| Lineup | Notre Dame | PG - Mark England (fresh) SG - Elton Granger (fresh) SF - Raphael Soto (fresh) PF - Donald Coleman (fresh) C - Michael Petti (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) SG - Richard Brown (fresh) SF - Steven Young (fresh) PF - Jerald Harrison (fresh) C - Jermaine Strong (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Notre Dame | Donald Coleman wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Notre Dame | Notre Dame is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (-5) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:31 | Notre Dame | Mark England clanks a 3 from the left corner | 0-0 |
| 19:30 | Illinois | Richard Brown grabs the defensive rebound | 0-0 |
| 19:23 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison connects on the pull-up jumper from the left side on a nice dish by Richard Brown | 0-2 |
| 19:07 | Notre Dame | Elton Granger loses the ball out of bounds | 0-2 |
| 18:58 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 0-2 |
| 18:57 | Notre Dame | Donald Coleman gets the rebound | 0-2 |
| 18:52 | Notre Dame | Mark England knocks in the 3pt shot from the right corner | 3-2 |
| 18:47 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones makes the jumper from the right side set up by Richard Brown | 3-4 |
| 18:22 | Notre Dame | Elton Granger's fadeaway is rejected by Steven Young | 3-4 |
| 18:21 | Notre Dame | Mark England grabs the offensive rebound | 3-4 |
| 18:05 | Notre Dame | Elton Granger misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 3-4 |
| 18:04 | Notre Dame | Michael Petti hits the follow up shot | 5-4 |
| 17:57 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong's pass is intercepted by Raphael Soto | 5-4 |
| 17:34 | Notre Dame | Mark England's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 5-4 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo (SG), Ernest Ferrante (PF) Elton Granger, Donald Coleman | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 17:15 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong misses short on a jumper from the right wing | 5-4 |
| 17:13 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones tips it back up and in | 5-6 |
| 16:48 | Notre Dame | Mark England comes up short on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 5-6 |
| 16:46 | Illinois | Steven Young gets the rebound | 5-6 |
| 16:34 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison connects on the runner in the lane | 5-8 |
| 16:07 | Notre Dame | Jerald Harrison is called for the reach on Ernest Ferrante - foul #1 on Jerald Harrison, team foul #1 | 5-8 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Elton Granger (SG), John Labelle (SF), Donald Coleman (PF) Mark England, Raphael Soto, Michael Petti | |
| 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 | |
| 15:51 | Notre Dame | Jared Hagler blocks the short jumper by John Labelle | 5-8 |
| 15:50 | Notre Dame | Ernest Ferrante tips it home | 7-8 |
| Lineup | Notre Dame | PG - Rocco Russo (fresh) SG - Elton Granger (fresh) SF - John Labelle (fresh) PF - Donald Coleman (fresh) C - Ernest Ferrante (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Caudill (fresh) SG - James Duhart (fresh) SF - Dwight Carr (fresh) PF - Jared Hagler (fresh) C - Michael Thoreson (fresh) | |
| 15:32 | Illinois | Dwight Carr splits the doubleteam but misses short on a fadeaway from the left block but he's fouled by Donald Coleman - foul #1 on Donald Coleman, team foul #1 | 7-8 |
| 15:32 | Illinois | Dwight Carr makes the 1st free throw | 7-9 |
| 15:32 | Illinois | Dwight Carr makes the 2nd free throw | 7-10 |
| 15:13 | Notre Dame | Ernest Ferrante misses the easy layup | 7-10 |
| 15:11 | Illinois | Dwight Carr grabs the defensive rebound | 7-10 |
| 15:07 | Illinois | Jared Hagler is fouled on the floor by Donald Coleman - foul #2 on Donald Coleman, team foul #2 | 7-10 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Buddy Davis (PF), Michael Petti (C) Donald Coleman, Ernest Ferrante | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 14:59 | Illinois | Jared Hagler banks in the layup | 7-12 |
| 14:35 | Notre Dame | John Labelle can't connect on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 7-12 |
| 14:34 | Illinois | Jared Hagler snags the defensive board | 7-12 |
| 14:27 | Illinois | Jared Hagler blows the wide open layup | 7-12 |
| 14:25 | Notre Dame | Buddy Davis grabs the board | 7-12 |
| 14:13 | Notre Dame | James Duhart steals the ball from Elton Granger | 7-12 |
