9 | 51-42 |
| 05:23 | Illinois | Russell Main misses the 1st free throw | 51-42 |
| 05:23 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones grabs the board | 51-42 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 05:10 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt drills a jumpshot from the left wing | 51-44 |
| 04:46 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark banks in the layup on a nice dish by Michael Lockhart and he's hacked by Delbert Chandler - foul #5 on Delbert Chandler, team foul #10 | 53-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Anthony Beaufort (C) Delbert Chandler | |
| 04:46 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark makes the free throw | 54-44 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 04:35 | Syracuse | Eric Holcomb can't connect on a fadeaway from the baseline | 54-44 |
| 04:34 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark grabs the defensive rebound | 54-44 |
| 04:12 | Illinois | A charge is called on Jeremy Clark - foul #1 on Jeremy Clark, team foul #6 | 54-44 |
| 03:54 | Syracuse | Daniel Everitt makes the 3 pointer from the left corner | 54-47 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Russell Main (fresh) 5 pts. 3 pf. SG - Michael Lockhart (fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Richard Ward (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. 4 pf. PF - Clayton Jeon (fresh) 14 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Jeremy Clark (fresh) 16 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Daniel Everitt (tiring) 16 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SG - Kim Richardson (tiring) 12 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SF - Eric Holcomb (tiring) 11 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ryan Jones (tiring) 4 pts. 4 reb. 3 blk. C - Anthony Beaufort (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon is hacked by Daniel Everitt in the backcourt - foul #4 on Daniel Everitt, team foul #11 | 54-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Bell (PG) Russell Main | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon makes the 1st free throw | 55-47 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon makes the 2nd free throw | 56-47 |
| 03:36 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson clanks a 3 from the left corner | 56-47 |
| 03:35 | Illinois | Richard Ward grabs the board | 56-47 |
| 03:32 | Illinois | Richard Ward is hacked by Daniel Everitt in the backcourt - foul #5 on Daniel Everitt, team foul #12 | 56-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | William Frye (C) Jeremy Clark | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Robert Carpenter (PG) Daniel Everitt | |
| 03:32 | Illinois | Richard Ward misses the 1st free throw | 56-47 |
| 03:32 | Illinois | Richard Ward misses the 2nd free throw | 56-47 |
| 03:32 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson gets the rebound | 56-47 |
| 03:12 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson misses short on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 56-47 |
| 03:11 | Illinois | William Frye snags the defensive board | 56-47 |
| 03:09 | Illinois | William Frye is fouled in the backcourt by Robert Carpenter - foul #1 on Robert Carpenter, team foul #13 | 56-47 |
| 03:09 | Illinois | William Frye misses the 1st free throw | 56-47 |
| 03:09 | Illinois | William Frye misses the 2nd free throw | 56-47 |
| 03:09 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones gets the rebound | 56-47 |
| 02:59 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones clanks a runner from the left block but he's fouled by Richard Ward - foul #5 on Richard Ward, team foul #7 | 56-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Weber (SF) Richard Ward | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 02:59 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones misses the 1st free throw | 56-47 |
| 02:59 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones makes the 2nd free throw | 56-48 |
| 02:57 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon is hacked by Robert Carpenter in the backcourt - foul #2 on Robert Carpenter, team foul #14 | 56-48 |
| 02:57 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon makes the 1st free throw | 57-48 |
| 02:57 | Illinois | Clayton Jeon makes the 2nd free throw | 58-48 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+5) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 02:55 | Syracuse | Syracuse calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 58-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | Russell Main (PG), Jeremy Clark (C) Keith Bell, William Frye | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 02:46 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson misses the 3pt jumper from straight away | 58-48 |
| 02:45 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark grabs the board | 58-48 |
| 02:43 | Illinois | Robert Carpenter is called for the reach on Jeremy Clark in the backcourt - foul #3 on Robert Carpenter, team foul #15 | 58-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Bell (PG) Russell Main | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 02:43 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark makes the 1st free throw | 59-48 |
| 02:43 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark makes the 2nd free throw | 60-48 |
| 02:28 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson clanks a 3pt attempt from straight away | 60-48 |
| 02:26 | Syracuse | The offensive rebound goes to Ryan Jones | 60-48 |
| 02:21 | Syracuse | The jump hook by Ryan Jones is blocked by Jeremy Clark | 60-48 |
| 02:20 | Illinois | Michael Lockhart snags the defensive board | 60-48 |
| 02:18 | Illinois | Robert Carpenter is called for the reach on Michael Lockhart in the backcourt - foul #4 on Robert Carpenter, team foul #16 | 60-48 |
| 02:18 | Illinois | Michael Lockhart makes the 1st free throw | 61-48 |
| 02:18 | Illinois | Michael Lockhart makes the 2nd free throw | 62-48 |
| 02:09 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones connects on the driving attempt from the right block on a nice dish by Eric Holcomb | 62-50 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark is fouled in the backcourt by Kim Richardson - foul #4 on Kim Richardson, team foul #17 | 62-50 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark misses the 1st free throw | 62-50 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark makes the 2nd free throw | 63-50 |
| 01:55 | Syracuse | Eric Holcomb scores on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 63-52 |
| 01:53 | Illinois | Robert Carpenter is called for the reach on Keith Bell in the backcourt - foul #5 on Robert Carpenter, team foul #18 | 63-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Michael McEady (PG) Robert Carpenter | |
| 01:53 | Illinois | Keith Bell makes the 1st free throw | 64-52 |
| 01:53 | Illinois | Keith Bell makes the 2nd free throw | 65-52 |
| 01:32 | Syracuse | Kim Richardson comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 65-52 |
| 01:31 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jeremy Clark | 65-52 |
| 01:29 | Illinois | Kim Richardson is called for the reach on Jeremy Clark in the backcourt - foul #5 on Kim Richardson, team foul #19 | 65-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Joseph Kinney (SG) Kim Richardson | |
| 01:29 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark makes the 1st free throw | 66-52 |
| 01:29 | Illinois | Jeremy Clark makes the 2nd free throw | 67-52 |
| 01:12 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones makes the jumper from the left wing set up by Joseph Kinney | 67-54 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+5) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| 00:44 | Illinois | Keith Bell scores on a runner in the paint on a great pass from Clayton Jeon | 69-54 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+5) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-3) | |
| 00:37 | Syracuse | Eric Holcomb scores on a turnaround from the baseline | 69-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+5) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-3) | |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Michael Lockhart makes the floater from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Scott Weber | 71-56 |
| 00:09 | Syracuse | Ryan Jones comes up short on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 71-56 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | Keith Bell snags the defensive board | 71-56 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Keith Bell runs out the clock | 71-56 |