| Lineup | Alabama | PG - Michael Vidal (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Matthew Guy (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Lynn (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Lance Sparks (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Adam Majkowski (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Petree (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Keith Park (fresh) 2 pts. SF - David Heffron (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Anthony Birnbaum (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. C - Sterling Berryman (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | David Heffron inbounds the ball | 21-24 |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-2) | |
| 19:36 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum misses long on a floater in the paint but he's hacked by Lance Sparks - foul #1 on Lance Sparks, team foul #1 | 21-24 |
| 19:36 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum makes the 1st free throw | 21-25 |
| 19:36 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum makes the 2nd free throw | 21-26 |
| 19:12 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski knocks in the shot from the free throw line | 23-26 |
| 18:45 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum throws a bad pass out of bounds | 23-26 |
| 18:20 | Alabama | James Lynn connects on the jumpshot from the left side | 25-26 |
| 17:57 | Illinois | Keith Park misses short on a jumper from the right side but he's hacked by Matthew Guy - foul #1 on Matthew Guy, team foul #2 | 25-26 |
| 17:57 | Illinois | Keith Park makes the 1st free throw | 25-27 |
| 17:57 | Illinois | Keith Park makes the 2nd free throw | 25-28 |
| 17:36 | Alabama | James Lynn hits a fadeaway from the left side on a nice dish by Adam Majkowski | 27-28 |
| 17:16 | Illinois | Michael Vidal is called for the reach on Arnold Petree - foul #3 on Michael Vidal, team foul #3 | 27-28 |
| Subs | Alabama | Robert Baker (SG) Michael Vidal | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 16:55 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman drills a turnaround from the left block | 27-30 |
| 16:38 | Alabama | James Lynn loses the ball out of bounds | 27-30 |
| Subs | Alabama | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ervin Vaughn (C) Sterling Berryman | |
| 16:12 | Illinois | Keith Park misses short on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 27-30 |
| 16:10 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski pulls down the rebound | 27-30 |
| 15:54 | Alabama | James Lynn is called for traveling | 27-30 |
| Subs | Alabama | Michael Vidal (PG), Michael Cain (PF) Robert Baker, Lance Sparks | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jason Steller (SG), Larry Delatorre (PF) Keith Park, Anthony Birnbaum | |
| Lineup | Alabama | PG - Michael Vidal (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Matthew Guy (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Lynn (fresh) 8 pts. PF - Michael Cain (fresh) 4 pts. C - Adam Majkowski (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Petree (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Jason Steller (fresh) 3 pts. SF - David Heffron (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Larry Delatorre (fresh) 2 reb. C - Ervin Vaughn (fresh) | |
| 15:39 | Illinois | Arnold Petree misses badly on a 3 from the right wing | 27-30 |
| 15:38 | Illinois | Jason Steller grabs the offensive rebound | 27-30 |
| 15:14 | Illinois | David Heffron lays it in on a nice dish by Arnold Petree and he's fouled by James Lynn - foul #2 on James Lynn, team foul #4 | 27-32 |
| Subs | Alabama | Robert Baker (SG), Dennis Ryan (C) Matthew Guy, Adam Majkowski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Carl Randolph (SG), Sterling Berryman (C) Arnold Petree, Ervin Vaughn | |
| 15:14 | Illinois | David Heffron makes the free throw | 27-33 |
| 14:45 | Alabama | Michael Cain scores on a jumper in the paint set up by James Lynn | 29-33 |
| 14:25 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman connects on the shot from the right side | 29-35 |
| 14:01 | Alabama | Dennis Ryan throws a bad pass out of bounds | 29-35 |
| Subs | Alabama | Matthew Guy (SG), Lance Sparks (PF), Adam Majkowski (C) Robert Baker, James Lynn, Dennis Ryan | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Petree (PG), Keith Park (SG), Anthony Birnbaum (PF) Jason Steller, David Heffron, Larry Delatorre | |
| 13:44 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum connects on the open fadeaway jumper from the free throw line set up by Arnold Petree | 29-37 |
| 13:20 | Alabama | Matthew Guy is hacked by Keith Park - foul #3 on Keith Park, team foul #1 | 29-37 |
| 13:09 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski buries a fadeaway in the paint on a great pass from Michael Cain and the foul's on Sterling Berryman - foul #3 on Sterling Berryman, team foul #2 | 31-37 |
| 13:09 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski makes the free throw | 32-37 |
| 12:45 | Illinois | Keith Park buries a jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Carl Randolph | 32-39 |
| 12:16 | Alabama | Michael Cain is whistled for a carry | 32-39 |
