| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Derek Whatley (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Ernest Nix (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Vincent Hadley (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. PF - Richard Baker (fresh) 13 pts. 3 reb. C - Willie Howard (fresh) 5 pts. 10 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Utah State | PG - Kitwana Abdullah (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Thomas Corso (fresh) 13 pts. SF - Kevin Bencomo (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Timothy Cilley (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - Arthur Whitley (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Utah State | Kevin Bencomo inbounds the ball | 39-37 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Utah State | Utah State is playing a motion offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 19:48 | Utah State | The short jumper by Timothy Cilley is denied by Richard Baker | 39-37 |
| 19:46 | Utah State | Kevin Bencomo tips it in | 39-39 |
| 19:29 | Illinois | Ernest Nix hits the front of the rim on the wide open 3 pointer from the right corner | 39-39 |
| 19:27 | Utah State | Kevin Bencomo grabs the defensive rebound | 39-39 |
| 18:59 | Utah State | Kevin Bencomo scores on a fadeaway in the paint on a great pass from Kitwana Abdullah | 39-41 |
| 18:41 | Illinois | Willie Howard can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 39-41 |
| 18:40 | Utah State | The rebound goes to Arthur Whitley | 39-41 |
| 18:17 | Utah State | Arthur Whitley scores on a jumper from the baseline on a nice dish by Thomas Corso | 39-43 |
| 18:11 | Illinois | Willie Howard throws a bad pass out of bounds | 39-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jim Boyarski (PG), Steve Merida (SG), Robert Henderson (SF), Frank Mannino (PF), Anthony Kaya (C) Derek Whatley, Ernest Nix, Vincent Hadley, Richard Baker, Willie Howard | |
| Subs | Utah State | Dikembe Ali (PG), Brian Lancaster (SG), Robert Delao (SF), Harley Macrae (C) Kitwana Abdullah, Thomas Corso, Kevin Bencomo, Arthur Whitley | |
| 17:52 | Utah State | Robert Delao's pass is intercepted by Anthony Kaya | 39-43 |
| 17:49 | Illinois | Jim Boyarski is hacked by Brian Lancaster in the backcourt - foul #2 on Brian Lancaster, team foul #1 | 39-43 |
| 17:36 | Illinois | Steve Merida is wide open but clanks a fadeaway from the free throw line | 39-43 |
| 17:35 | Utah State | The rebound goes to Timothy Cilley | 39-43 |
| 17:20 | Utah State | Brian Lancaster clanks a 3pt shot from straight away | 39-43 |
| 17:18 | Illinois | Robert Henderson pulls down the rebound | 39-43 |
| 17:03 | Illinois | Frank Mannino's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 39-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Baker (PF), Willie Howard (C) Frank Mannino, Anthony Kaya | |
| Subs | Utah State | Emmett Smith (PG), Thomas Corso (SG), Kevin Bencomo (SF) Dikembe Ali, Brian Lancaster, Timothy Cilley | |
| 16:43 | Utah State | Kevin Bencomo drills a 3pt shot from the left corner set up by Thomas Corso | 39-46 |
| 16:27 | Illinois | Willie Howard banks in the layup | 41-46 |
| 16:09 | Utah State | Emmett Smith misses long on a pull-up jumper from the right wing | 41-46 |
| 16:07 | Utah State | Kevin Bencomo can't tip it in | 41-46 |
| 16:05 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Willie Howard | 41-46 |
| 15:48 | Illinois | Richard Baker makes the jump hook from the right block on a nice dish by Jim Boyarski | 43-46 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jim Boyarski (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - Steve Merida (fairly fresh) 3 reb. SF - Robert Henderson (fairly fresh) 3 reb. PF - Richard Baker (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 3 reb. C - Willie Howard (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 11 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Utah State | PG - Emmett Smith (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Thomas Corso (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 2 ast. SF - Kevin Bencomo (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 4 reb. PF - Robert Delao (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Harley Macrae (fairly fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 15:27 | Utah State | Thomas Corso buries a 3pt jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Emmett Smith | 43-49 |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Steve Merida buries a 3 from the left wing | 46-49 |
