| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ernest Gosser (fresh) SG - Michael Lezama (fresh) SF - Jeffrey Apel (fresh) PF - David Primmer (fresh) C - Jacob Bolton (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Donald Sapp (fresh) SG - Tyler Gantz (fresh) SF - James Thompson (fresh) PF - Charles Carrier (fresh) C - Carmelo Murillo (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-3) | |
| 19:53 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo lays it up and in on a nice dish by Donald Sapp | 0-2 |
| 19:37 | Illinois | James Thompson steals it from Michael Lezama | 0-2 |
| 19:28 | Northwestern | James Thompson splits the doubleteam but misses short on a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 0-2 |
| 19:26 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ernest Gosser | 0-2 |
| 19:12 | Illinois | Donald Sapp steps in front of the Jeffrey Apel pass | 0-2 |
| 19:03 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz connects on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 0-5 |
| 18:47 | Illinois | David Primmer comes up short on the jumper from the left block | 0-5 |
| 18:45 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier pulls down the rebound | 0-5 |
| 18:22 | Northwestern | James Thompson misses the layup against the doubleteam | 0-5 |
| 18:21 | Illinois | David Primmer gets the rebound | 0-5 |
| 18:04 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton hits a jumper from the left side on a great pass from Ernest Gosser | 2-5 |
| 17:53 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz misses the jumper from the left wing | 2-5 |
| 17:51 | Illinois | David Primmer grabs the defensive rebound | 2-5 |
| 17:36 | Illinois | Jeffrey Apel hits a 3 from straight away | 5-5 |
| 17:34 | Northwestern | Ernest Gosser picks off the pass by Donald Sapp in the backcourt | 5-5 |
| 17:21 | Illinois | Ernest Gosser clanks a 3pt shot from the right corner | 5-5 |
| 17:19 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo pulls down the rebound | 5-5 |
| 17:15 | Northwestern | James Thompson splits the doubleteam and buries a shot from the free throw line on a great pass from Donald Sapp | 5-7 |
| 17:01 | Illinois | Michael Lezama loses the ball out of bounds | 5-7 |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Kerr (PG), Matthew Bashir (SF) Ernest Gosser, Jeffrey Apel | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Servais (PG), Frank Maltby (PF), Robert Widner (C) Donald Sapp, Charles Carrier, Carmelo Murillo | |
| 16:48 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz drills a 3 pointer from the left corner set up by Robert Servais | 5-10 |
| 16:33 | Illinois | David Primmer misses badly on a jumper from the baseline | 5-10 |
| 16:31 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton pulls down the offensive rebound | 5-10 |
| 16:20 | Illinois | Matthew Bashir buries a floater from the right side set up by Wayne Kerr | 7-10 |
| 16:04 | Northwestern | Robert Servais buries a fadeaway from the left wing | 7-12 |
| 15:49 | Illinois | Michael Lezama scores on a 3 from the right wing on a nice dish by Wayne Kerr | 10-12 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Wayne Kerr (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Michael Lezama (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Matthew Bashir (fresh) 2 pts. PF - David Primmer (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Jacob Bolton (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Servais (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Tyler Gantz (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - James Thompson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Frank Maltby (fresh) C - Robert Widner (fresh) | |
| 15:40 | Northwestern | Robert Servais is fouled on the floor by Wayne Kerr - foul #1 on Wayne Kerr, team foul #1 | 10-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ernest Gosser (PG), Jeffrey Apel (SG), Ernie Carey (C) Michael Lezama, David Primmer, Jacob Bolton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Donald Sapp (SG), Charles Carrier (SF), Carmelo Murillo (C) Tyler Gantz, James Thompson, Robert Widner | |
| 15:31 | Northwestern | Robert Servais lays it up and in set up by Frank Maltby | 10-14 |
| 15:11 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 10-14 |
| 15:09 | Northwestern | Robert Servais gets the rebound | 10-14 |
| 14:56 | Northwestern | Robert Servais comes up short on the jumper from just outside the lane | 10-14 |
| 14:54 | Illinois | Ernest Gosser pulls down the rebound | 10-14 |
| 14:32 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr is fouled on the floor by Robert Servais - foul #1 on Robert Servais, team foul #1 | 10-14 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Dixon (SG) Wayne Kerr | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz (SG), James Thompson (SF) Donald Sapp, Carmelo Murillo | |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Robert Dixon misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 10-14 |
| 14:19 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Charles Carrier | 10-14 |