| Subs | Alabama | Robert Baker (SG), James Lynn (SF) Michael Vidal, Michael Cain | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Heffron (SF), Ervin Vaughn (C) Carl Randolph, Sterling Berryman | |
| 12:01 | Illinois | Ervin Vaughn's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 32-39 |
| 11:39 | Alabama | James Lynn misses badly on a fadeaway from the left block | 32-39 |
| 11:37 | Alabama | Lance Sparks tips it back up and in | 34-39 |
| Lineup | Alabama | PG - Matthew Guy (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Baker (fresh) SF - James Lynn (fresh) 8 pts. PF - Lance Sparks (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. C - Adam Majkowski (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Petree (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Keith Park (fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. SF - David Heffron (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. PF - Anthony Birnbaum (fresh) 11 pts. 4 reb. C - Ervin Vaughn (fresh) | |
| 11:08 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum can't connect on a shot from the right wing but he's hacked by Lance Sparks - foul #2 on Lance Sparks, team foul #5 | 34-39 |
| Subs | Alabama | Michael Vidal (PG) Matthew Guy | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 11:08 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum makes the 1st free throw | 34-40 |
| 11:08 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum makes the 2nd free throw | 34-41 |
| 10:47 | Alabama | James Lynn buries a driving attempt from the baseline set up by Lance Sparks | 36-41 |
| 10:31 | Illinois | David Heffron is open but comes up short on the shot from the left side | 36-41 |
| 10:30 | Alabama | Lance Sparks snags the defensive board | 36-41 |
| 10:13 | Alabama | James Lynn is hacked by David Heffron - foul #3 on David Heffron, team foul #3 | 36-41 |
| Subs | Alabama | Michael Cain (PF), Dennis Ryan (C) Lance Sparks, Adam Majkowski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jason Steller (PG), Carl Randolph (SG), Larry Delatorre (PF), Sterling Berryman (C) Arnold Petree, Keith Park, Anthony Birnbaum, Ervin Vaughn | |
| 09:47 | Alabama | Michael Cain misses the lay-in | 36-41 |
| 09:45 | Illinois | David Heffron grabs the board | 36-41 |
| 09:21 | Illinois | Carl Randolph hits the finger roll on a great pass from Jason Steller | 36-43 |
| 09:04 | Alabama | James Lynn lays it in | 38-43 |
| 08:42 | Illinois | Carl Randolph misses the 3 pointer from the left wing | 38-43 |
| 08:40 | Illinois | Larry Delatorre tips it back up and in | 38-45 |
| 08:20 | Alabama | James Lynn misses badly on a turnaround near the basket but he's hacked by Larry Delatorre - foul #1 on Larry Delatorre, team foul #4 | 38-45 |
| Subs | Alabama | Matthew Guy (SG), Lance Sparks (PF), Adam Majkowski (C) Robert Baker, Michael Cain, Dennis Ryan | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Petree (PG), Keith Park (SG), Anthony Birnbaum (PF) Jason Steller, David Heffron, Larry Delatorre | |
| 08:20 | Alabama | James Lynn makes the 1st free throw | 39-45 |
| 08:20 | Alabama | James Lynn makes the 2nd free throw | 40-45 |
| 07:59 | Illinois | Keith Park can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 40-45 |
| 07:58 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski pulls down the rebound | 40-45 |
| 07:34 | Alabama | James Lynn banks in the layup | 42-45 |
| Lineup | Alabama | PG - Michael Vidal (fairly fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Matthew Guy (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Lynn (fresh) 16 pts. PF - Lance Sparks (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - Adam Majkowski (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Petree (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Keith Park (fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. SF - Carl Randolph (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Anthony Birnbaum (fresh) 13 pts. 4 reb. C - Sterling Berryman (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. 3 pf. | |
| 07:05 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum is alone and drills a floater from the right wing set up by Arnold Petree out of the doubleteam | 42-47 |
| 06:47 | Alabama | Anthony Birnbaum denies the turnaround by James Lynn | 42-47 |
| 06:45 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman snags the defensive board | 42-47 |
| 06:30 | Illinois | Carl Randolph is whistled for a carry | 42-47 |
| Subs | Alabama | Robert Baker (SG), Michael Cain (SF) Michael Vidal, James Lynn | |
| Subs | Illinois | David Heffron (SF), Ervin Vaughn (C) Carl Randolph, Sterling Berryman | |
| 06:11 | Alabama | Michael Cain clanks a fadeaway from the right side | 42-47 |
| 06:09 | Illinois | David Heffron grabs the defensive rebound | 42-47 |
| 05:52 | Illinois | Keith Park knocks in the jumper in the lane | 42-49 |
| 05:34 | Alabama | David Heffron swats the short shot by Michael Cain | 42-49 |
| 05:32 | Alabama | Lance Sparks misses the tip | 42-49 |
| 05:30 | Illinois | Keith Park grabs the board | 42-49 |
| 05:08 | Illinois | Keith Park is by himself and knocks in the fadeaway from the free throw line on a nice dish by a doubleteamed Arnold Petree | 42-51 |
| 04:51 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski misses the turnaround near the basket | 42-51 |
| 04:49 | Alabama | Lance Sparks pulls down the offensive rebound | 42-51 |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-2) | |