| 14:47 | Utah State | Thomas Corso clanks a 3 from the right wing | 46-49 |
| 14:46 | Illinois | Jim Boyarski gets the rebound | 46-49 |
| 14:44 | Illinois | Robert Henderson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 46-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Derek Whatley (PG), Ernest Nix (SG), Vincent Hadley (SF), Frank Mannino (PF), Anthony Kaya (C) Jim Boyarski, Steve Merida, Robert Henderson, Richard Baker, Willie Howard | |
| Subs | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah (PG), Dikembe Ali (SG), Brian Lancaster (SF), Timothy Cilley (PF), Arthur Whitley (C) Emmett Smith, Thomas Corso, Kevin Bencomo, Robert Delao, Harley Macrae | |
| 14:27 | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah comes up short on the 3pt attempt from straight away | 46-49 |
| 14:25 | Illinois | Frank Mannino grabs the board | 46-49 |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Ernest Nix hits a fadeaway from the left wing set up by Derek Whatley | 48-49 |
| 13:55 | Utah State | Arthur Whitley misses badly on a jumper from just outside the lane | 48-49 |
| 13:54 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Frank Mannino | 48-49 |
| 13:36 | Illinois | Kitwana Abdullah steals it from Derek Whatley | 48-49 |
| 13:17 | Utah State | Timothy Cilley scores on a jumper from just outside the lane and he's hacked by Frank Mannino - foul #3 on Frank Mannino, team foul #1 | 48-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | George Walton (SG), Richard Baker (PF), Willie Howard (C) Ernest Nix, Frank Mannino, Anthony Kaya | |
| Subs | Utah State | Thomas Corso (SG), Kevin Bencomo (SF) Dikembe Ali, Brian Lancaster | |
| 13:17 | Utah State | Timothy Cilley makes the free throw | 48-52 |
| 13:05 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley drills a 3 pointer from straight away | 51-52 |
| 12:42 | Utah State | Derek Whatley steals it from Kevin Bencomo | 51-52 |
| 12:37 | Illinois | Derek Whatley's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 51-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ernest Nix (SG) Derek Whatley | |
| Subs | Utah State | Emmett Smith (PG) Kitwana Abdullah | |
| 12:26 | Utah State | Timothy Cilley is whistled for a carry | 51-52 |
| 12:13 | Illinois | Arthur Whitley is called for the reach on Willie Howard - foul #3 on Arthur Whitley, team foul #2 | 51-52 |
| 11:45 | Illinois | George Walton misses badly on the uncontested 3pt attempt from the left wing | 51-52 |
| 11:44 | Utah State | The rebound goes to Thomas Corso | 51-52 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - George Walton (fairly fresh) SG - Ernest Nix (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Vincent Hadley (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. PF - Richard Baker (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 3 reb. C - Willie Howard (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 11 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Utah State | PG - Emmett Smith (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SG - Thomas Corso (tiring) 16 pts. 2 ast. SF - Kevin Bencomo (tiring) 12 pts. 4 reb. PF - Timothy Cilley (tiring) 8 pts. 5 reb. C - Arthur Whitley (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 11:40 | Utah State | Thomas Corso misses long on a floater from the free throw line | 51-52 |
| 11:38 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley grabs the defensive rebound | 51-52 |
| 11:36 | Illinois | Ernest Nix double dribbles in the backcourt | 51-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | Derek Whatley (PG), Steve Merida (SG), Frank Mannino (PF), Anthony Kaya (C) George Walton, Ernest Nix, Richard Baker, Willie Howard | |
| Subs | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah (PG), Brian Lancaster (SG), Robert Delao (PF) Emmett Smith, Thomas Corso, Timothy Cilley | |