| 14:07 | Northwestern | Frank Maltby is alone and drills a turnaround from the left block on a nice dish by Robert Servais | 10-16 |
| 13:57 | Illinois | Robert Dixon is fouled on the floor by Tyler Gantz - foul #1 on Tyler Gantz, team foul #2 | 10-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Lezama (SG), David Primmer (PF), Jacob Bolton (C) Ernest Gosser, Matthew Bashir, Ernie Carey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo (C) James Thompson | |
| 13:37 | Illinois | David Primmer makes the jumper from the baseline on a great pass from Jeffrey Apel and he's fouled by Carmelo Murillo - foul #1 on Carmelo Murillo, team foul #3 | 12-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Joseph (SF) Jeffrey Apel | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Donald Sapp (PG), James Thompson (SF) Robert Servais, Carmelo Murillo | |
| 13:37 | Illinois | David Primmer makes the free throw | 13-16 |
| 13:16 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz throws a bad pass out of bounds | 13-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Kerr (PG) Robert Dixon | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Servais (SG), Carmelo Murillo (C) Tyler Gantz, Frank Maltby | |
| 12:55 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton loses the dribble to Robert Servais | 13-16 |
| 12:38 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier is denied on a layup by Jacob Bolton | 13-16 |
| 12:36 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo can't tip it in | 13-16 |
| 12:35 | Illinois | The rebound goes to David Primmer | 13-16 |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 13-16 |
| 12:28 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo gets the rebound | 13-16 |
| 12:10 | Northwestern | James Thompson loses the ball out of bounds against a doubleteam | 13-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ernest Gosser (PG), Jeffrey Apel (SF), Matthew Bashir (PF) Wayne Kerr, James Joseph, David Primmer | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz (SG), Frank Maltby (PF) Robert Servais, Charles Carrier | |
| 11:59 | Illinois | Michael Lezama is fouled on the floor by Frank Maltby - foul #1 on Frank Maltby, team foul #4 | 13-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Dixon (SG), Ernie Carey (C) Michael Lezama, Jacob Bolton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Servais (PG), Charles Carrier (C) Donald Sapp, Carmelo Murillo | |
| 11:46 | Illinois | Jeffrey Apel hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 13-16 |
| 11:44 | Illinois | Ernest Gosser gets the offensive rebound | 13-16 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ernest Gosser (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Robert Dixon (fresh) SF - Jeffrey Apel (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. PF - Matthew Bashir (fresh) 2 pts. C - Ernie Carey (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Servais (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Tyler Gantz (fresh) 6 pts. SF - James Thompson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Frank Maltby (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Charles Carrier (fairly fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 11:27 | Illinois | Jeffrey Apel knocks in the 3pt jumper from the left corner on a nice dish by Ernie Carey | 16-16 |
| 11:08 | Northwestern | Frank Maltby is called for a pushoff foul - foul #2 on Frank Maltby, team foul #5 | 16-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Lezama (SG), David Primmer (PF), Jacob Bolton (C) Robert Dixon, Matthew Bashir, Ernie Carey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Donald Sapp (PG), Michael Sauls (PF), Carmelo Murillo (C) Robert Servais, Frank Maltby, Charles Carrier | |
| 10:46 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton scores on a runner in the paint set up by Ernest Gosser | 18-16 |
| 10:31 | Northwestern | Jacob Bolton blocks the short jumper by James Thompson | 18-16 |
| 10:30 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo snags the offensive board | 18-16 |
| 10:18 | Northwestern | A charge is called on Tyler Gantz - foul #2 on Tyler Gantz, team foul #6 | 18-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Servais (SG), Charles Carrier (SF) Tyler Gantz, James Thompson | |
| 10:01 | Illinois | Michael Lezama misses the 3 from the right corner | 18-16 |
| 09:59 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier grabs the board | 18-16 |
| 09:43 | Northwestern | Robert Servais is called for traveling | 18-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Kerr (SF) Jeffrey Apel | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Thompson (SG) Robert Servais | |
| 09:22 | Illinois | Michael Lezama hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 18-16 |
| 09:21 | Northwestern | Michael Sauls pulls down the rebound | 18-16 |
| 09:12 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a jumper from the right side | 18-16 |
| 09:10 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier gets the offensive rebound | 18-16 |
| 09:05 | Northwestern | Donald Sapp misses badly on a floater from the left side | 18-16 |
| 09:03 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton grabs the board | 18-16 |
