| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Donald Simmons (fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - James Walker (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jack Schweers (fresh) PF - Daniel Johnson (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Clarence Vaughn (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Kiely (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Jon Charles (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Scott Rennick (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Jacob Huber (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. C - Roderick Melson (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Northern Iowa | Jack Schweers inbounds the ball | 31-30 |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| 19:33 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson can't connect on a shot from the right wing | 31-30 |
| 19:31 | Northern Iowa | The offensive rebound goes to Jack Schweers | 31-30 |
| 19:19 | Northern Iowa | James Walker knocks in the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 33-30 |
| 19:13 | Illinois | Jacob Huber clanks a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 33-30 |
| 19:11 | Northern Iowa | Clarence Vaughn pulls down the rebound | 33-30 |
| 18:57 | Northern Iowa | Clarence Vaughn comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 33-30 |
| 18:56 | Illinois | Scott Rennick pulls down the rebound | 33-30 |
| 18:54 | Illinois | James Kiely's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 33-30 |
| 18:46 | Northern Iowa | Roderick Melson is called for the reach on Clarence Vaughn - foul #1 on Roderick Melson, team foul #1 | 33-30 |
| 18:28 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons's pass is intercepted by Jacob Huber | 33-30 |
| 18:10 | Illinois | Scott Rennick hits the front of the rim on the floater from the right block | 33-30 |
| 18:08 | Northern Iowa | James Walker grabs the board | 33-30 |
| 17:49 | Northern Iowa | Clarence Vaughn misses the fadeaway from the left side | 33-30 |
| 17:47 | Northern Iowa | Jack Schweers grabs the offensive rebound | 33-30 |
| 17:42 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson hits the front of the rim on the runner from close range but he's hacked by Jacob Huber - foul #3 on Jacob Huber, team foul #2 | 33-30 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Robert Baptiste (PG) Donald Simmons | |
| Subs | Illinois | Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (PF) Jacob Huber | |
| 17:42 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson makes the 1st free throw | 34-30 |
| 17:42 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson makes the 2nd free throw | 35-30 |
| 17:27 | Illinois | Daniel Johnson swats the layup by Roderick Melson | 35-30 |
| 17:26 | Northern Iowa | Clarence Vaughn snags the defensive board | 35-30 |
| 17:18 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson is called for traveling | 35-30 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Larry Loving (SG), Kenneth Samuels (PF), Duane Foster (C) James Walker, Daniel Johnson, Clarence Vaughn | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Allen (PF), Francisco Juarez (C) Scott Rennick, Roderick Melson | |
| 16:54 | Illinois | John Allen misses short on a fadeaway from close range but he's fouled by Kenneth Samuels - foul #1 on Kenneth Samuels, team foul #1 | 35-30 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Bobby Deatherage (SF) Jack Schweers | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roberto Greco (PG), Allan Brown (SG) James Kiely, Jon Charles | |
| 16:54 | Illinois | John Allen makes the 1st free throw | 35-31 |
| 16:54 | Illinois | John Allen makes the 2nd free throw | 35-32 |
| 16:39 | Northern Iowa | Robert Baptiste travels with the ball | 35-32 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons (PG) Larry Loving | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 16:18 | Illinois | Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun's pass is intercepted by Duane Foster | 35-32 |
| 15:53 | Northern Iowa | Kenneth Samuels drills a runner from the left block on a nice dish by Bobby Deatherage | 37-32 |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Donald Simmons (fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Robert Baptiste (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Bobby Deatherage (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Kenneth Samuels (fresh) 4 pts. C - Duane Foster (fresh) 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Roberto Greco (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Allan Brown (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Allen (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Francisco Juarez (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 15:27 | Illinois | Roberto Greco comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 37-32 |
| 15:25 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons grabs the board | 37-32 |
| 15:15 | Northern Iowa | Robert Baptiste connects on the jumpshot from the free throw line on a great pass from Donald Simmons | 39-32 |
