| Lineup | North Carolina | PG - Chance Woods (fresh) SG - Gordon Wright (fresh) 1 pts. 3 ast. SF - Ratko Rakowski (fresh) 3 pts. PF - John Pointer (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. C - David Balcom (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ray Thompson (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Nolan Alexander (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Mark Blanc (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Gerald Collar (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. C - Cruz Hutchens (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Mark Blanc inbounds the ball | 34-33 |
| Game Plan | North Carolina | North Carolina is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:42 | Illinois | Mark Blanc clanks a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 34-33 |
| 19:41 | Illinois | Nolan Alexander grabs the offensive rebound | 34-33 |
| 19:28 | Illinois | Mark Blanc's floater is tipped away by John Pointer | 34-33 |
| 19:27 | North Carolina | The rebound goes to John Pointer | 34-33 |
| 19:04 | North Carolina | John Pointer comes up short on the fadeaway from the left wing | 34-33 |
| 19:03 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Nolan Alexander | 34-33 |
| 18:44 | Illinois | David Balcom is called for the reach on Ray Thompson - foul #3 on David Balcom, team foul #1 | 34-33 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Jarrod Hoffman (C) David Balcom | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 18:35 | Illinois | Mark Blanc scores on a floater from the left wing | 34-35 |
| 18:31 | North Carolina | Chance Woods drills a 3pt attempt from the left corner on a nice dish by Gordon Wright | 37-35 |
| 18:25 | Illinois | Mark Blanc throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 37-35 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Harold Canada (SG) Gordon Wright | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 18:08 | North Carolina | Harold Canada misses long on a 3 from the right wing | 37-35 |
| 18:06 | North Carolina | Ratko Rakowski grabs the offensive board | 37-35 |
| 17:50 | North Carolina | Harold Canada misses long on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 37-35 |
| 17:48 | Illinois | Nolan Alexander grabs the defensive rebound | 37-35 |
| 17:46 | Illinois | Ray Thompson is fouled in the backcourt by Jarrod Hoffman - foul #2 on Jarrod Hoffman, team foul #2 | 37-35 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Eric Ruben (PG), Michael Hill (SF), Lester Westlake (PF) Chance Woods, Ratko Rakowski, John Pointer | |
| Subs | Illinois | Luke Sadler (SG), Antonio Cabrera (PF), Robert Robinson (C) Nolan Alexander, Gerald Collar, Cruz Hutchens | |
| 17:26 | Illinois | Robert Robinson dunks the ball on a great pass from Ray Thompson and he's fouled by Jarrod Hoffman - foul #3 on Jarrod Hoffman, team foul #3 | 37-37 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Gordon Wright (SG), Jerrell Mitchell (C) Harold Canada, Jarrod Hoffman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jason Clark (PG) Ray Thompson | |
| 17:26 | Illinois | Robert Robinson makes the free throw | 37-38 |
| 17:00 | North Carolina | Lester Westlake makes the fadeaway jumper from the right side set up by Gordon Wright | 39-38 |
| 16:56 | Illinois | Lester Westlake picks off the pass by Jason Clark in the backcourt | 39-38 |
| 16:38 | North Carolina | Eric Ruben clanks a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 39-38 |
| 16:37 | Illinois | Mark Blanc grabs the defensive rebound | 39-38 |
| 16:20 | Illinois | Mark Blanc comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 39-38 |
| 16:18 | North Carolina | Michael Hill grabs the board | 39-38 |
| 15:53 | North Carolina | Eric Ruben hits a 3pt attempt from straight away | 42-38 |
| Lineup | North Carolina | PG - Eric Ruben (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SG - Gordon Wright (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 5 ast. SF - Michael Hill (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. PF - Lester Westlake (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. C - Jerrell Mitchell (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jason Clark (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Luke Sadler (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SF - Mark Blanc (tiring) 5 pts. PF - Antonio Cabrera (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Robert Robinson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 15:48 | Illinois | Michael Hill takes the ball from Antonio Cabrera in the backcourt | 42-38 |
| 15:35 | North Carolina | Lester Westlake hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left wing | 42-38 |
| 15:33 | North Carolina | Jerrell Mitchell hits the follow up shot | 44-38 |
| 15:26 | Illinois | Robert Robinson knocks in the turnaround from the baseline on a great pass from Luke Sadler | 44-40 |
| 15:08 | North Carolina | Lester Westlake is denied on a layup by Antonio Cabrera | 44-40 |
