| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Ralph Brassell (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - John McCullars (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Steven Young (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Jerald Harrison (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. C - Jermaine Strong (fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Steven Young inbounds the ball | 25-30 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:34 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison is hacked by Johnny Parent - foul #2 on Johnny Parent, team foul #1 | 25-30 |
| 19:25 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway near the basket | 25-30 |
| 19:23 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Stephen Dantzler | 25-30 |
| 19:14 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 25-30 |
| 19:13 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton grabs the offensive rebound | 25-30 |
| 18:58 | Northwestern | Jerald Harrison steals the ball from Ralph Brassell | 25-30 |
| 18:47 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison connects on the floater from the right wing on a nice dish by Lindsay Jones | 25-32 |
| 18:20 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent hits a 3pt jumper from straight away | 28-32 |
| 18:18 | Illinois | Stephen Dantzler takes the ball from Lindsay Jones in the backcourt | 28-32 |
| 18:16 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler lays it up and in | 30-32 |
| 18:06 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 30-32 |
| 18:04 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler gets the rebound | 30-32 |
| 17:51 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton buries a 3 pointer from the right corner | 33-32 |
| 17:35 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong lays it in on a great pass from Lindsay Jones and the foul's on John McCullars - foul #2 on John McCullars, team foul #2 | 33-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski (C) John McCullars | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Duhart (PG), Dwight Carr (SF) Lindsay Jones, Steven Young | |
| 17:35 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong makes the free throw | 33-35 |
| 17:32 | Northwestern | James Duhart steps in front of the Johnny Parent pass in the backcourt | 33-35 |
| 17:12 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison misses the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 33-35 |
| 17:10 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong tips it but misses | 33-35 |
| 17:08 | Illinois | James Duhart tips it in | 33-37 |
| 16:48 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler is hacked by Dwight Carr - foul #3 on Dwight Carr, team foul #1 | 33-37 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo (SG), Terry Welch (PF) Stephen Dantzler, Ralph Brassell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Caudill (PG), Steven Young (SF), Jared Hagler (PF), Michael Thoreson (C) Richard Brown, Dwight Carr, Jerald Harrison, Jermaine Strong | |
| 16:42 | Northwestern | Brian Caudill is called for the reach on Johnny Parent - foul #1 on Brian Caudill, team foul #2 | 33-37 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG) Johnny Parent | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 16:22 | Northwestern | Steven Young steals the ball from Ernie Stoughton | 33-37 |
| 16:01 | Illinois | Jared Hagler can't connect on a jump hook near the basket | 33-37 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Michael Thoreson misses the tip | 33-37 |
| 15:58 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski gets the rebound | 33-37 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Edgar Foster (fresh) SG - Lloyd Vallo (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. PF - Terry Welch (fresh) 1 pts. C - Jerome Poremski (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Caudill (fresh) 1 ast. SG - James Duhart (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Steven Young (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Jared Hagler (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Michael Thoreson (fresh) | |
| 15:53 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 33-37 |
| 15:52 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski pulls down the offensive rebound | 33-37 |
| 15:38 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski misses short on a shot in the lane | 33-37 |
| 15:37 | Illinois | Michael Thoreson gets the rebound | 33-37 |
| 15:18 | Illinois | Jared Hagler hits the front of the rim on the runner in the paint but he's fouled by Edgar Foster - foul #2 on Edgar Foster, team foul #3 | 33-37 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG), Stephen Dantzler (SG), Ralph Brassell (PF), John McCullars (C) Edgar Foster, Lloyd Vallo, Terry Welch, Jerome Poremski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Richard Brown (SG), Dwight Carr (SF), Jermaine Strong (C) Brian Caudill, James Duhart, Steven Young, Michael Thoreson | |
| 15:18 | Illinois | Jared Hagler makes the 1st free throw | 33-38 |
| 15:18 | Illinois | Jared Hagler makes the 2nd free throw | 33-39 |
| 15:07 | Northwestern | The jumper by Johnny Parent is denied by Jermaine Strong | 33-39 |
| 15:05 | Illinois | Dwight Carr snags the defensive board | 33-39 |
| 14:47 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the jumper from close range | 33-39 |
| 14:46 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell snags the defensive board | 33-39 |
| 14:30 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent misses long on a 3 from the right corner | 33-39 |
| 14:29 | Illinois | Jared Hagler grabs the defensive rebound | 33-39 |
| 14:23 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones misses the jumpshot from the right wing | 33-39 |
| 14:22 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler gets the rebound | 33-39 |
| 13:58 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler comes up short on the floater from the left side | 33-39 |
| 13:56 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Richard Brown | 33-39 |
| 13:41 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 33-39 |
| 13:39 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler pulls down the rebound | 33-39 |
| 13:18 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton buries a 3 from the left wing on a great pass from Johnny Parent | 36-39 |
| 13:04 | Illinois | Ralph Brassell denies the turnaround by Jared Hagler | 36-39 |
| 13:02 | Northwestern | John McCullars pulls down the rebound | 36-39 |