| 14:09 | Illinois | Brian Caudill lays it in set up by James Duhart | 7-14 |
| 13:55 | Notre Dame | Brian Caudill takes the ball from Buddy Davis | 7-14 |
| 13:30 | Illinois | Dwight Carr shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3 from the right corner | 7-14 |
| 13:29 | Illinois | Jared Hagler pulls down the offensive rebound | 7-14 |
| 13:18 | Illinois | Jared Hagler is open and buries a driving attempt near the basket on a nice dish by James Duhart | 7-16 |
| 13:11 | Notre Dame | Michael Thoreson blocks the short jumper by John Labelle | 7-16 |
| 13:09 | Illinois | Brian Caudill snags the defensive board | 7-16 |
| 13:04 | Illinois | Elton Granger is called for the reach on Michael Thoreson - foul #1 on Elton Granger, team foul #3 | 7-16 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Mark England (PG), Mile Zumbach (SG), Raphael Soto (SF), Ernest Ferrante (PF) Rocco Russo, Elton Granger, John Labelle, Buddy Davis | |
| 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 | |
| 12:53 | Illinois | Steven Young throws a bad pass out of bounds | 7-16 |
| 12:33 | Notre Dame | Mile Zumbach can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 7-16 |
| 12:31 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto can't tip it in | 7-16 |
| 12:29 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong grabs the board | 7-16 |
| 12:23 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison loses the ball out of bounds | 7-16 |
| 12:06 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto is fouled on the floor by Steven Young - foul #1 on Steven Young, team foul #2 | 7-16 |
| 11:44 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto is called for a charge - foul #1 on Raphael Soto, team foul #4 | 7-16 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Buddy Davis (C) Michael Petti | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Lineup | Notre Dame | PG - Mark England (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Mile Zumbach (fresh) SF - Raphael Soto (fresh) PF - Ernest Ferrante (fresh) 2 pts. C - Buddy Davis (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Steven Young (fresh) PF - Jerald Harrison (fresh) 4 pts. C - Jermaine Strong (fresh) | |
| 11:15 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison connects on the jumpshot from the free throw line on a great pass from Jermaine Strong | 7-18 |
| 10:51 | Notre Dame | Lindsay Jones picks off the pass by Buddy Davis | 7-18 |
| 10:38 | Illinois | Buddy Davis is called for the reach on Jermaine Strong - foul #1 on Buddy Davis, team foul #5 | 7-18 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo (SG), John Labelle (SF), Michael Petti (C) Mile Zumbach, Raphael Soto, Buddy Davis | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Caudill (PG), James Duhart (SG), Dwight Carr (SF) Lindsay Jones, Richard Brown, Steven Young | |
| 10:30 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong misses long on a floater from the left wing but he's hacked by Michael Petti - foul #1 on Michael Petti, team foul #6 | 7-18 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Elton Granger (SG) Rocco Russo | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jared Hagler (PF) Jerald Harrison | |
| 10:30 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong makes the 1st free throw | 7-19 |
| 10:30 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong makes the 2nd free throw | 7-20 |
| 10:01 | Notre Dame | Mark England is fouled on the floor by Brian Caudill - foul #1 on Brian Caudill, team foul #3 | 7-20 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo (PG) Mark England | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Thoreson (C) Jermaine Strong | |
| 09:47 | Notre Dame | Elton Granger connects on the 3pt jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Ernest Ferrante | 10-20 |
| 09:37 | Illinois | Dwight Carr splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 10-20 |
| 09:35 | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo snags the defensive board | 10-20 |
| 09:16 | Notre Dame | Elton Granger misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 10-20 |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Michael Thoreson snags the defensive board | 10-20 |
| 09:11 | Illinois | Dwight Carr misses the lay-in over the doubleteam | 10-20 |
| 09:09 | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo grabs the board | 10-20 |
| 08:44 | Notre Dame | The pull-up jumper by Ernest Ferrante is blocked by Jared Hagler | 10-20 |