| 15:07 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jason Clark | 44-40 |
| 15:02 | Illinois | Luke Sadler clanks a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 44-40 |
| 15:00 | Illinois | Jason Clark tips it home | 44-42 |
| 14:42 | North Carolina | Eric Ruben loses the ball out of bounds | 44-42 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Chance Woods (PG), Harold Canada (SG), Ratko Rakowski (SF), John Pointer (PF), David Balcom (C) Eric Ruben, Gordon Wright, Michael Hill, Lester Westlake, Jerrell Mitchell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ray Thompson (PG), Nolan Alexander (SG), Micheal Rose (SF), Gerald Collar (PF), Cruz Hutchens (C) Jason Clark, Luke Sadler, Mark Blanc, Antonio Cabrera, Robert Robinson | |
| 14:31 | Illinois | Nolan Alexander is open and buries a 3pt jumper from straight away on a nice dish by Micheal Rose | 44-45 |
| 14:17 | North Carolina | Harold Canada is hacked by Cruz Hutchens - foul #2 on Cruz Hutchens, team foul #1 | 44-45 |
| 13:57 | North Carolina | John Pointer throws a bad pass out of bounds | 44-45 |
| 13:30 | Illinois | David Balcom steps in front of the Gerald Collar pass | 44-45 |
| 13:03 | North Carolina | John Pointer lays it in and he's hacked by Gerald Collar - foul #2 on Gerald Collar, team foul #2 | 46-45 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Gordon Wright (SG), Jarrod Hoffman (C) Harold Canada, David Balcom | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred Wilcoxon (SG), Andre Brock (SF) Nolan Alexander, Micheal Rose | |
| 13:03 | North Carolina | John Pointer makes the free throw | 47-45 |
| 12:39 | Illinois | Andre Brock misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 47-45 |
| 12:38 | North Carolina | Chance Woods grabs the defensive rebound | 47-45 |
| 12:19 | North Carolina | John Pointer can't connect on a jumper from close range | 47-45 |
| 12:18 | Illinois | Gerald Collar pulls down the rebound | 47-45 |
| 12:16 | Illinois | Gordon Wright is called for the reach on Ray Thompson in the backcourt - foul #1 on Gordon Wright, team foul #4 | 47-45 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Michael Hill (SF), Lester Westlake (PF) Ratko Rakowski, John Pointer | |
| Subs | Illinois | Antonio Cabrera (PF) Gerald Collar | |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Antonio Cabrera misses short on a jumpshot from the right wing but he's fouled by Lester Westlake - foul #2 on Lester Westlake, team foul #5 | 47-45 |
| Subs | North Carolina | David Balcom (C) Jarrod Hoffman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Micheal Rose (SF) Andre Brock | |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Antonio Cabrera makes the 1st free throw | 47-46 |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Antonio Cabrera makes the 2nd free throw | 47-47 |
| 11:48 | North Carolina | Chance Woods misses the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 47-47 |
| 11:46 | Illinois | Micheal Rose pulls down the rebound | 47-47 |
| Lineup | North Carolina | PG - Chance Woods (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - Gordon Wright (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 5 ast. SF - Michael Hill (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. PF - Lester Westlake (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. C - David Balcom (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Ray Thompson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Fred Wilcoxon (fresh) SF - Micheal Rose (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. PF - Antonio Cabrera (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Cruz Hutchens (fairly fresh) | |
| 11:24 | Illinois | Ray Thompson misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 47-47 |
| 11:23 | North Carolina | The rebound goes to David Balcom | 47-47 |
| 11:05 | North Carolina | Chance Woods makes the fadeaway from just outside the lane | 49-47 |
| 10:43 | Illinois | Antonio Cabrera misses the turnaround in the paint | 49-47 |
| 10:42 | North Carolina | David Balcom grabs the defensive rebound | 49-47 |
| 10:21 | North Carolina | Chance Woods misses short on a floater from the free throw line but he's hacked by Ray Thompson - foul #1 on Ray Thompson, team foul #3 | 49-47 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Harold Canada (SG), Ratko Rakowski (SF), John Pointer (PF), Jarrod Hoffman (C) Gordon Wright, Michael Hill, Lester Westlake, David Balcom | |
| Subs | Illinois | Nolan Alexander (PG), Luke Sadler (SG), Mark Blanc (SF), Gerald Collar (PF), Robert Robinson (C) Ray Thompson, Fred Wilcoxon, Micheal Rose, Antonio Cabrera, Cruz Hutchens | |
| 10:21 | North Carolina | Chance Woods makes the 1st free throw | 50-47 |
| 10:21 | North Carolina | Chance Woods misses the 2nd free throw | 50-47 |
| 10:21 | Illinois | Gerald Collar snags the defensive board | 50-47 |
| 10:02 | Illinois | Luke Sadler hits the finger roll | 50-49 |
| 09:42 | North Carolina | Jarrod Hoffman misses long on a floater from the left wing | 50-49 |