| 12:57 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent comes up short on the floater from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Dwight Carr - foul #4 on Dwight Carr, team foul #3 | 36-39 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo (SG), Robert Alford (SF), Terry Welch (PF), Jerome Poremski (C) Stephen Dantzler, Ernie Stoughton, Ralph Brassell, John McCullars | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Caudill (PG), James Duhart (SG), Steven Young (SF), Jerald Harrison (PF), Michael Thoreson (C) Lindsay Jones, Richard Brown, Dwight Carr, Jared Hagler, Jermaine Strong | |
| 12:57 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent makes the 1st free throw | 37-39 |
| 12:57 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent makes the 2nd free throw | 38-39 |
| 12:45 | Illinois | Steven Young misses long on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 38-39 |
| 12:43 | Illinois | Steven Young grabs the offensive rebound | 38-39 |
| 12:32 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison scores on a 3pt attempt from the left corner on a nice dish by Brian Caudill | 38-42 |
| 12:12 | Northwestern | Robert Alford throws a bad pass out of bounds | 38-42 |
| 11:57 | Illinois | Steven Young's pass is intercepted by Jerome Poremski | 38-42 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. SG - Lloyd Vallo (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Robert Alford (fresh) PF - Terry Welch (fresh) 1 pts. C - Jerome Poremski (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Caudill (fresh) 2 ast. SG - James Duhart (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Steven Young (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. PF - Jerald Harrison (fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - Michael Thoreson (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 11:42 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo is hacked by Michael Thoreson - foul #1 on Michael Thoreson, team foul #4 | 38-42 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG), Stephen Dantzler (SG) Johnny Parent, Lloyd Vallo | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Jermaine Strong (C) Brian Caudill, Michael Thoreson | |
| 11:33 | Northwestern | Robert Alford misses the lay-in | 38-42 |
| 11:32 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jermaine Strong | 38-42 |
| 11:18 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison makes the turnaround from the right block set up by Lindsay Jones | 38-44 |
| 11:03 | Northwestern | Terry Welch misses the jumper from the right side | 38-44 |
| 11:02 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison grabs the defensive rebound | 38-44 |
| 10:57 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 38-44 |
| 10:55 | Northwestern | Terry Welch grabs the board | 38-44 |
| 10:37 | Northwestern | The short jumper by Jerome Poremski is denied by Jermaine Strong | 38-44 |
| 10:35 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jermaine Strong | 38-44 |
| 10:21 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones drills a pull-up jumper from the left wing set up by Steven Young | 38-46 |
| 09:56 | Northwestern | Jerald Harrison takes the ball from Stephen Dantzler | 38-46 |
| 09:38 | Illinois | James Duhart is hacked by Terry Welch - foul #1 on Terry Welch, team foul #4 | 38-46 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG), Lloyd Vallo (SG), Ernie Stoughton (SF), Ralph Brassell (PF), John McCullars (C) Edgar Foster, Stephen Dantzler, Robert Alford, Terry Welch, Jerome Poremski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Caudill (PG), Richard Brown (SG), Jared Hagler (PF), Michael Thoreson (C) Lindsay Jones, James Duhart, Jerald Harrison, Jermaine Strong | |
| 09:09 | Illinois | Steven Young can't throw it down | 38-46 |
| 09:08 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to John McCullars | 38-46 |
| 08:52 | Northwestern | Jared Hagler steals the ball from Johnny Parent | 38-46 |
| 08:42 | Illinois | Jared Hagler buries a jumper from the right block on a nice dish by Richard Brown | 38-48 |
| 08:24 | Northwestern | The jump hook by Ralph Brassell is blocked by Jared Hagler | 38-48 |
| 08:22 | Illinois | Jared Hagler grabs the defensive rebound | 38-48 |
| 07:56 | Illinois | Jared Hagler makes the fadeaway from the right block and he's hacked by John McCullars - foul #3 on John McCullars, team foul #5 | 38-50 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler (SG) Lloyd Vallo | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Duhart (PG), Dwight Carr (SF), Jermaine Strong (C) Brian Caudill, Steven Young, Michael Thoreson | |
| 07:56 | Illinois | Jared Hagler makes the free throw | 38-51 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 7 pts. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ralph Brassell (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. C - John McCullars (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Duhart (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Dwight Carr (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. PF - Jared Hagler (fresh) 12 pts. 4 reb. C - Jermaine Strong (fresh) 13 pts. 7 reb. 3 blk. | |
| 07:37 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell clanks a jump hook from the right block but the foul's on Jared Hagler - foul #2 on Jared Hagler, team foul #5 | 38-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Mark Olguin (C) John McCullars | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Jerald Harrison (PF) James Duhart, Jared Hagler | |
| 07:37 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell misses the 1st free throw | 38-51 |
| 07:37 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell makes the 2nd free throw | 39-51 |
| 07:18 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones clanks a jumper from the left wing but he's hacked by Johnny Parent - foul #3 on Johnny Parent, team foul #6 | 39-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Alford (SF) Ernie Stoughton | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 07:18 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones misses the 1st free throw | 39-51 |
| 07:18 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones misses the 2nd free throw | 39-51 |
| 07:18 | Northwestern | Mark Olguin pulls down the rebound | 39-51 |
| 06:59 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses badly on a turnaround from the left block but the foul's on Jerald Harrison - foul #2 on Jerald Harrison, team foul #6 | 39-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Terry Welch (PF) Ralph Brassell | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Duhart (SG) Richard Brown | |