| 08:42 | Illinois | Michael Thoreson snags the defensive board | 10-20 |
| 08:28 | Illinois | Jared Hagler clanks a runner from close range but he's fouled by Michael Petti - foul #2 on Michael Petti, team foul #7 | 10-20 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Mark England (PG), Raphael Soto (SF), Buddy Davis (PF) Elton Granger, John Labelle, Michael Petti | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Richard Brown (SG), Steven Young (SF), Jermaine Strong (C) Brian Caudill, James Duhart, Dwight Carr, Michael Thoreson | |
| 08:28 | Illinois | Jared Hagler makes the 1st free throw | 10-21 |
| 08:28 | Illinois | Jared Hagler makes the 2nd free throw | 10-22 |
| 08:08 | Notre Dame | Buddy Davis misses long on a floater in the paint but he's fouled by Jared Hagler - foul #1 on Jared Hagler, team foul #4 | 10-22 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jerald Harrison (PF) Jared Hagler | |
| 08:08 | Notre Dame | Buddy Davis misses the 1st free throw | 10-22 |
| 08:08 | Notre Dame | Buddy Davis makes the 2nd free throw | 11-22 |
| 07:44 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison scores on a 3pt jumper from the left corner on a nice dish by Lindsay Jones | 11-25 |
| Lineup | Notre Dame | PG - Mark England (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Rocco Russo (fresh) SF - Raphael Soto (fresh) PF - Buddy Davis (fresh) 1 pts. C - Ernest Ferrante (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Steven Young (fresh) PF - Jerald Harrison (fresh) 9 pts. C - Jermaine Strong (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:16 | Notre Dame | Ernest Ferrante misses short on a floater from the right side but the foul's on Richard Brown - foul #1 on Richard Brown, team foul #5 | 11-25 |
| 07:16 | Notre Dame | Ernest Ferrante makes the 1st free throw | 12-25 |
| 07:16 | Notre Dame | Ernest Ferrante makes the 2nd free throw | 13-25 |
| 07:13 | Illinois | Mark England steals the ball from Lindsay Jones in the backcourt | 13-25 |
| 07:12 | Notre Dame | Mark England lays it up and in | 15-25 |
| 07:01 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong can't connect on an uncontested turnaround in the paint | 15-25 |
| 07:00 | Notre Dame | The rebound goes to Ernest Ferrante | 15-25 |
| 06:32 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the free throw line but the foul's on Steven Young - foul #2 on Steven Young, team foul #6 | 15-25 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Elton Granger (SG) Rocco Russo | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dwight Carr (SF) Steven Young | |
| 06:32 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto makes the 1st free throw | 16-25 |
| 06:32 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto makes the 2nd free throw | 17-25 |
| 06:21 | Illinois | Richard Brown misses long on a pull-up jumper from the right side | 17-25 |
| 06:20 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto grabs the defensive rebound | 17-25 |
| 05:54 | Notre Dame | Elton Granger hits a floater from the left block | 19-25 |
| 05:36 | Illinois | Dwight Carr hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the free throw line | 19-25 |
| 05:35 | Illinois | Jermaine Strong hits the follow up shot | 19-27 |
| 05:10 | Notre Dame | Ernest Ferrante buries a jumper from the left block | 21-27 |
| 04:46 | Illinois | Buddy Davis is called for the reach on Dwight Carr - foul #2 on Buddy Davis, team foul #8 | 21-27 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo (PG), Mile Zumbach (SG), John Labelle (SF), Donald Coleman (PF) Mark England, Elton Granger, Raphael Soto, Buddy Davis | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Caudill (PG), James Duhart (SG), Jared Hagler (PF), Michael Thoreson (C) Lindsay Jones, Richard Brown, Jerald Harrison, Jermaine Strong | |
| 04:46 | Illinois | Dwight Carr makes the 1st free throw | 21-28 |
| 04:46 | Illinois | Dwight Carr makes the 2nd free throw | 21-29 |
| 04:22 | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo is hacked by Michael Thoreson - foul #1 on Michael Thoreson, team foul #7 | 21-29 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | David Hutson (PG) Donald Coleman | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:22 | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo makes the 1st free throw | 22-29 |
| 04:22 | Notre Dame | Rocco Russo makes the 2nd free throw | 23-29 |
| 04:07 | Illinois | Jared Hagler scores on a shot from the right wing set up by Brian Caudill | 23-31 |
