| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Cheatham (fresh) SG - Franklin Slater (fresh) SF - Brian Paras (fresh) PF - Ivan Orduna (fresh) C - Jose Mendoza (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - John Ward (fresh) SG - Felix Pena (fresh) SF - Nelek Stanojevic (fresh) PF - Nicholas Mancuso (fresh) C - Douglas Fleming (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Central Michigan | Central Michigan is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:46 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso drills a jumper from the right wing | 0-2 |
| 19:24 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham scores on a jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Ivan Orduna | 2-2 |
| 19:06 | Central Michigan | Nelek Stanojevic drills a fadeaway jumper from the right side set up by Nicholas Mancuso | 2-4 |
| 18:49 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna comes up short on the driving attempt from the baseline | 2-4 |
| 18:47 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza grabs the offensive board | 2-4 |
| 18:29 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham scores on a 3 from straight away on a nice dish by Franklin Slater | 5-4 |
| 18:08 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 5-4 |
| 18:06 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham grabs the board | 5-4 |
| 17:43 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham lays it in | 7-4 |
| 17:38 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena misses short on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 7-4 |
| 17:36 | Central Michigan | Douglas Fleming hits the follow up shot | 7-6 |
| 17:10 | Illinois | Franklin Slater scores on a fadeaway jumper from the left side on a nice dish by Larry Cheatham | 9-6 |
| 16:44 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena's pass is intercepted by Larry Cheatham | 9-6 |
| 16:40 | Illinois | Franklin Slater misses the lay-in | 9-6 |
| 16:38 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza pulls down the offensive rebound | 9-6 |
| 16:17 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza banks in the layup on a nice dish by Franklin Slater | 11-6 |
| 15:48 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena misses the floater from the left wing but he's fouled by Franklin Slater - foul #1 on Franklin Slater, team foul #1 | 11-6 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Bernardi (C) Jose Mendoza | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong (PG), John Cotter (SF), Aaron Stenson (PF), Ronald Porter (C) John Ward, Nelek Stanojevic, Nicholas Mancuso, Douglas Fleming | |
| 15:48 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena makes the 1st free throw | 11-7 |
| 15:48 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena makes the 2nd free throw | 11-8 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Cheatham (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - Franklin Slater (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - Brian Paras (fresh) PF - Ivan Orduna (fresh) C - Richard Bernardi (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Henry Armstrong (fresh) SG - Felix Pena (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SF - John Cotter (fresh) PF - Aaron Stenson (fresh) C - Ronald Porter (fresh) | |
| 15:23 | Illinois | Brian Paras clanks a jump hook from the left block but he's hacked by John Cotter - foul #1 on John Cotter, team foul #1 | 11-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Davis (SG), Frank Gates (C) Franklin Slater, Ivan Orduna | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Michael Elias (SF) Felix Pena | |
| 15:23 | Illinois | Brian Paras makes the 1st free throw | 12-8 |
| 15:23 | Illinois | Brian Paras makes the 2nd free throw | 13-8 |
| 15:08 | Central Michigan | Richard Bernardi picks off the pass by Aaron Stenson | 13-8 |
| 14:52 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi clanks a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 13-8 |
| 14:50 | Central Michigan | John Cotter pulls down the rebound | 13-8 |
| 14:31 | Central Michigan | Aaron Stenson is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on Aaron Stenson, team foul #2 | 13-8 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Chapman (SG), Gregg Clawson (SF), Ivan Orduna (PF), Jose Mendoza (C) Larry Cheatham, Brian Paras, Richard Bernardi, Frank Gates | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso (PF) Michael Elias | |
| 14:20 | Illinois | John Chapman hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left wing | 13-8 |
| 14:18 | Central Michigan | Aaron Stenson grabs the board | 13-8 |
| 13:58 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso makes the shot near the basket set up by Henry Armstrong and the foul's on Jose Mendoza - foul #1 on Jose Mendoza, team foul #2 | 13-10 |
| Subs | Illinois | Franklin Slater (SG) John Chapman | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | John Ward (PG), Nelek Stanojevic (SF) Henry Armstrong, Ronald Porter | |