| 11:26 | Utah State | Brian Lancaster can't connect on a fadeaway from the right side | 51-52 |
| 11:24 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley snags the defensive board | 51-52 |
| 11:09 | Illinois | Frank Mannino knocks in the jumpshot from the right side on a great pass from Vincent Hadley | 53-52 |
| 10:46 | Utah State | Robert Delao drills a 3 from straight away | 53-55 |
| 10:44 | Illinois | Kevin Bencomo picks off the pass by Steve Merida in the backcourt | 53-55 |
| 10:24 | Utah State | Derek Whatley steps in front of the Kevin Bencomo pass | 53-55 |
| 10:05 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley misses the shot from the right wing | 53-55 |
| 10:03 | Utah State | The rebound goes to Kevin Bencomo | 53-55 |
| 09:37 | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah is whistled for traveling | 53-55 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jim Boyarski (PG), Ernest Nix (SG), Robert Henderson (SF), Richard Baker (PF), Willie Howard (C) Derek Whatley, Steve Merida, Vincent Hadley, Frank Mannino, Anthony Kaya | |
| Subs | Utah State | Dikembe Ali (PG), Thomas Corso (SG), Timothy Cilley (PF), Harley Macrae (C) Kitwana Abdullah, Brian Lancaster, Kevin Bencomo, Arthur Whitley | |
| 09:20 | Illinois | Robert Henderson is open and scores on a runner near the basket set up by Jim Boyarski | 55-55 |
| 09:06 | Utah State | Dikembe Ali is fouled on the floor by Willie Howard - foul #2 on Willie Howard, team foul #2 | 55-55 |
| 08:50 | Utah State | Dikembe Ali comes up short on the floater from just outside the lane | 55-55 |
| 08:49 | Illinois | Willie Howard grabs the defensive rebound | 55-55 |
| 08:38 | Illinois | Ernest Nix misses long on a fadeaway in the lane | 55-55 |
| 08:37 | Utah State | Robert Delao grabs the defensive rebound | 55-55 |
| 08:25 | Utah State | Thomas Corso hits the front of the rim on the jumper from just outside the lane | 55-55 |
| 08:23 | Utah State | Robert Delao tips it home | 55-57 |
| 08:11 | Illinois | Jim Boyarski makes the wide open 3 from straight away | 58-57 |
| 07:50 | Utah State | Thomas Corso drills a pull-up jumper from the left side and he's hacked by Willie Howard - foul #3 on Willie Howard, team foul #3 | 58-59 |
| Subs | Illinois | George Walton (PG) Robert Henderson | |
| Subs | Utah State | Emmett Smith (PG), Kevin Bencomo (SF) Dikembe Ali, Robert Delao | |
| 07:50 | Utah State | Thomas Corso misses the free throw | 58-59 |
| 07:50 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Richard Baker | 58-59 |
| 07:29 | Illinois | Harley Macrae steals it from George Walton | 58-59 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - George Walton (fresh) SG - Ernest Nix (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Jim Boyarski (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 ast. PF - Richard Baker (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 4 reb. C - Willie Howard (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 12 reb. 2 blk. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Utah State | PG - Emmett Smith (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Thomas Corso (tiring) 18 pts. 2 ast. SF - Kevin Bencomo (tiring) 12 pts. 5 reb. PF - Timothy Cilley (tiring) 8 pts. 5 reb. C - Harley Macrae (fairly fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 07:22 | Utah State | Willie Howard swats the short shot by Emmett Smith | 58-59 |
| 07:21 | Utah State | Timothy Cilley tips it home | 58-61 |
| 06:59 | Illinois | Richard Baker misses short on a floater from the right block | 58-61 |
| 06:58 | Utah State | Timothy Cilley grabs the defensive rebound | 58-61 |
| 06:39 | Utah State | Harley Macrae hits the front of the rim on the runner in the lane | 58-61 |
| 06:38 | Illinois | George Walton grabs the defensive rebound | 58-61 |
| 06:32 | Illinois | Ernest Nix is fouled in the backcourt by Harley Macrae - foul #3 on Harley Macrae, team foul #3 | 58-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | Derek Whatley (PG), Steve Merida (SG), Vincent Hadley (SF), Anthony Kaya (C) George Walton, Ernest Nix, Jim Boyarski, Willie Howard | |