| 03:49 | Notre Dame | Dwight Carr is called for the reach on John Labelle - foul #1 on Dwight Carr, team foul #8 | 23-31 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Donald Coleman (PF), Michael Petti (C) David Hutson, Ernest Ferrante | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Young (SF) Dwight Carr | |
| 03:49 | Notre Dame | John Labelle makes the 1st free throw | 24-31 |
| 03:49 | Notre Dame | John Labelle makes the 2nd free throw | 25-31 |
| 03:27 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses badly on the uncontested jump hook from the right block | 25-31 |
| 03:26 | Illinois | James Duhart grabs the offensive board | 25-31 |
| Lineup | Notre Dame | PG - Rocco Russo (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Mile Zumbach (fresh) SF - John Labelle (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Donald Coleman (fresh) C - Michael Petti (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Caudill (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - James Duhart (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Steven Young (fresh) PF - Jared Hagler (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Michael Thoreson (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Jared Hagler connects on the shot from the baseline set up by Brian Caudill | 25-33 |
| 02:46 | Notre Dame | John Labelle comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 25-33 |
| 02:45 | Notre Dame | Mile Zumbach grabs the offensive board | 25-33 |
| 02:33 | Notre Dame | Mile Zumbach hits the front of the rim on the 3 from straight away | 25-33 |
| 02:31 | Illinois | Jared Hagler grabs the defensive rebound | 25-33 |
| 02:13 | Illinois | Jared Hagler is by himself and knocks in the jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Steven Young | 25-35 |
| 01:52 | Notre Dame | John Labelle hits a jump hook in the paint and he's hacked by Steven Young - foul #3 on Steven Young, team foul #9 | 27-35 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Mark England (PG), Elton Granger (SG), Buddy Davis (C) Rocco Russo, Mile Zumbach, Michael Petti | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Richard Brown (SG), Dwight Carr (SF), Jerald Harrison (PF), Jermaine Strong (C) Brian Caudill, James Duhart, Steven Young, Jared Hagler, Michael Thoreson | |
| 01:52 | Notre Dame | John Labelle misses the free throw | 27-35 |
| 01:52 | Notre Dame | Buddy Davis pulls down the offensive rebound | 27-35 |
| 01:27 | Notre Dame | Mark England can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 27-35 |
| 01:26 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison pulls down the rebound | 27-35 |
| 01:11 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones misses short on a fadeaway in the paint but he's fouled by Elton Granger - foul #2 on Elton Granger, team foul #9 | 27-35 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto (SF), Michael Petti (C) John Labelle, Donald Coleman | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 01:11 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones makes the 1st free throw | 27-36 |
| 01:11 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones makes the 2nd free throw | 27-37 |
| 00:53 | Notre Dame | Buddy Davis misses long on a runner from the right block | 27-37 |
| 00:52 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison pulls down the rebound | 27-37 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | Jerald Harrison is alone and drills a runner from close range on a nice dish by Lindsay Jones | 27-39 |
| 00:24 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto banks in the layup and he's fouled by Richard Brown - foul #2 on Richard Brown, team foul #10 | 29-39 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | Donald Coleman (PF) Buddy Davis | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:24 | Notre Dame | Raphael Soto makes the free throw | 30-39 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones banks in the layup over the doubleteam set up by Richard Brown and he's fouled by Mark England - foul #1 on Mark England, team foul #10 | 30-41 |
| Subs | Notre Dame | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jared Hagler (PF) Dwight Carr | |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones makes the free throw | 30-42 |
| 00:01 | Notre Dame | Jerald Harrison denies the turnaround by Mark England | 30-42 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Richard Brown grabs the defensive rebound | 30-42 |