| 13:58 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso makes the free throw | 13-11 |
| 13:30 | Illinois | John Cotter is called for the reach on Gregg Clawson - foul #2 on John Cotter, team foul #3 | 13-11 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Cheatham (PG), Brian Paras (SF) John Davis, Gregg Clawson | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong (SG), Douglas Fleming (C) John Cotter, Aaron Stenson | |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Franklin Slater misses badly on a jumper from the left wing | 13-11 |
| 13:12 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso pulls down the rebound | 13-11 |
| 12:54 | Central Michigan | John Ward comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 13-11 |
| 12:52 | Illinois | Brian Paras gets the rebound | 13-11 |
| 12:48 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 13-11 |
| 12:47 | Central Michigan | Douglas Fleming gets the rebound | 13-11 |
| 12:26 | Central Michigan | Douglas Fleming hits the front of the rim on the floater from just outside the lane | 13-11 |
| 12:25 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna pulls down the rebound | 13-11 |
| 12:19 | Illinois | Franklin Slater knocks in the 3pt shot from the left wing set up by Larry Cheatham | 16-11 |
| 11:56 | Central Michigan | Nelek Stanojevic drills a floater from the baseline on a nice dish by Douglas Fleming and he's hacked by Ivan Orduna - foul #1 on Ivan Orduna, team foul #3 | 16-13 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Bernardi (PF), Frank Gates (C) Ivan Orduna, Jose Mendoza | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Felix Pena (SG), Aaron Stenson (PF), Ronald Porter (C) Henry Armstrong, Nicholas Mancuso, Douglas Fleming | |
| 11:56 | Central Michigan | Nelek Stanojevic makes the free throw | 16-14 |
| 11:47 | Illinois | Frank Gates buries a fadeaway in the paint on a nice dish by Brian Paras | 18-14 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Cheatham (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - Franklin Slater (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SF - Brian Paras (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Richard Bernardi (fresh) C - Frank Gates (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - John Ward (fresh) SG - Felix Pena (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Nelek Stanojevic (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Aaron Stenson (fresh) C - Ronald Porter (fresh) | |
| 11:26 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena is hacked by Brian Paras - foul #1 on Brian Paras, team foul #4 | 18-14 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Howard Percy (PG), Michael Elias (SF) John Ward, Nelek Stanojevic | |
| 11:04 | Central Michigan | Michael Elias's pass is intercepted by Franklin Slater | 18-14 |
| 11:00 | Illinois | Franklin Slater jams it | 20-14 |
| 10:51 | Central Michigan | Michael Elias misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 20-14 |
| 10:50 | Illinois | Frank Gates grabs the defensive rebound | 20-14 |
| 10:42 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham hits a 3pt jumper from straight away set up by Franklin Slater | 23-14 |
| 10:27 | Central Michigan | Ronald Porter clanks a fadeaway from the left wing but the foul's on Frank Gates - foul #1 on Frank Gates, team foul #5 | 23-14 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Davis (PG), John Chapman (SG), Gregg Clawson (SF), Ivan Orduna (PF) Larry Cheatham, Franklin Slater, Brian Paras, Frank Gates | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | John Ward (PG), Nicholas Mancuso (PF) Howard Percy, Michael Elias | |
| 10:27 | Central Michigan | Ronald Porter makes the 1st free throw | 23-15 |
| 10:27 | Central Michigan | Ronald Porter makes the 2nd free throw | 23-16 |
| 10:07 | Illinois | John Chapman clanks a shot from the left side but the foul's on Aaron Stenson - foul #2 on Aaron Stenson, team foul #4 | 23-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jose Mendoza (C) Richard Bernardi | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Nelek Stanojevic (SF), Douglas Fleming (C) Aaron Stenson, Ronald Porter | |
| 10:07 | Illinois | John Chapman misses the 1st free throw | 23-16 |
| 10:07 | Illinois | John Chapman makes the 2nd free throw | 24-16 |
| 09:57 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena hits a 3pt shot from the left wing on a great pass from John Ward | 24-19 |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Gregg Clawson hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right wing | 24-19 |
| 09:34 | Central Michigan | Douglas Fleming gets the rebound | 24-19 |
| 09:18 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso comes up short on the floater from the left wing | 24-19 |
| 09:16 | Central Michigan | Douglas Fleming can't tip it in | 24-19 |
| 09:14 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso hits the follow up shot | 24-21 |