| Subs | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah (PG), Brian Lancaster (SG), Arthur Whitley (C) Emmett Smith, Thomas Corso, Harley Macrae | |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Derek Whatley is by himself and knocks in the 3pt attempt from the right corner set up by Anthony Kaya | 61-61 |
| 06:05 | Utah State | Timothy Cilley is fouled on the floor by Steve Merida - foul #2 on Steve Merida, team foul #4 | 61-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Henderson (SF), Frank Mannino (PF) Vincent Hadley, Richard Baker | |
| Subs | Utah State | Robert Delao (SF) Kevin Bencomo | |
| 05:49 | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah hits a 3pt jumper from straight away set up by Brian Lancaster | 61-64 |
| 05:23 | Illinois | Steve Merida can't connect on a fadeaway from the left wing | 61-64 |
| 05:21 | Illinois | Anthony Kaya tips it back up and in | 63-64 |
| 05:17 | Utah State | Robert Delao's floater is tipped away by Frank Mannino | 63-64 |
| 05:16 | Utah State | Timothy Cilley tips it but misses | 63-64 |
| 05:14 | Utah State | Robert Delao snags the offensive board | 63-64 |
| 04:58 | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah hits the front of the rim on the floater from the right block but he's hacked by Steve Merida - foul #3 on Steve Merida, team foul #5 | 63-64 |
| Subs | Illinois | George Walton (PG), Ernest Nix (SG), Vincent Hadley (SF), Richard Baker (PF), Willie Howard (C) Derek Whatley, Steve Merida, Robert Henderson, Frank Mannino, Anthony Kaya | |
| Subs | Utah State | Dikembe Ali (SG), Kevin Bencomo (SF) Brian Lancaster, Timothy Cilley | |
| 04:58 | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah makes the 1st free throw | 63-65 |
| 04:58 | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah makes the 2nd free throw | 63-66 |
| 04:29 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley is fouled on the floor by Kevin Bencomo - foul #3 on Kevin Bencomo, team foul #4 | 63-66 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Utah State | Emmett Smith (PG) Kitwana Abdullah | |
| 04:19 | Illinois | Kevin Bencomo is called for the reach on George Walton - foul #4 on Kevin Bencomo, team foul #5 | 63-66 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Utah State | Thomas Corso (SG) Dikembe Ali | |
| 04:07 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley misses the lay-in but the foul's on Emmett Smith - foul #1 on Emmett Smith, team foul #6 | 63-66 |
| Subs | Illinois | Derek Whatley (PG) George Walton | |
| Subs | Utah State | Harley Macrae (PF) Robert Delao | |
| 04:07 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley misses the 1st free throw | 63-66 |
| 04:07 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley misses the 2nd free throw | 63-66 |
| 04:07 | Utah State | Arthur Whitley grabs the board | 63-66 |
| 03:45 | Utah State | Emmett Smith misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 63-66 |
| 03:43 | Illinois | Richard Baker grabs the defensive rebound | 63-66 |
| 03:17 | Illinois | Willie Howard misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 63-66 |
| 03:16 | Illinois | Ernest Nix tips it home | 65-66 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Derek Whatley (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SG - Ernest Nix (tiring) 11 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Vincent Hadley (tiring) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - Richard Baker (tiring) 15 pts. 5 reb. C - Willie Howard (tiring) 7 pts. 12 reb. 3 blk. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Utah State | PG - Emmett Smith (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Thomas Corso (tiring) 18 pts. 2 ast. SF - Kevin Bencomo (tired) 12 pts. 5 reb. 4 pf. PF - Harley Macrae (tiring) 4 pts. 3 pf. C - Arthur Whitley (tired) 5 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 03:03 | Utah State | Arthur Whitley misses badly on a turnaround from the baseline | 65-66 |
| 03:02 | Illinois | Ernest Nix grabs the defensive rebound | 65-66 |
| 02:58 | Illinois | Ernest Nix is hacked by Thomas Corso in the backcourt - foul #1 on Thomas Corso, team foul #7 | 65-66 |