| 14:59 | Illinois | Allan Brown misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 39-32 |
| 14:57 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Kenneth Samuels | 39-32 |
| 14:46 | Northern Iowa | Robert Baptiste is called for a moving pick - foul #2 on Robert Baptiste, team foul #2 | 39-32 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Larry Loving (PG), James Walker (SG), Tyron Gabbard (SF), Daniel Johnson (PF), Clarence Vaughn (C) Donald Simmons, Robert Baptiste, Bobby Deatherage, Kenneth Samuels, Duane Foster | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Kiely (PG), Jon Charles (SG), Scott Rennick (SF), Jacob Huber (PF), Roderick Melson (C) Roberto Greco, Allan Brown, Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun, John Allen, Francisco Juarez | |
| 14:29 | Illinois | James Kiely makes the jumpshot from the left side on a great pass from Scott Rennick | 39-34 |
| 14:12 | Northern Iowa | Tyron Gabbard connects on the fadeaway from the right wing | 41-34 |
| 13:45 | Illinois | Jon Charles buries a 3 from the left corner on a great pass from James Kiely | 41-37 |
| 13:32 | Northern Iowa | Clarence Vaughn makes the jumper from the baseline | 43-37 |
| 13:17 | Illinois | Jon Charles hits the front of the rim on the shot from the free throw line | 43-37 |
| 13:15 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Daniel Johnson | 43-37 |
| 12:58 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson is denied on a layup by Roderick Melson | 43-37 |
| 12:56 | Northern Iowa | Clarence Vaughn tips it back up and in | 45-37 |
| 12:37 | Illinois | James Kiely misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 45-37 |
| 12:36 | Illinois | Scott Rennick can't tip it in | 45-37 |
| 12:35 | Illinois | Roderick Melson grabs the offensive rebound | 45-37 |
| 12:07 | Illinois | Jacob Huber hits a fadeaway from the right block | 45-39 |
| 11:44 | Northern Iowa | James Walker misses long on a shot from the right side but he's hacked by Scott Rennick - foul #1 on Scott Rennick, team foul #3 | 45-39 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons (PG), Jack Schweers (SF), Kenneth Samuels (PF), Duane Foster (C) Larry Loving, Tyron Gabbard, Daniel Johnson, Clarence Vaughn | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roberto Greco (PG), Allan Brown (SG), Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (SF), John Allen (PF), Francisco Juarez (C) James Kiely, Jon Charles, Scott Rennick, Jacob Huber, Roderick Melson | |
| 11:44 | Northern Iowa | James Walker misses the 1st free throw | 45-39 |
| 11:44 | Northern Iowa | James Walker makes the 2nd free throw | 46-39 |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Donald Simmons (fresh) 2 pts. 5 ast. 2 stl. SG - James Walker (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jack Schweers (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Kenneth Samuels (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Duane Foster (fresh) 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Roberto Greco (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Allan Brown (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Allen (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Francisco Juarez (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:25 | Illinois | Allan Brown hits a jumper from the right wing | 46-41 |
| 11:08 | Northern Iowa | Duane Foster scores on a jump hook from the right block on a nice dish by James Walker | 48-41 |
| 10:48 | Illinois | Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun misses the 3 from the left corner | 48-41 |
| 10:47 | Northern Iowa | James Walker pulls down the rebound | 48-41 |
| 10:22 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons misses long on a 3 pointer from the left wing but he's hacked by John Allen - foul #3 on John Allen, team foul #4 | 48-41 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Robert Baptiste (SG), Clarence Vaughn (C) James Walker, Kenneth Samuels | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Kiely (PG), Jon Charles (SG), Scott Rennick (SF) Roberto Greco, Allan Brown, John Allen | |
| 10:22 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons misses the 1st free throw | 48-41 |
| 10:22 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons makes the 2nd free throw | 49-41 |
| 10:22 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons makes the 3rd free throw | 50-41 |
| 10:07 | Illinois | Duane Foster is called for the reach on Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun - foul #1 on Duane Foster, team foul #3 | 50-41 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Tyron Gabbard (SF), Daniel Johnson (PF) Jack Schweers, Duane Foster | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roderick Melson (C) Francisco Juarez | |
| 09:47 | Illinois | Jon Charles hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt near the basket but he's hacked by Donald Simmons - foul #2 on Donald Simmons, team foul #4 | 50-41 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jacob Huber (PF) Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun | |
