| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Steve Chicoine (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Terry Welch (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - Paul Langford (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jared Hagler (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Daniel Burke (fresh) 3 reb. C - Randolph Wilson (fresh) 5 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Jared Hagler inbounds the ball | 31-29 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:46 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones splits the doubleteam and buries a 3pt attempt from the right corner on a nice dish by Paul Langford | 31-32 |
| 19:17 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent comes up short on the floater from just outside the lane but the foul's on Randolph Wilson - foul #1 on Randolph Wilson, team foul #1 | 31-32 |
| 19:17 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent makes the 1st free throw | 32-32 |
| 19:17 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent makes the 2nd free throw | 33-32 |
| 18:56 | Illinois | Paul Langford loses the dribble to Johnny Parent | 33-32 |
| 18:52 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent lays it in | 35-32 |
| 18:33 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a driving attempt from close range | 35-32 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Randolph Wilson tips it back up and in | 35-34 |
| 18:14 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton misses the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 35-34 |
| 18:12 | Northwestern | Terry Welch gets the offensive rebound | 35-34 |
| 17:49 | Northwestern | Jared Hagler is called for the reach on Ernie Stoughton - foul #3 on Jared Hagler, team foul #2 | 35-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Young (SF) Jared Hagler | |
| 17:33 | Northwestern | Lindsay Jones steps in front of the Steve Chicoine pass | 35-34 |
| 17:29 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones banks in the layup | 35-36 |
| 17:07 | Northwestern | Paul Langford is called for the reach on Stephen Dantzler - foul #3 on Paul Langford, team foul #3 | 35-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | John McCullars (PF) Steve Chicoine | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Duhart (SG), Reyes Wiseman (C) Paul Langford, Randolph Wilson | |
| 16:47 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton misses short on a 3pt shot from the right corner but he's fouled by Steven Young - foul #1 on Steven Young, team foul #4 | 35-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo (SG), Mark Olguin (C) Stephen Dantzler, Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Brown (SG), Thomas Hensley (PF) Lindsay Jones, Daniel Burke | |
| 16:47 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton makes the 1st free throw | 36-36 |
| 16:47 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton misses the 2nd free throw | 36-36 |
| 16:47 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton makes the 3rd free throw | 37-36 |
| 16:26 | Illinois | Mark Olguin swats the short shot by Steven Young | 37-36 |
| 16:24 | Illinois | Richard Brown tips it but misses | 37-36 |
| 16:23 | Northwestern | Mark Olguin pulls down the rebound | 37-36 |
| 15:59 | Northwestern | Mark Olguin banks in the layup on a great pass from Johnny Parent | 39-36 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Lloyd Vallo (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fairly fresh) 7 pts. PF - John McCullars (fresh) C - Mark Olguin (fresh) 11 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Duhart (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Steven Young (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Thomas Hensley (fresh) C - Reyes Wiseman (fresh) | |
| 15:50 | Illinois | Steven Young works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 39-36 |
| 15:48 | Illinois | James Duhart hits the follow up shot | 39-38 |
| 15:27 | Northwestern | Thomas Hensley picks off the pass by John McCullars | 39-38 |
| 15:10 | Illinois | James Duhart misses short on a fadeaway from the right block | 39-38 |
| 15:08 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Ernie Stoughton | 39-38 |
| 14:43 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent hits a jumpshot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Lloyd Vallo | 41-38 |
| 14:26 | Illinois | Steven Young splits the doubleteam but misses short on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 41-38 |
| 14:24 | Illinois | Steven Young tips it home | 41-40 |
| 14:15 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 41-40 |
| 14:13 | Illinois | James Duhart grabs the defensive rebound | 41-40 |
| 13:57 | Illinois | Ernie Stoughton picks off the pass by Reyes Wiseman | 41-40 |
| 13:54 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo banks in the layup on a great pass from Ernie Stoughton | 43-40 |