| Subs | Illinois | Steve Merida (SF), Robert Henderson (PF), Frank Mannino (C) Vincent Hadley, Richard Baker, Willie Howard | |
| Subs | Utah State | Dikembe Ali (PG), Brian Lancaster (SF), Timothy Cilley (PF) Emmett Smith, Kevin Bencomo, Arthur Whitley | |
| 02:58 | Illinois | Ernest Nix makes the 1st free throw | 66-66 |
| 02:58 | Illinois | Ernest Nix makes the 2nd free throw | 67-66 |
| 02:38 | Utah State | Robert Henderson steals the ball from Dikembe Ali | 67-66 |
| 02:17 | Illinois | Ernest Nix is open but can't throw it down | 67-66 |
| 02:15 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Frank Mannino | 67-66 |
| 02:00 | Illinois | Robert Henderson can't connect on a floater from the left side | 67-66 |
| 01:58 | Utah State | Harley Macrae grabs the defensive rebound | 67-66 |
| 01:31 | Utah State | Brian Lancaster misses badly on a jumper from the left wing | 67-66 |
| 01:29 | Illinois | Frank Mannino snags the defensive board | 67-66 |
| 01:25 | Illinois | Ernest Nix buries a jumper in the lane on a nice dish by Derek Whatley and the foul's on Dikembe Ali - foul #1 on Dikembe Ali, team foul #8 | 69-66 |
| Subs | Illinois | Vincent Hadley (SF), Richard Baker (PF), Willie Howard (C) Steve Merida, Robert Henderson, Frank Mannino | |
| Subs | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah (PG), Kevin Bencomo (SF), Arthur Whitley (C) Dikembe Ali, Brian Lancaster, Harley Macrae | |
| 01:25 | Illinois | Ernest Nix makes the free throw | 70-66 |
| 01:06 | Utah State | Arthur Whitley blows the layup but he's fouled by Willie Howard - foul #4 on Willie Howard, team foul #6 | 70-66 |
| 01:06 | Utah State | Utah State calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 70-66 |
| 01:06 | Utah State | Arthur Whitley misses the 1st free throw | 70-66 |
| 01:06 | Utah State | Arthur Whitley misses the 2nd free throw | 70-66 |
| 01:06 | Utah State | Arthur Whitley pulls down the offensive rebound | 70-66 |
| 00:57 | Utah State | Timothy Cilley misses the fadeaway from the left side | 70-66 |
| 00:56 | Illinois | Ernest Nix grabs the board | 70-66 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Utah State | Utah State is playing a motion offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 00:54 | Illinois | Richard Baker's pass is intercepted by Timothy Cilley in the backcourt | 70-66 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Utah State | Utah State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 00:48 | Utah State | Thomas Corso connects on the fadeaway jumper from the left side set up by Kitwana Abdullah | 70-68 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley is fouled on the floor by Thomas Corso - foul #2 on Thomas Corso, team foul #9 | 70-68 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley makes the 1st free throw | 71-68 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley makes the 2nd free throw | 72-68 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Utah State | Utah State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 00:13 | Utah State | Kitwana Abdullah misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 72-68 |
| 00:12 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley grabs the board | 72-68 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Utah State | Utah State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley is hacked by Kitwana Abdullah in the backcourt - foul #1 on Kitwana Abdullah, team foul #10 | 72-68 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jim Boyarski (PG) Derek Whatley | |
| Subs | Utah State | | |
| 00:09 | Utah State | Utah State calls a full timeout (2 :30 1 full remaining) | 72-68 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley makes the 1st free throw | 73-68 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Vincent Hadley makes the 2nd free throw | 74-68 |
| 00:03 | Utah State | Thomas Corso misses the 3 pointer from the left wing | 74-68 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Jim Boyarski gets the rebound | 74-68 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Utah State | Utah State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Jim Boyarski runs out the clock | 74-68 |