| 09:47 | Illinois | Jon Charles misses the 1st free throw | 50-41 |
| 09:47 | Illinois | Jon Charles makes the 2nd free throw | 50-42 |
| 09:34 | Northern Iowa | Tyron Gabbard knocks in the fadeaway from the right block on a nice dish by Robert Baptiste | 52-42 |
| 09:17 | Illinois | Jon Charles can't connect on a turnaround from the right block | 52-42 |
| 09:15 | Northern Iowa | Robert Baptiste grabs the board | 52-42 |
| 09:12 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons travels in the backcourt | 52-42 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Larry Loving (SG) Donald Simmons | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 09:00 | Illinois | Jon Charles scores on a 3 from straight away | 52-45 |
| 08:43 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson lays it in | 54-45 |
| 08:21 | Illinois | Scott Rennick misses the jumpshot from just outside the lane | 54-45 |
| 08:19 | Illinois | Jacob Huber grabs the offensive rebound | 54-45 |
| 08:01 | Illinois | Jacob Huber misses badly on a floater from the right wing but he's hacked by Larry Loving - foul #2 on Larry Loving, team foul #5 | 54-45 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons (PG), James Walker (SG), Jack Schweers (SF), Kenneth Samuels (PF), Duane Foster (C) Robert Baptiste, Larry Loving, Tyron Gabbard, Daniel Johnson, Clarence Vaughn | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roberto Greco (PG), Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (SF), Francisco Juarez (C) James Kiely, Scott Rennick, Roderick Melson | |
| 08:01 | Illinois | Jacob Huber makes the 1st free throw | 54-46 |
| 08:01 | Illinois | Jacob Huber makes the 2nd free throw | 54-47 |
| 07:45 | Northern Iowa | Duane Foster hits a fadeaway from the baseline on a great pass from Donald Simmons | 56-47 |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Donald Simmons (fresh) 4 pts. 6 ast. 2 stl. SG - James Walker (fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - Jack Schweers (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Kenneth Samuels (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Duane Foster (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Roberto Greco (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jon Charles (fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SF - Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Jacob Huber (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. 2 stl. 3 pf. C - Francisco Juarez (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:26 | Illinois | Roberto Greco travels with the ball | 56-47 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Allan Brown (SG), John Allen (PF) Jon Charles, Jacob Huber | |
| 07:06 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons can't connect on a jumpshot from the right side but he's fouled by Roberto Greco - foul #1 on Roberto Greco, team foul #5 | 56-47 |
| 07:06 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons makes the 1st free throw | 57-47 |
| 07:06 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons makes the 2nd free throw | 58-47 |
| 06:47 | Illinois | Roberto Greco clanks a jumpshot from the left side | 58-47 |
| 06:45 | Illinois | John Allen gets the offensive rebound | 58-47 |
| 06:36 | Illinois | Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun drills a 3pt shot from the left corner | 58-50 |
| 06:07 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons scores on a 3 pointer from the right wing on a nice dish by James Walker | 61-50 |
| 05:47 | Illinois | Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun misses the jumper from just outside the lane | 61-50 |
| 05:46 | Northern Iowa | Kenneth Samuels pulls down the rebound | 61-50 |
| 05:27 | Northern Iowa | Duane Foster is hacked by John Allen - foul #4 on John Allen, team foul #6 | 61-50 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Robert Baptiste (PG), Larry Loving (SG), Tyron Gabbard (SF), Daniel Johnson (PF), Clarence Vaughn (C) Donald Simmons, James Walker, Jack Schweers, Kenneth Samuels, Duane Foster | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Kiely (PG), Jon Charles (SG), Scott Rennick (SF), Jacob Huber (PF), Roderick Melson (C) Roberto Greco, Allan Brown, Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun, John Allen, Francisco Juarez | |
| 05:02 | Northern Iowa | Larry Loving misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by James Kiely - foul #1 on James Kiely, team foul #7 | 61-50 |
| 05:02 | Northern Iowa | Larry Loving makes the 1st free throw | 62-50 |
| 05:02 | Northern Iowa | Larry Loving misses the 2nd free throw | 62-50 |
| 05:02 | Illinois | Roderick Melson pulls down the rebound | 62-50 |
| 04:49 | Illinois | Roderick Melson's pass is intercepted by Robert Baptiste | 62-50 |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| 04:33 | Northern Iowa | Tyron Gabbard misses long on a fadeaway from the baseline | 62-50 |
| 04:31 | Illinois | Roderick Melson grabs the defensive rebound | 62-50 |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 04:18 | Illinois | James Kiely's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 62-50 |
