| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) SF - Steven Young (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - Jerald Harrison (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Jermaine Strong (fresh) 11 pts. 9 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Ralph Brassell (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. C - John McCullars (fresh) 2 stl. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Steven Young inbounds the ball | 32-27 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:37 | Illinois | Johnny Parent steals the ball from Richard Brown | 32-27 |
| 19:15 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler hits a pull-up jumper from the right wing set up by John McCullars | 32-29 |
| 19:00 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong splits the doubleteam and buries a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 34-29 |
| 18:33 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton hits a runner from the left block on a great pass from Stephen Dantzler and the foul's on Steven Young - foul #2 on Steven Young, team foul #1 | 34-31 |
| 18:33 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton misses the free throw | 34-31 |
| 18:33 | Illinois | Steven Young gets the rebound | 34-31 |
| 18:11 | Illinois | The jump hook by Richard Brown is blocked by Ralph Brassell | 34-31 |
| 18:09 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton pulls down the rebound | 34-31 |
| 17:48 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton loses the dribble to Jerald Harrison | 34-31 |
| 17:26 | Illinois | Ralph Brassell picks off the pass by Jermaine Strong out of a doubleteam | 34-31 |
| 17:06 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler knocks in the 3 pointer from the left wing on a great pass from Ernie Stoughton | 34-34 |
| 16:45 | Illinois | 3 seconds is called on Richard Brown | 34-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Caudill (PG), James Duhart (SG), Dwight Carr (SF), Jared Hagler (PF), Michael Thoreson (C) Lindsay Jones, Richard Brown, Steven Young, Jerald Harrison, Jermaine Strong | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo (SG), Terry Welch (PF), Jerome Poremski (C) Stephen Dantzler, Ralph Brassell, John McCullars | |
| 16:23 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski comes up short on the driving attempt in the lane but the foul's on Michael Thoreson - foul #2 on Michael Thoreson, team foul #2 | 34-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG) Johnny Parent | |
| 16:23 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski makes the 1st free throw | 34-35 |
| 16:23 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski makes the 2nd free throw | 34-36 |
| 16:05 | Illinois | Dwight Carr misses badly on a jumper in the lane but he's hacked by Lloyd Vallo - foul #1 on Lloyd Vallo, team foul #1 | 34-36 |
| 16:05 | Illinois | Dwight Carr makes the 1st free throw | 35-36 |
| 16:05 | Illinois | Dwight Carr misses the 2nd free throw | 35-36 |
| 16:05 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Lloyd Vallo | 35-36 |
| 15:47 | Northwestern | Edgar Foster misses the 3pt attempt from straight away | 35-36 |
| 15:46 | Illinois | James Duhart grabs the board | 35-36 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Caudill (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - James Duhart (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Dwight Carr (fresh) 1 pts. PF - Jared Hagler (fresh) 8 pts. C - Michael Thoreson (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Edgar Foster (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Lloyd Vallo (fresh) 3 pts. 4 ast. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Terry Welch (fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. C - Jerome Poremski (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 15:31 | Illinois | Dwight Carr's fadeaway is rejected by Lloyd Vallo | 35-36 |
| 15:30 | Northwestern | Terry Welch snags the defensive board | 35-36 |
| 15:11 | Northwestern | Edgar Foster can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 35-36 |
| 15:09 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Edgar Foster | 35-36 |
| 14:50 | Northwestern | Edgar Foster connects on the 3pt shot from the left wing on a great pass from Terry Welch | 35-39 |
| 14:38 | Illinois | Dwight Carr knocks in the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 38-39 |
| 14:23 | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski is whistled for a charge - foul #2 on Jerome Poremski, team foul #2 | 38-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Richard Brown (SG), Steven Young (SF), Jerald Harrison (PF), Jermaine Strong (C) Brian Caudill, James Duhart, Dwight Carr, Jared Hagler, Michael Thoreson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG), Stephen Dantzler (SG), Ralph Brassell (PF), John McCullars (C) Edgar Foster, Lloyd Vallo, Terry Welch, Jerome Poremski | |
| 14:10 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong is doubleteamed and called for traveling | 38-39 |
| 13:50 | Northwestern | Jermaine Strong steals it from Ralph Brassell | 38-39 |
| 13:37 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong shoots over the doubleteam and knocks in the fadeaway near the basket on a nice dish by Steven Young and the foul's on John McCullars - foul #1 on John McCullars, team foul #3 | 40-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Alford (SF) Ernie Stoughton | |
| 13:37 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong makes the free throw | 41-39 |
| 13:10 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 41-39 |
| 13:08 | Illinois | Steven Young gets the rebound | 41-39 |
| 12:54 | Illinois | Robert Alford swats the short shot by Richard Brown | 41-39 |