| 13:35 | Illinois | Thomas Hensley makes the driving attempt near the basket and he's hacked by John McCullars - foul #2 on John McCullars, team foul #1 | 43-42 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG), Stephen Dantzler (SG), Robert Alford (SF), Steve Chicoine (PF), Terry Welch (C) Johnny Parent, Lloyd Vallo, Ernie Stoughton, John McCullars, Mark Olguin | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Paul Langford (SG), Daniel Burke (PF), Randolph Wilson (C) James Duhart, Richard Brown, Steven Young, Reyes Wiseman | |
| 13:35 | Illinois | Thomas Hensley misses the free throw | 43-42 |
| 13:35 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler grabs the defensive rebound | 43-42 |
| 13:15 | Northwestern | Robert Alford comes up short on the driving attempt from the right block | 43-42 |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Thomas Hensley grabs the defensive rebound | 43-42 |
| 12:48 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 43-42 |
| 12:46 | Northwestern | Terry Welch pulls down the rebound | 43-42 |
| 12:22 | Northwestern | Terry Welch loses the ball out of bounds | 43-42 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jared Hagler (SF) Thomas Hensley | |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses long on a shot from the left block but he's hacked by Terry Welch - foul #3 on Terry Welch, team foul #2 | 43-42 |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the 1st free throw | 43-42 |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the 2nd free throw | 43-42 |
| 12:05 | Northwestern | Terry Welch pulls down the rebound | 43-42 |
| 11:48 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler is fouled on the floor by Randolph Wilson - foul #2 on Randolph Wilson, team foul #5 | 43-42 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Edgar Foster (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Robert Alford (fresh) PF - Steve Chicoine (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Terry Welch (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. SG - Paul Langford (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Jared Hagler (fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. PF - Daniel Burke (fresh) 3 reb. C - Randolph Wilson (fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 11:39 | Northwestern | Terry Welch knocks in the runner from the baseline | 45-42 |
| 11:23 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones is hacked by Edgar Foster - foul #1 on Edgar Foster, team foul #3 | 45-42 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG) Edgar Foster | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 11:10 | Illinois | Jared Hagler makes the wide open jumpshot from the free throw line set up by Lindsay Jones out of the doubleteam | 45-44 |
| 10:42 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine hits the front of the rim on the 3 from straight away | 45-44 |
| 10:40 | Illinois | Randolph Wilson pulls down the rebound | 45-44 |
| 10:35 | Illinois | Jared Hagler knocks in the 3 from the right corner set up by Lindsay Jones | 45-47 |
| 10:18 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses badly on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 45-47 |
| 10:16 | Illinois | Daniel Burke grabs the board | 45-47 |
| 09:58 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses short on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 45-47 |
| 09:56 | Northwestern | Terry Welch pulls down the rebound | 45-47 |
| 09:31 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses badly on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 45-47 |
| 09:30 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Daniel Burke | 45-47 |
| 09:24 | Illinois | Paul Langford is whistled for traveling | 45-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo (SG), Ernie Stoughton (SF), John McCullars (PF), Mark Olguin (C) Stephen Dantzler, Robert Alford, Steve Chicoine, Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Duhart (PG), Steven Young (SG), Thomas Hensley (PF), Michael Thoreson (C) Lindsay Jones, Paul Langford, Daniel Burke, Randolph Wilson | |
| 09:05 | Northwestern | Steven Young steals it from Johnny Parent | 45-47 |
| 09:02 | Illinois | Steven Young throws it down | 45-49 |
| 08:34 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 45-49 |
| 08:32 | Illinois | Jared Hagler grabs the board | 45-49 |
| 08:27 | Illinois | James Duhart hits the front of the rim on the floater from just outside the lane but the foul's on Ernie Stoughton - foul #2 on Ernie Stoughton, team foul #4 | 45-49 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG) Johnny Parent | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Brown (SG) Jared Hagler | |
| 08:27 | Illinois | James Duhart makes the 1st free throw | 45-50 |
| 08:27 | Illinois | James Duhart makes the 2nd free throw | 45-51 |
| 08:07 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton misses long on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 45-51 |
| 08:05 | Northwestern | John McCullars snags the offensive board | 45-51 |