| 08:58 | Illinois | Michael Lezama knocks in the 3pt attempt from the left corner set up by David Primmer | 21-16 |
| 08:47 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier buries a jumpshot from the left side on a nice dish by James Thompson | 21-18 |
| 08:44 | Illinois | Donald Sapp picks off the pass by Ernest Gosser in the backcourt | 21-18 |
| 08:33 | Northwestern | Michael Lezama is called for the reach on James Thompson - foul #1 on Michael Lezama, team foul #2 | 21-18 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Dixon (SG), James Joseph (SF), Matthew Bashir (PF), Ernie Carey (C) Ernest Gosser, Michael Lezama, David Primmer, Jacob Bolton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Servais (PG), Robert Widner (C) Michael Sauls, Carmelo Murillo | |
| 08:21 | Northwestern | James Thompson misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 21-18 |
| 08:19 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Matthew Bashir | 21-18 |
| 08:02 | Illinois | Matthew Bashir's fadeaway is rejected by Robert Widner | 21-18 |
| 08:00 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr tips it in | 23-18 |
| 07:45 | Northwestern | Robert Widner is open and lays it up and in on a great pass from Robert Servais | 23-20 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Wayne Kerr (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Robert Dixon (fresh) SF - James Joseph (fresh) PF - Matthew Bashir (fresh) 2 pts. C - Ernie Carey (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Servais (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. SG - Donald Sapp (fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - James Thompson (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. PF - Charles Carrier (tiring) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Robert Widner (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:25 | Illinois | Matthew Bashir misses badly on a runner in the lane | 23-20 |
| 07:24 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr snags the offensive board | 23-20 |
| 07:12 | Illinois | Donald Sapp steals it from Robert Dixon | 23-20 |
| 06:59 | Northwestern | James Thompson hits a 3 pointer from the right corner | 23-23 |
| 06:46 | Illinois | Ernie Carey can't finish the layup | 23-23 |
| 06:44 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Charles Carrier | 23-23 |
| 06:27 | Northwestern | Donald Sapp scores on a 3pt attempt from the right wing set up by Robert Widner | 23-26 |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Charles Carrier is called for the reach on Wayne Kerr - foul #1 on Charles Carrier, team foul #7 | 23-26 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Lezama (SG), Jeffrey Apel (SF), David Primmer (PF), Jacob Bolton (C) Robert Dixon, James Joseph, Matthew Bashir, Ernie Carey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Sauls (PF), Carmelo Murillo (C) Donald Sapp, Robert Widner | |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr makes the 1st free throw | 24-26 |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr misses the 2nd free throw | 24-26 |
| 06:06 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Michael Sauls | 24-26 |
| 05:52 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo buries a shot from the left block set up by James Thompson | 24-28 |
| 05:41 | Illinois | David Primmer comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 24-28 |
| 05:40 | Northwestern | Michael Sauls pulls down the rebound | 24-28 |
| 05:26 | Northwestern | Michael Lezama picks off the pass by Carmelo Murillo | 24-28 |
| 05:23 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr lays it up and in on a great pass from Michael Lezama | 26-28 |
| 05:12 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo is hacked by Jacob Bolton - foul #1 on Jacob Bolton, team foul #3 | 26-28 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ernest Gosser (PG) Wayne Kerr | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Donald Sapp (PG) Michael Sauls | |
| 05:03 | Northwestern | Robert Servais is denied on a layup by Jacob Bolton | 26-28 |
| 05:01 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jacob Bolton | 26-28 |
| 04:35 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton misses long on a fadeaway from the right side but he's hacked by James Thompson - foul #1 on James Thompson, team foul #8 | 26-28 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Sauls (PF) Robert Servais | |
| 04:35 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton makes the 1st free throw | 27-28 |
| 04:35 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton makes the 2nd free throw | 28-28 |
| 04:13 | Northwestern | James Thompson is whistled for traveling | 28-28 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Servais (SG) Michael Sauls | |
| 04:04 | Illinois | Michael Lezama hits a 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by Jacob Bolton | 31-28 |
| 03:50 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier is doubleteamed and loses the dribble to Ernest Gosser | 31-28 |
| 03:21 | Illinois | Charles Carrier is called for the reach on David Primmer - foul #2 on Charles Carrier, team foul #9 | 31-28 |