| 12:53 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong tips it home | 43-39 |
| 12:36 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell misses short on a runner from close range but the foul's on Richard Brown - foul #3 on Richard Brown, team foul #3 | 43-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dwight Carr (SF) Steven Young | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jerome Poremski (C) John McCullars | |
| 12:36 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell makes the 1st free throw | 43-40 |
| 12:36 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell misses the 2nd free throw | 43-40 |
| 12:36 | Illinois | Richard Brown gets the rebound | 43-40 |
| 12:11 | Illinois | Stephen Dantzler steals the ball from Jerald Harrison | 43-40 |
| 11:49 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell connects on the pull-up jumper from the right wing | 43-42 |
| 11:29 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison's floater is knocked away by Robert Alford | 43-42 |
| 11:27 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Robert Alford | 43-42 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fairly fresh) 3 ast. SG - Richard Brown (fairly fresh) 3 pf. SF - Dwight Carr (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Jerald Harrison (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Jermaine Strong (fresh) 18 pts. 10 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - Robert Alford (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. PF - Ralph Brassell (fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Jerome Poremski (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 11:03 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent is called for the illegal screen - foul #3 on Johnny Parent, team foul #4 | 43-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Caudill (PG), James Duhart (SG), Steven Young (SF), Jared Hagler (PF), Michael Thoreson (C) Lindsay Jones, Richard Brown, Dwight Carr, Jerald Harrison, Jermaine Strong | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo (SG), Ernie Stoughton (SF), Terry Welch (PF) Stephen Dantzler, Robert Alford, Ralph Brassell | |
| 10:45 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses badly on a jumpshot from the right wing | 43-42 |
| 10:43 | Northwestern | Terry Welch pulls down the rebound | 43-42 |
| 10:18 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo drills a jumpshot from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Johnny Parent | 43-44 |
| 10:01 | Illinois | Terry Welch is called for the reach on Brian Caudill - foul #4 on Terry Welch, team foul #5 | 43-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG), John McCullars (C) Johnny Parent, Jerome Poremski | |
| 09:46 | Illinois | Jared Hagler hits the finger roll and the foul's on John McCullars - foul #2 on John McCullars, team foul #6 | 45-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jermaine Strong (C) Michael Thoreson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler (SG), Ralph Brassell (PF) Lloyd Vallo, Terry Welch | |
| 09:46 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the free throw | 45-44 |
| 09:46 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell grabs the defensive rebound | 45-44 |
| 09:22 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell slams it home set up by John McCullars | 45-46 |
| 09:04 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong comes up short on the driving attempt near the basket | 45-46 |
| 09:02 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell grabs the defensive rebound | 45-46 |
| 08:33 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton makes the 3 pointer from the right wing | 45-49 |
| 08:17 | Illinois | Jared Hagler hits the front of the rim on the wide open floater from the baseline | 45-49 |
| 08:15 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Jared Hagler | 45-49 |
| 07:57 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong drills a jump hook from the baseline on a great pass from James Duhart | 47-49 |
| 07:40 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 47-49 |
| 07:39 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jared Hagler | 47-49 |
| 07:16 | Illinois | Jared Hagler clanks a jumper from the right side but the foul's on Edgar Foster - foul #1 on Edgar Foster, team foul #7 | 47-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Richard Brown (SG), Dwight Carr (SF), Jerald Harrison (PF) Brian Caudill, James Duhart, Steven Young, Jermaine Strong | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG), Lloyd Vallo (SG), Robert Alford (SF), Terry Welch (PF), Jerome Poremski (C) Edgar Foster, Stephen Dantzler, Ernie Stoughton, Ralph Brassell, John McCullars | |
| 07:16 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the 1st free throw | 47-49 |
| 07:16 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the 2nd free throw | 47-49 |
| 07:16 | Northwestern | Terry Welch pulls down the rebound | 47-49 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) 3 pf. SF - Dwight Carr (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Jerald Harrison (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Jared Hagler (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Lloyd Vallo (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. SF - Robert Alford (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. PF - Terry Welch (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. C - Jerome Poremski (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 06:47 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo is fouled on the floor by Jerald Harrison - foul #1 on Jerald Harrison, team foul #4 | 47-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Thoreson (C) Jared Hagler | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 06:20 | Northwestern | Terry Welch's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 47-49 |