| 08:55 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna misses the driving attempt near the basket but he's fouled by Felix Pena - foul #1 on Felix Pena, team foul #5 | 24-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Cheatham (PG), Franklin Slater (SG), Brian Paras (SF) John Chapman, John Davis, Gregg Clawson | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong (PG), Stephen Meyer (SG) John Ward, Felix Pena | |
| 08:55 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna makes the 1st free throw | 25-21 |
| 08:55 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna misses the 2nd free throw | 25-21 |
| 08:55 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso snags the defensive board | 25-21 |
| 08:28 | Central Michigan | Stephen Meyer can't connect on a 3 pointer from straight away | 25-21 |
| 08:26 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jose Mendoza | 25-21 |
| 08:10 | Illinois | Franklin Slater misses short on a jumper from the right wing but the foul's on Stephen Meyer - foul #1 on Stephen Meyer, team foul #6 | 25-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Bernardi (PF), Frank Gates (C) Ivan Orduna, Jose Mendoza | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Michael Elias (SF), Ronald Porter (C) Nelek Stanojevic, Douglas Fleming | |
| 08:10 | Illinois | Franklin Slater misses the 1st free throw | 25-21 |
| 08:10 | Illinois | Franklin Slater makes the 2nd free throw | 26-21 |
| 07:57 | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 26-21 |
| 07:55 | Central Michigan | Ronald Porter can't tip it in | 26-21 |
| 07:54 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham snags the defensive board | 26-21 |
| 07:36 | Illinois | Frank Gates drills a driving attempt from close range set up by Larry Cheatham | 28-21 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Cheatham (fresh) 10 pts. 3 ast. SG - Franklin Slater (fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. SF - Brian Paras (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Richard Bernardi (fresh) C - Frank Gates (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - Henry Armstrong (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Stephen Meyer (fresh) SF - Michael Elias (fresh) PF - Nicholas Mancuso (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. C - Ronald Porter (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:20 | Central Michigan | Ronald Porter comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 28-21 |
| 07:18 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Richard Bernardi | 28-21 |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Frank Gates misses short on a jumper in the paint but he's fouled by Ronald Porter - foul #1 on Ronald Porter, team foul #7 | 28-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Davis (SG), Ivan Orduna (PF) Franklin Slater, Richard Bernardi | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | John Ward (PG), Felix Pena (SG), Nelek Stanojevic (SF) Henry Armstrong, Stephen Meyer, Michael Elias | |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Frank Gates makes the 1st free throw | 29-21 |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Frank Gates makes the 2nd free throw | 30-21 |
| 06:33 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 30-21 |
| 06:32 | Central Michigan | Ronald Porter misses the tip | 30-21 |
| 06:31 | Illinois | Brian Paras gets the rebound | 30-21 |
| 06:18 | Illinois | Felix Pena takes the ball from Brian Paras | 30-21 |
| 06:14 | Central Michigan | John Ward jams it on a nice dish by Felix Pena | 30-23 |
| 06:12 | Illinois | Felix Pena steals it from Larry Cheatham in the backcourt | 30-23 |
| 06:01 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena hits a 3 from the left wing | 30-26 |
| 05:40 | Illinois | Brian Paras is fouled on the floor by Felix Pena - foul #2 on Felix Pena, team foul #8 | 30-26 |
| Subs | Illinois | Franklin Slater (SG), Jose Mendoza (C) Larry Cheatham, Frank Gates | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong (SG), Douglas Fleming (C) Felix Pena, Ronald Porter | |
| 05:40 | Illinois | Brian Paras makes the 1st free throw | 31-26 |
| 05:40 | Illinois | Brian Paras makes the 2nd free throw | 32-26 |
| 05:19 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 32-26 |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregg Clawson (SF) Brian Paras | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 04:56 | Illinois | Franklin Slater is fouled on the floor by Henry Armstrong - foul #1 on Henry Armstrong, team foul #9 | 32-26 |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Bernardi (PF) Ivan Orduna | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Michael Elias (SF) Nelek Stanojevic | |
| 04:56 | Illinois | Franklin Slater misses the 1st free throw | 32-26 |
| 04:56 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso grabs the board | 32-26 |
| 04:35 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso misses badly on a fadeaway from the left wing but he's fouled by Richard Bernardi - foul #1 on Richard Bernardi, team foul #6 | 32-26 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Cheatham (PG) John Davis | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 04:35 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso makes the 1st free throw | 32-27 |