| Subs | Illinois | Matthew Bashir (SF) Jeffrey Apel | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz (SG), Frank Maltby (PF) Robert Servais, James Thompson | |
| 03:21 | Illinois | David Primmer makes the 1st free throw | 32-28 |
| 03:21 | Illinois | David Primmer misses the 2nd free throw | 32-28 |
| 03:21 | Northwestern | Frank Maltby grabs the board | 32-28 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ernest Gosser (fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Michael Lezama (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - Matthew Bashir (fresh) 2 pts. PF - David Primmer (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Jacob Bolton (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Donald Sapp (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. 3 stl. SG - Tyler Gantz (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Charles Carrier (tired) 2 pts. 5 reb. PF - Frank Maltby (fresh) 2 pts. C - Carmelo Murillo (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 03:06 | Northwestern | Michael Lezama picks off the pass by Donald Sapp | 32-28 |
| 03:03 | Illinois | Matthew Bashir lays it up and in on a great pass from Michael Lezama | 34-28 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier clanks a turnaround near the basket but he's fouled by Matthew Bashir - foul #1 on Matthew Bashir, team foul #4 | 34-28 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Dixon (SG), Wayne Kerr (SF), Ernie Carey (C) Michael Lezama, David Primmer, Jacob Bolton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier makes the 1st free throw | 34-29 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | Charles Carrier makes the 2nd free throw | 34-30 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Ernest Gosser is fouled in the backcourt by Donald Sapp - foul #1 on Donald Sapp, team foul #10 | 34-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Thompson (SF) Charles Carrier | |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Ernest Gosser misses the 1st free throw | 34-30 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Ernest Gosser makes the 2nd free throw | 35-30 |
| 02:40 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing but he's fouled by Robert Dixon - foul #1 on Robert Dixon, team foul #5 | 35-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Servais (PG) Donald Sapp | |
| 02:40 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz makes the 1st free throw | 35-31 |
| 02:40 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz misses the 2nd free throw | 35-31 |
| 02:40 | Illinois | Ernie Carey gets the rebound | 35-31 |
| 02:26 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr makes the 3pt shot from straight away on a great pass from Ernest Gosser | 38-31 |
| 02:09 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz is fouled on the floor by Matthew Bashir - foul #2 on Matthew Bashir, team foul #6 | 38-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Apel (SF) Ernest Gosser | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Donald Sapp (PG), Charles Carrier (SF) Robert Servais, James Thompson | |
| 01:50 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo is denied on a layup by Ernie Carey | 38-31 |
| 01:49 | Illinois | Matthew Bashir snags the defensive board | 38-31 |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Charles Carrier is called for the reach on Ernie Carey - foul #3 on Charles Carrier, team foul #11 | 38-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Lezama (SG), David Primmer (PF) Robert Dixon, Matthew Bashir | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Thompson (SF) Charles Carrier | |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Ernie Carey makes the 1st free throw | 39-31 |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Ernie Carey makes the 2nd free throw | 40-31 |
| 01:27 | Northwestern | Donald Sapp is hacked by Ernie Carey - foul #1 on Ernie Carey, team foul #7 | 40-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jacob Bolton (C) Ernie Carey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 01:27 | Northwestern | Donald Sapp makes the 1st free throw | 40-32 |
| 01:27 | Northwestern | Donald Sapp makes the 2nd free throw | 40-33 |
| 01:06 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton loses the dribble to Carmelo Murillo | 40-33 |
| 00:55 | Northwestern | Tyler Gantz misses the fadeaway from the right side | 40-33 |
| 00:54 | Northwestern | Frank Maltby tips it home | 40-35 |
| 00:39 | Illinois | The jumper by David Primmer is denied by Frank Maltby | 40-35 |
| 00:37 | Illinois | Wayne Kerr grabs the offensive board | 40-35 |
| 00:26 | Illinois | Jacob Bolton can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 40-35 |
| 00:24 | Northwestern | Carmelo Murillo pulls down the rebound | 40-35 |
| 00:05 | Northwestern | Frank Maltby scores on a jumpshot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Carmelo Murillo | 40-37 |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Jeffrey Apel misses badly on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 40-37 |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Frank Maltby | 40-37 |