| 03:49 | Northern Iowa | Clarence Vaughn is whistled for a carry | 62-50 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | James Walker (SG) Larry Loving | |
| Subs | Illinois | Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (PF) Jacob Huber | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 03:20 | Illinois | Roderick Melson misses the jump hook from close range but he's fouled by Clarence Vaughn - foul #1 on Clarence Vaughn, team foul #6 | 62-50 |
| 03:20 | Illinois | Roderick Melson makes the 1st free throw | 62-51 |
| 03:20 | Illinois | Roderick Melson misses the 2nd free throw | 62-51 |
| 03:20 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Clarence Vaughn | 62-51 |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Robert Baptiste (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - James Walker (fresh) 11 pts. 3 ast. SF - Tyron Gabbard (fresh) 9 pts. 3 pf. PF - Daniel Johnson (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. 3 blk. C - Clarence Vaughn (fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Kiely (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jon Charles (fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SF - Scott Rennick (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (fresh) 5 pts. C - Roderick Melson (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 02:54 | Northern Iowa | Tyron Gabbard is fouled on the floor by Jon Charles - foul #1 on Jon Charles, team foul #8 | 62-51 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons (PG), Duane Foster (PF) Robert Baptiste, Daniel Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Francisco Juarez (C) Roderick Melson | |
| 02:54 | Northern Iowa | Tyron Gabbard misses the 1st free throw | 62-51 |
| 02:54 | Illinois | Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun pulls down the rebound | 62-51 |
| 02:54 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 62-51 |
| 02:45 | Illinois | Scott Rennick blows the layup but the foul's on Tyron Gabbard - foul #4 on Tyron Gabbard, team foul #7 | 62-51 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson (PF) Duane Foster | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jacob Huber (PF), Roderick Melson (C) Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun, Francisco Juarez | |
| 02:45 | Illinois | Scott Rennick makes the 1st free throw | 62-52 |
| 02:45 | Illinois | Scott Rennick makes the 2nd free throw | 62-53 |
| 02:18 | Northern Iowa | James Walker connects on the pull-up jumper from the free throw line set up by Donald Simmons | 64-53 |
| 02:00 | Illinois | James Kiely comes up short on the jumper from just outside the lane | 64-53 |
| 01:58 | Illinois | Scott Rennick tips it back up and in | 64-55 |
| 01:33 | Northern Iowa | The refs have stopped play. Clarence Vaughn is in a lot of pain and is being checked by the trainers. His finger is completely bent. It's questionable as to whether he can play with that kind of injury. | 64-55 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Duane Foster (C) Clarence Vaughn | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 01:29 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson can't connect on a jumper from the left block but he's hacked by Jacob Huber - foul #4 on Jacob Huber, team foul #9 | 64-55 |
| 01:29 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson makes the 1st free throw | 65-55 |
| 01:29 | Northern Iowa | Daniel Johnson makes the 2nd free throw | 66-55 |
| 01:21 | Illinois | Jon Charles hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right corner | 66-55 |
| 01:19 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Scott Rennick | 66-55 |
| 01:03 | Illinois | Jacob Huber comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 66-55 |
| 01:01 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Tyron Gabbard | 66-55 |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:56 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons is hacked by Jon Charles - foul #2 on Jon Charles, team foul #10 | 66-55 |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Robert Baptiste (SG), Bobby Deatherage (SF), Jack Schweers (C) James Walker, Tyron Gabbard, Daniel Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roberto Greco (PG), Allan Brown (SG), Xi-Wang Xaimoungkhoun (SF), John Allen (PF), Francisco Juarez (C) James Kiely, Jon Charles, Scott Rennick, Jacob Huber, Roderick Melson | |
| 00:56 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons makes the 1st free throw | 67-55 |
| 00:56 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons misses the 2nd free throw | 67-55 |
| 00:56 | Illinois | John Allen snags the defensive board | 67-55 |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:50 | Illinois | Roberto Greco can't connect on a 3 pointer from straight away | 67-55 |
| 00:49 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Duane Foster | 67-55 |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:21 | Northern Iowa | Allan Brown steps in front of the Duane Foster pass | 67-55 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Allan Brown banks in the layup | 67-57 |
| 00:00 | Northern Iowa | Donald Simmons runs out the clock | 67-57 |