| 07:44 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton can't connect on a jumper from the baseline | 45-51 |
| 07:42 | Illinois | James Duhart grabs the defensive rebound | 45-51 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Edgar Foster (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Lloyd Vallo (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. PF - John McCullars (fresh) 2 reb. C - Mark Olguin (fresh) 11 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Duhart (fresh) 6 pts. SG - Richard Brown (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Steven Young (fresh) 10 pts. 2 stl. PF - Thomas Hensley (fresh) 2 pts. C - Michael Thoreson (fresh) 3 pf. | |
| 07:27 | Illinois | Steven Young loses the dribble to Lloyd Vallo | 45-51 |
| 07:23 | Northwestern | Edgar Foster lays it in on a nice dish by Lloyd Vallo | 47-51 |
| 07:11 | Illinois | Michael Thoreson's pass is intercepted by Lloyd Vallo | 47-51 |
| 07:07 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo misses the easy layup | 47-51 |
| 07:05 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Steven Young | 47-51 |
| 06:43 | Illinois | Steven Young evades the doubleteam and hits a shot from the baseline on a nice dish by James Duhart and he's fouled by Edgar Foster - foul #2 on Edgar Foster, team foul #5 | 47-53 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG), Stephen Dantzler (SG), Steve Chicoine (PF), Terry Welch (C) Edgar Foster, Lloyd Vallo, John McCullars, Mark Olguin | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Jared Hagler (SF), Daniel Burke (PF), Randolph Wilson (C) James Duhart, Richard Brown, Thomas Hensley, Michael Thoreson | |
| 06:43 | Illinois | Steven Young makes the free throw | 47-54 |
| 06:15 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine throws a bad pass out of bounds | 47-54 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Alford (SF) Ernie Stoughton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Langford (SG) Steven Young | |
| 05:57 | Illinois | Stephen Dantzler is called for the reach on Paul Langford - foul #1 on Stephen Dantzler, team foul #6 | 47-54 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 05:40 | Illinois | Jared Hagler is hacked by Robert Alford - foul #3 on Robert Alford, team foul #7 | 47-54 |
| 05:40 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the 1st free throw | 47-54 |
| 05:40 | Northwestern | Terry Welch pulls down the rebound | 47-54 |
| 05:20 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine hits a shot from the left wing | 49-54 |
| 04:59 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses short on an open fadeaway from the left wing | 49-54 |
| 04:57 | Illinois | Daniel Burke snags the offensive board | 49-54 |
| 04:38 | Illinois | Jared Hagler hits a 3pt jumper from the left corner set up by Paul Langford | 49-57 |
| 04:18 | Northwestern | Terry Welch banks in the layup | 51-57 |
| 03:55 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses short on a driving attempt from the baseline | 51-57 |
| 03:54 | Illinois | Paul Langford tips it in | 51-59 |
| 03:35 | Northwestern | Terry Welch connects on the jumpshot from the left wing | 53-59 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SF - Robert Alford (fresh) 3 pf. PF - Steve Chicoine (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Terry Welch (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Lindsay Jones (fresh) 12 pts. 4 ast. SG - Paul Langford (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SF - Jared Hagler (fresh) 12 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. PF - Daniel Burke (fresh) 6 reb. C - Randolph Wilson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Randolph Wilson lays it up and in and he's fouled by Terry Welch - foul #4 on Terry Welch, team foul #8 | 53-61 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG), Lloyd Vallo (SG), Ernie Stoughton (SF), John McCullars (PF), Mark Olguin (C) Johnny Parent, Stephen Dantzler, Robert Alford, Steve Chicoine, Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Duhart (PG), Richard Brown (SG), Steven Young (SF), Thomas Hensley (PF) Lindsay Jones, Paul Langford, Jared Hagler, Daniel Burke | |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Randolph Wilson makes the free throw | 53-62 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 02:47 | Northwestern | Mark Olguin clanks a jump hook near the basket | 53-62 |
| 02:46 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton hits the follow up shot | 55-62 |
| 02:46 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 55-62 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG), Stephen Dantzler (SG), Terry Welch (C) Edgar Foster, Lloyd Vallo, Mark Olguin | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG), Jared Hagler (SF), Daniel Burke (PF), Michael Thoreson (C) Richard Brown, Steven Young, Thomas Hensley, Randolph Wilson | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 02:28 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones evades the doubleteam and hits a 3pt attempt from the right corner on a nice dish by Daniel Burke | 55-65 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 02:19 | Northwestern | Michael Thoreson is called for the reach on Terry Welch - foul #4 on Michael Thoreson, team foul #6 | 55-65 |