| 09:40 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Robert Robinson | 50-49 |
| 09:31 | Illinois | Luke Sadler hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 50-49 |
| 09:29 | North Carolina | Chance Woods grabs the board | 50-49 |
| 09:24 | North Carolina | Ratko Rakowski makes the 3 pointer from straight away on a nice dish by Chance Woods | 53-49 |
| 09:02 | Illinois | Gerald Collar clanks a driving attempt near the basket | 53-49 |
| 09:01 | North Carolina | Jarrod Hoffman pulls down the rebound | 53-49 |
| 08:33 | North Carolina | Chance Woods double dribbles | 53-49 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Eric Ruben (PG), Gordon Wright (SG), Michael Hill (SF), Jerrell Mitchell (PF), David Balcom (C) Chance Woods, Harold Canada, Ratko Rakowski, John Pointer, Jarrod Hoffman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jason Clark (PG), Andre Brock (SF), Antonio Cabrera (PF), Cruz Hutchens (C) Luke Sadler, Mark Blanc, Gerald Collar, Robert Robinson | |
| 08:14 | Illinois | Antonio Cabrera makes the fadeaway jumper from the left side set up by Andre Brock | 53-51 |
| 07:50 | North Carolina | Eric Ruben scores on a jumpshot from the left side set up by Gordon Wright | 55-51 |
| Lineup | North Carolina | PG - Eric Ruben (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Gordon Wright (tiring) 1 pts. 6 ast. SF - Michael Hill (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. PF - Jerrell Mitchell (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - David Balcom (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jason Clark (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Nolan Alexander (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Andre Brock (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Antonio Cabrera (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. C - Cruz Hutchens (fairly fresh) | |
| 07:34 | Illinois | Andre Brock misses short on a pull-up jumper from the right side | 55-51 |
| 07:32 | Illinois | Nolan Alexander tips it back up and in | 55-53 |
| 07:07 | North Carolina | Eric Ruben drills a floater from the left side | 57-53 |
| 06:56 | Illinois | Antonio Cabrera clanks a jumper from the right block | 57-53 |
| 06:54 | North Carolina | Eric Ruben snags the defensive board | 57-53 |
| 06:28 | North Carolina | Nolan Alexander is called for the reach on Eric Ruben - foul #1 on Nolan Alexander, team foul #4 | 57-53 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Chance Woods (PG), Harold Canada (SG), Ratko Rakowski (SF), John Pointer (PF), Jarrod Hoffman (C) Eric Ruben, Gordon Wright, Michael Hill, Jerrell Mitchell, David Balcom | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ray Thompson (PG), Luke Sadler (SG), Mark Blanc (SF), Gerald Collar (PF), Robert Robinson (C) Jason Clark, Nolan Alexander, Andre Brock, Antonio Cabrera, Cruz Hutchens | |
| 06:17 | North Carolina | Ray Thompson steps in front of the Ratko Rakowski pass | 57-53 |
| 06:15 | Illinois | Luke Sadler is called for traveling in the backcourt | 57-53 |
| 06:03 | North Carolina | The jump hook by John Pointer is blocked by Gerald Collar | 57-53 |
| 06:01 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Luke Sadler | 57-53 |
| 05:58 | Illinois | Chance Woods is called for the reach on Mark Blanc in the backcourt - foul #2 on Chance Woods, team foul #6 | 57-53 |
| 05:41 | Illinois | Ray Thompson misses badly on the uncontested jump hook from close range | 57-53 |
| 05:39 | North Carolina | Jarrod Hoffman snags the defensive board | 57-53 |
| 05:13 | North Carolina | Ratko Rakowski misses short on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 57-53 |
| 05:12 | Illinois | Gerald Collar grabs the defensive rebound | 57-53 |
| 05:10 | Illinois | Harold Canada picks off the pass by Robert Robinson in the backcourt | 57-53 |
| 04:51 | North Carolina | Gerald Collar is called for the reach on Chance Woods - foul #3 on Gerald Collar, team foul #5 | 57-53 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Eric Ruben (PG), Lester Westlake (PF), David Balcom (C) Chance Woods, John Pointer, Jarrod Hoffman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred Wilcoxon (SG), Micheal Rose (SF), Cruz Hutchens (C) Luke Sadler, Mark Blanc, Robert Robinson | |
| 04:44 | North Carolina | Ratko Rakowski buries a 3 pointer from the right wing on a great pass from Eric Ruben | 60-53 |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Gerald Collar misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the left side but he's hacked by Lester Westlake - foul #3 on Lester Westlake, team foul #7 | 60-53 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Gordon Wright (SG), Michael Hill (SF) Harold Canada, Ratko Rakowski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Antonio Cabrera (C) Cruz Hutchens | |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Gerald Collar makes the 1st free throw | 60-54 |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Gerald Collar makes the 2nd free throw | 60-55 |
| 04:12 | North Carolina | Eric Ruben misses short on a jumpshot from the right side | 60-55 |