| 04:35 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso misses the 2nd free throw | 32-27 |
| 04:35 | Central Michigan | Michael Elias pulls down the offensive rebound | 32-27 |
| 04:24 | Central Michigan | Richard Bernardi takes the ball from Michael Elias | 32-27 |
| 04:07 | Illinois | Franklin Slater hits a 3pt shot from straight away on a great pass from Larry Cheatham | 35-27 |
| 03:57 | Central Michigan | Larry Cheatham is called for the reach on John Ward - foul #1 on Larry Cheatham, team foul #7 | 35-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Paras (SF), Ivan Orduna (PF) Gregg Clawson, Richard Bernardi | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Felix Pena (SG), John Cotter (SF), Aaron Stenson (PF) Henry Armstrong, Michael Elias, Nicholas Mancuso | |
| 03:57 | Central Michigan | John Ward misses the 1st free throw | 35-27 |
| 03:57 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna grabs the board | 35-27 |
| 03:36 | Illinois | Douglas Fleming blocks the short jumper by Jose Mendoza | 35-27 |
| 03:34 | Central Michigan | Douglas Fleming gets the rebound | 35-27 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Cheatham (fresh) 10 pts. 4 ast. SG - Franklin Slater (fresh) 11 pts. 3 ast. SF - Brian Paras (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ivan Orduna (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Jose Mendoza (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Central Michigan | PG - John Ward (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Felix Pena (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SF - John Cotter (fresh) PF - Aaron Stenson (fresh) C - Douglas Fleming (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 03:09 | Central Michigan | John Cotter misses long on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 35-27 |
| 03:07 | Central Michigan | The offensive rebound goes to Aaron Stenson | 35-27 |
| 02:46 | Central Michigan | John Cotter hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right corner | 35-27 |
| 02:44 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena can't tip it in | 35-27 |
| 02:42 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna grabs the board | 35-27 |
| 02:26 | Illinois | Brian Paras double dribbles | 35-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Davis (PG), John Chapman (SG), Richard Bernardi (C) Larry Cheatham, Franklin Slater, Jose Mendoza | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong (PG), Nelek Stanojevic (SF), Ronald Porter (C) John Ward, John Cotter, Douglas Fleming | |
| 02:06 | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong is hacked by Brian Paras - foul #2 on Brian Paras, team foul #8 | 35-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | Frank Gates (C) Ivan Orduna | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 02:06 | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong makes the 1st free throw | 35-28 |
| 02:06 | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong misses the 2nd free throw | 35-28 |
| 02:06 | Central Michigan | Aaron Stenson grabs the offensive rebound | 35-28 |
| 01:50 | Central Michigan | Henry Armstrong is whistled for traveling | 35-28 |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregg Clawson (SF) Brian Paras | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | | |
| 01:34 | Illinois | Nelek Stanojevic is called for the reach on John Chapman - foul #1 on Nelek Stanojevic, team foul #10 | 35-28 |
| 01:34 | Illinois | John Chapman makes the 1st free throw | 36-28 |
| 01:34 | Illinois | John Chapman makes the 2nd free throw | 37-28 |
| 01:13 | Central Michigan | Felix Pena misses the 3 from the right corner | 37-28 |
| 01:12 | Central Michigan | Aaron Stenson grabs the offensive board | 37-28 |
| 01:03 | Central Michigan | Nelek Stanojevic is whistled for traveling | 37-28 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Cheatham (PG), Brian Paras (SF), Ivan Orduna (PF) John Chapman, Gregg Clawson, Frank Gates | |
| Subs | Central Michigan | John Cotter (SG), Nicholas Mancuso (PF) Felix Pena, Aaron Stenson | |
| 00:38 | Illinois | Brian Paras hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the left side | 37-28 |
| 00:37 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna grabs the offensive board | 37-28 |
| 00:20 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi comes up short on the runner from close range | 37-28 |
| 00:19 | Central Michigan | Ronald Porter pulls down the rebound | 37-28 |
| 00:05 | Central Michigan | Nicholas Mancuso can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 37-28 |
| 00:03 | Central Michigan | Ronald Porter pulls down the offensive rebound | 37-28 |
| 00:01 | Central Michigan | John Cotter drills a 3 from the left wing | 37-31 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Brian Paras clanks a fullcourt shot | 37-31 |