| 02:14 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses badly on a floater from the right side but he's hacked by Daniel Burke - foul #1 on Daniel Burke, team foul #7 | 55-65 |
| 02:14 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler makes the 1st free throw | 56-65 |
| 02:14 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler makes the 2nd free throw | 57-65 |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 57-65 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine (PF) John McCullars | |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Langford (SG) James Duhart | |
| 01:47 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones loses the ball out of bounds against a doubleteam | 57-65 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randolph Wilson (C) Michael Thoreson | |
| 01:19 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine misses the lay-in | 57-65 |
| 01:18 | Illinois | Jared Hagler grabs the board | 57-65 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | Lindsay Jones misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 57-65 |
| 00:58 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Jared Hagler | 57-65 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Jared Hagler is fouled on the floor by Terry Welch - foul #5 on Terry Welch, team foul #9 | 57-65 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Mark Olguin (C) Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Duhart (PG), Richard Brown (SG), Steven Young (SF) Lindsay Jones, Paul Langford, Randolph Wilson | |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the 1st free throw | 57-65 |
| 00:57 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine snags the defensive board | 57-65 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | Richard Brown steals the ball from Johnny Parent | 57-65 |
| 00:50 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 1 full remaining) | 57-65 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | Jared Hagler is fouled in the backcourt by Johnny Parent - foul #1 on Johnny Parent, team foul #10 | 57-65 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the 1st free throw | 57-65 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | Jared Hagler misses the 2nd free throw | 57-65 |
| 00:48 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler pulls down the rebound | 57-65 |
| 00:42 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler knocks in the 3 from the right wing | 60-65 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | James Duhart is fouled in the backcourt by Johnny Parent - foul #2 on Johnny Parent, team foul #11 | 60-65 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | James Duhart makes the 1st free throw | 60-66 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | James Duhart misses the 2nd free throw | 60-66 |
| 00:40 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine grabs the board | 60-66 |
| 00:35 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 60-66 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Daniel Burke | 60-66 |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Daniel Burke is fouled in the backcourt by Stephen Dantzler - foul #2 on Stephen Dantzler, team foul #12 | 60-66 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lindsay Jones (PG) Richard Brown | |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Daniel Burke makes the 1st free throw | 60-67 |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Daniel Burke makes the 2nd free throw | 60-68 |
| 00:23 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 60-68 |
| 00:22 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Steve Chicoine | 60-68 |
| 00:18 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler connects on the 3pt shot from the right corner set up by Johnny Parent | 63-68 |
| 00:18 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 remaining) | 63-68 |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Steven Young is fouled in the backcourt by Johnny Parent - foul #3 on Johnny Parent, team foul #13 | 63-68 |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Steven Young makes the 1st free throw | 63-69 |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Steven Young makes the 2nd free throw | 63-70 |
| 00:10 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses the 3pt shot from straight away | 63-70 |
| 00:08 | Illinois | Steven Young grabs the board | 63-70 |
| 00:08 | Illinois | Illinois calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 remaining) | 63-70 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Brown (SG) Lindsay Jones | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | James Duhart runs out the clock | 63-70 |