| 04:10 | North Carolina | David Balcom grabs the offensive board | 60-55 |
| 03:51 | North Carolina | David Balcom blows the layup but he's hacked by Antonio Cabrera - foul #2 on Antonio Cabrera, team foul #6 | 60-55 |
| Subs | North Carolina | John Pointer (PF) Lester Westlake | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jason Clark (PG), Cruz Hutchens (C) Ray Thompson, Gerald Collar | |
| 03:51 | North Carolina | David Balcom makes the 1st free throw | 61-55 |
| 03:51 | North Carolina | David Balcom makes the 2nd free throw | 62-55 |
| 03:46 | Illinois | Fred Wilcoxon's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 62-55 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Jerrell Mitchell (C) David Balcom | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 03:33 | North Carolina | John Pointer comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 62-55 |
| 03:31 | North Carolina | The offensive rebound goes to Gordon Wright | 62-55 |
| Lineup | North Carolina | PG - Eric Ruben (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. SG - Gordon Wright (tiring) 1 pts. 6 ast. SF - Michael Hill (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. PF - John Pointer (fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. C - Jerrell Mitchell (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jason Clark (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Fred Wilcoxon (fresh) SF - Micheal Rose (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. PF - Antonio Cabrera (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. C - Cruz Hutchens (fairly fresh) | |
| 03:09 | North Carolina | John Pointer scores on a driving attempt from close range on a nice dish by Gordon Wright | 64-55 |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Fred Wilcoxon can't throw it down but he's fouled by Michael Hill - foul #1 on Michael Hill, team foul #8 | 64-55 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Chance Woods (PG), Harold Canada (SG), Ratko Rakowski (SF), Lester Westlake (PF), Jarrod Hoffman (C) Eric Ruben, Gordon Wright, Michael Hill, John Pointer, Jerrell Mitchell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ray Thompson (PG), Mark Blanc (SF), Gerald Collar (PF), Robert Robinson (C) Jason Clark, Micheal Rose, Antonio Cabrera, Cruz Hutchens | |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Fred Wilcoxon misses the 1st free throw | 64-55 |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Fred Wilcoxon makes the 2nd free throw | 64-56 |
| 02:43 | North Carolina | North Carolina calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 64-56 |
| Subs | North Carolina | John Pointer (PF), David Balcom (C) Lester Westlake, Jarrod Hoffman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Nolan Alexander (SG) Fred Wilcoxon | |
| 02:29 | North Carolina | John Pointer buries a floater from the free throw line set up by Ratko Rakowski | 66-56 |
| Game Plan | North Carolina | North Carolina is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 02:27 | Illinois | Ray Thompson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 66-56 |
| Game Plan | North Carolina | North Carolina is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (0) | |
| 02:00 | North Carolina | Harold Canada is whistled for a carry | 66-56 |
| Subs | North Carolina | Gordon Wright (SG) Harold Canada | |
| Subs | Illinois | Cruz Hutchens (C) Robert Robinson | |
| 01:48 | Illinois | Ratko Rakowski takes the ball from Nolan Alexander | 66-56 |
| 01:31 | North Carolina | John Pointer scores on a jump hook from the baseline and the foul's on Cruz Hutchens - foul #3 on Cruz Hutchens, team foul #7 | 68-56 |
| 01:31 | North Carolina | John Pointer makes the free throw | 69-56 |
| 01:14 | Illinois | Nolan Alexander makes the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 69-59 |
| 01:02 | North Carolina | Chance Woods knocks in the 3pt jumper from the right corner set up by Gordon Wright | 72-59 |
| Game Plan | North Carolina | North Carolina is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (0) | |
| 00:55 | Illinois | Ray Thompson misses long on a driving attempt near the basket | 72-59 |
| 00:54 | Illinois | Gerald Collar tips it back up and in | 72-61 |
| Game Plan | North Carolina | North Carolina is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (0) | |
| 00:31 | North Carolina | John Pointer comes up short on the fadeaway from the right side | 72-61 |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Gerald Collar snags the defensive board | 72-61 |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Nolan Alexander hits the front of the rim on the shot from the left wing but he's hacked by Gordon Wright - foul #2 on Gordon Wright, team foul #9 | 72-61 |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Nolan Alexander misses the 1st free throw | 72-61 |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Nolan Alexander makes the 2nd free throw | 72-62 |
| 00:00 | North Carolina | Chance Woods runs out the clock | 72-62 |