| 05:59 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison misses long on a jumper from the left wing | 47-49 |
| 05:58 | Northwestern | Terry Welch snags the defensive board | 47-49 |
| 05:33 | Northwestern | Robert Alford clanks a jumpshot from the free throw line but he's hacked by Richard Brown - foul #4 on Richard Brown, team foul #5 | 47-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jermaine Strong (C) Michael Thoreson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler (SG), Ralph Brassell (PF) Lloyd Vallo, Terry Welch | |
| 05:33 | Northwestern | Robert Alford misses the 1st free throw | 47-49 |
| 05:33 | Northwestern | Robert Alford misses the 2nd free throw | 47-49 |
| 05:33 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison gets the rebound | 47-49 |
| 05:08 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones is fouled on the floor by Ralph Brassell - foul #1 on Ralph Brassell, team foul #8 | 47-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton (SF), John McCullars (C) Robert Alford, Jerome Poremski | |
| 05:08 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones misses the 1st free throw | 47-49 |
| 05:08 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell grabs the board | 47-49 |
| 04:39 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses long on a 3 from the right corner | 47-49 |
| 04:37 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong pulls down the rebound | 47-49 |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones comes up short on the 3 from the left wing | 47-49 |
| 04:10 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton snags the defensive board | 47-49 |
| 03:52 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses short on a fadeaway from the left wing | 47-49 |
| 03:50 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison gets the rebound | 47-49 |
| 03:21 | Illinois | John McCullars steals the ball from Dwight Carr | 47-49 |
| 02:57 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 47-49 |
| 02:55 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Dwight Carr | 47-49 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fairly fresh) 3 ast. SG - Richard Brown (fairly fresh) 4 pf. SF - Dwight Carr (fairly fresh) 4 pts. PF - Jerald Harrison (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Jermaine Strong (fairly fresh) 20 pts. 11 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - Ernie Stoughton (tiring) 8 pts. 3 reb. PF - Ralph Brassell (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 8 reb. 2 stl. C - John McCullars (fairly fresh) 3 stl. | |
| 02:37 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones blows the layup | 47-49 |
| 02:36 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong can't tip it in | 47-49 |
| 02:34 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler snags the defensive board | 47-49 |
| 02:14 | Northwestern | Lindsay Jones steps in front of the Ernie Stoughton pass | 47-49 |
| 02:10 | Illinois | Richard Brown hits the finger roll set up by Lindsay Jones | 49-49 |
| 01:48 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton makes the shot from the right side on a nice dish by Stephen Dantzler | 49-51 |
| 01:41 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 49-51 |
| 01:40 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton gets the rebound | 49-51 |
| 01:11 | Northwestern | Ralph Brassell misses the lay-in | 49-51 |
| 01:10 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler tips it back up and in | 49-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones travels with the ball | 49-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Young (SF) Dwight Carr | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:55 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent is fouled in the backcourt by Lindsay Jones - foul #1 on Lindsay Jones, team foul #6 | 49-53 |
| 00:52 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton is fouled on the floor by Lindsay Jones - foul #2 on Lindsay Jones, team foul #7 | 49-53 |
| 00:52 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton misses the 1st free throw | 49-53 |
| 00:52 | Illinois | Steven Young grabs the defensive rebound | 49-53 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | John McCullars doubles Jermaine Strong and is called for the reach - foul #3 on John McCullars, team foul #9 | 49-53 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong makes the 1st free throw | 50-53 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong makes the 2nd free throw | 51-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:18 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent is denied on a layup by Jermaine Strong | 51-53 |
| 00:17 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jermaine Strong | 51-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:06 | Illinois | Richard Brown is hacked by Ralph Brassell - foul #2 on Ralph Brassell, team foul #10 | 51-53 |
| 00:06 | Illinois | Richard Brown misses the 1st free throw | 51-53 |
| 00:06 | Illinois | Richard Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 52-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:05 | Northwestern | Lindsay Jones is called for the reach on Johnny Parent in the backcourt - foul #3 on Lindsay Jones, team foul #8 | 52-53 |
| 00:05 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent misses the 1st free throw | 52-53 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison pulls down the rebound | 52-53 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Illinois calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 4 full remaining) | 52-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones knocks in the 3pt attempt from straight away | 55-53 |