| 06:59 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler makes the 1st free throw | 40-51 |
| 06:59 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler makes the 2nd free throw | 41-51 |
| 06:48 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on Lindsay Jones, team foul #7 | 41-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski (C) Mark Olguin | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 06:30 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent scores on a 3 from the left wing set up by Stephen Dantzler | 44-51 |
| 06:11 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison can't connect on a floater from the right side | 44-51 |
| 06:10 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler gets the rebound | 44-51 |
| 06:06 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent misses short on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 44-51 |
| 06:04 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jerald Harrison | 44-51 |
| 05:49 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones knocks in the floater in the paint | 44-53 |
| 05:37 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski is fouled on the floor by Jermaine Strong - foul #3 on Jermaine Strong, team foul #8 | 44-53 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG), Lloyd Vallo (SG), Ernie Stoughton (SF), Ralph Brassell (PF) Johnny Parent, Stephen Dantzler, Robert Alford, Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Brown (SG), Steven Young (SF), Jared Hagler (C) Lindsay Jones, Dwight Carr, Jermaine Strong | |
| 05:37 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski misses the 1st free throw | 44-53 |
| 05:37 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Richard Brown | 44-53 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 05:11 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison makes the jumper from the left side set up by James Duhart | 44-55 |
| 05:06 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the right wing | 44-55 |
| 05:05 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski tips it in | 46-55 |
| 04:47 | Illinois | Steven Young scores on a pull-up jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Jerald Harrison | 46-57 |
| 04:24 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski lays it in set up by Edgar Foster and he's fouled by James Duhart - foul #1 on James Duhart, team foul #9 | 48-57 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG), Stephen Dantzler (SG) Edgar Foster, Lloyd Vallo | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Caudill (PG), Dwight Carr (SF), Jermaine Strong (C) James Duhart, Steven Young, Jerald Harrison | |
| 04:24 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski misses the free throw | 48-57 |
| 04:24 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong grabs the defensive rebound | 48-57 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong misses badly on a 3 from the left wing | 48-57 |
| 03:58 | Illinois | Jared Hagler hits the follow up shot | 48-59 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 11 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ralph Brassell (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. C - Jerome Poremski (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Caudill (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Dwight Carr (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. PF - Jared Hagler (fresh) 14 pts. 5 reb. C - Jermaine Strong (fresh) 13 pts. 8 reb. 3 blk. 3 pf. | |
| 03:44 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell scores on a driving attempt in the paint | 50-59 |
| 03:20 | Illinois | Dwight Carr knocks in the fadeaway from the right wing set up by Jermaine Strong | 50-61 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 03:16 | Northwestern | Brian Caudill is called for the reach on Johnny Parent - foul #2 on Brian Caudill, team foul #10 | 50-61 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Alford (SF), Terry Welch (PF), John McCullars (C) Ernie Stoughton, Ralph Brassell, Jerome Poremski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), James Duhart (SG) Brian Caudill, Richard Brown | |
| 03:16 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent makes the 1st free throw | 51-61 |
| 03:16 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent makes the 2nd free throw | 52-61 |
| 02:52 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones drills a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from James Duhart | 52-63 |
| 02:52 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 52-63 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton (SF), Ralph Brassell (PF) Robert Alford, Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Brown (SG), Jerald Harrison (PF) James Duhart, Jared Hagler | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 02:31 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent can't connect on a 3 from the right wing | 52-63 |
| 02:30 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison grabs the board | 52-63 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 02:02 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong hits a shot from the right block on a nice dish by Lindsay Jones | 52-65 |
| 01:47 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton knocks in the turnaround from the right block | 54-65 |
| 01:29 | Illinois | Dwight Carr misses long on a jump hook from the right block | 54-65 |
| 01:27 | Illinois | Dwight Carr grabs the offensive board | 54-65 |
| 01:08 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones knocks in the 3 pointer from the right corner set up by Jerald Harrison | 54-68 |
| 00:53 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler throws it down on a nice dish by Johnny Parent | 56-68 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong knocks in the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Richard Brown | 56-70 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 00:24 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell misses the shot from the left wing | 56-70 |
| 00:23 | Northwestern | John McCullars grabs the offensive rebound | 56-70 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell misses long on a jumpshot from the free throw line but he's hacked by Jermaine Strong - foul #4 on Jermaine Strong, team foul #11 | 56-70 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Young (SF) Dwight Carr | |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell misses the 1st free throw | 56-70 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell makes the 2nd free throw | 57-70 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones runs out the clock | 57-70 |