| 04:27 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski hits the front of the rim on the jumper from close range | 42-51 |
| 04:25 | Alabama | Lance Sparks tips it home | 44-51 |
| 04:00 | Illinois | Michael Cain blocks the short jumper by Anthony Birnbaum | 44-51 |
| 03:58 | Alabama | Michael Cain snags the defensive board | 44-51 |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-2) | |
| 03:44 | Alabama | Lance Sparks is whistled for a carry | 44-51 |
| Subs | Alabama | Michael Vidal (PG), James Lynn (SF), Dennis Ryan (C) Robert Baker, Lance Sparks, Adam Majkowski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jason Steller (PG), Carl Randolph (SG), Larry Delatorre (PF), Sterling Berryman (C) Arnold Petree, Keith Park, Anthony Birnbaum, Ervin Vaughn | |
| 03:22 | Illinois | Jason Steller hits a 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by Carl Randolph | 44-54 |
| Lineup | Alabama | PG - Michael Vidal (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Matthew Guy (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Lynn (fresh) 16 pts. PF - Michael Cain (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Dennis Ryan (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jason Steller (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Carl Randolph (fresh) 5 pts. SF - David Heffron (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. PF - Larry Delatorre (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Sterling Berryman (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. 3 pf. | |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-2) | |
| 02:57 | Alabama | Michael Cain comes up short on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 44-54 |
| 02:56 | Alabama | Dennis Ryan tips it back up and in | 46-54 |
| 02:56 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 46-54 |
| Subs | Alabama | Lance Sparks (PF), Adam Majkowski (C) Michael Cain, Dennis Ryan | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Petree (PG), Keith Park (SG) Jason Steller, Carl Randolph | |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-2) | |
| 02:33 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman can't connect on a shot from just outside the lane but the foul's on Adam Majkowski - foul #3 on Adam Majkowski, team foul #6 | 46-54 |
| Subs | Alabama | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum (PF) Larry Delatorre | |
| 02:33 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman misses the 1st free throw | 46-54 |
| 02:33 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman makes the 2nd free throw | 46-55 |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-2) | |
| 02:17 | Alabama | The short jumper by Adam Majkowski is denied by Sterling Berryman | 46-55 |
| 02:15 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman grabs the board | 46-55 |
| 02:00 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the right wing | 46-55 |
| 01:59 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman can't tip it in | 46-55 |
| 01:58 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski snags the defensive board | 46-55 |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| 01:51 | Alabama | Lance Sparks misses the floater from close range but the foul's on Anthony Birnbaum - foul #3 on Anthony Birnbaum, team foul #5 | 46-55 |
| 01:51 | Alabama | Lance Sparks makes the 1st free throw | 47-55 |
| 01:51 | Alabama | Lance Sparks makes the 2nd free throw | 48-55 |
| 01:25 | Illinois | Arnold Petree comes up short on the floater from the left side but the foul's on Michael Vidal - foul #4 on Michael Vidal, team foul #7 | 48-55 |
| 01:25 | Illinois | Arnold Petree misses the 1st free throw | 48-55 |
| 01:25 | Illinois | Arnold Petree makes the 2nd free throw | 48-56 |
| 01:14 | Alabama | Sterling Berryman picks off the pass by Michael Vidal | 48-56 |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Sterling Berryman is whistled for a carry | 48-56 |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| 00:49 | Alabama | Michael Vidal hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 48-56 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum pulls down the rebound | 48-56 |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama 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 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum is fouled in the backcourt by Michael Vidal - foul #5 on Michael Vidal, team foul #8 | 48-56 |
| Subs | Alabama | Robert Baker (SG) Michael Vidal | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum makes the 1st free throw | 48-57 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum makes the 2nd free throw | 48-58 |
| 00:39 | Alabama | Adam Majkowski misses the dunk | 48-58 |
| 00:38 | Illinois | The rebound goes to David Heffron | 48-58 |
| Game Plan | Alabama | Alabama 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 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Keith Park misses short on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 48-58 |
| 00:08 | Alabama | James Lynn snags the defensive board | 48-58 |
| 00:03 | Alabama | Matthew Guy clanks a jumper in the paint | 48-58 |
| 00:02 | Alabama | Matthew Guy snags the offensive board | 48-58 |
| 00:00 | Alabama | The clock runs out | 48-58 |