| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Bianco (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Andrew Meehan (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Stuart Moritz (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 3 stl. PF - Kevin Blaski (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. C - Michael Sison (fresh) 6 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Ronald Miller (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Matthew Woods (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Robert Jackson (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. PF - Timothy Brunson (fresh) 2 reb. C - Doyle Porter (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz inbounds the ball | 21-27 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:47 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan is fouled on the floor by Matthew Woods - foul #1 on Matthew Woods, team foul #1 | 21-27 |
| 19:27 | Illinois | Kevin Blaski knocks in the floater from the baseline | 23-27 |
| 19:09 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 23-27 |
| 19:08 | Illinois | Michael Sison grabs the defensive rebound | 23-27 |
| 18:54 | Illinois | Kevin Blaski knocks in the jumper from the right wing | 25-27 |
| 18:48 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller throws a bad pass out of bounds | 25-27 |
| 18:28 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan connects on the 3 from straight away | 28-27 |
| 18:08 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Brunson comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 28-27 |
| 18:07 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz grabs the board | 28-27 |
| 18:03 | Illinois | Timothy Brunson swats the layup by Andrew Meehan | 28-27 |
| 18:02 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan snags the offensive board | 28-27 |
| 17:40 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan makes the 3pt attempt from straight away set up by Stuart Moritz | 31-27 |
| 17:32 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Brunson loses the dribble to Kevin Blaski | 31-27 |
| 17:21 | Illinois | Matthew Woods picks off the pass by Andrew Meehan | 31-27 |
| 17:10 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Brunson misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 31-27 |
| 17:09 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan gets the rebound | 31-27 |
| 16:55 | Illinois | Michael Sison hits the front of the rim on the floater from just outside the lane | 31-27 |
| 16:54 | Northern Iowa | Doyle Porter grabs the board | 31-27 |
| 16:37 | Northern Iowa | Doyle Porter's layup is rejected by Kevin Blaski | 31-27 |
| 16:36 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz snags the defensive board | 31-27 |
| 16:09 | Illinois | Michael Sison knocks in the 3pt jumper from the left corner on a great pass from Andrew Meehan | 34-27 |
| 15:51 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson scores on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Matthew Woods | 34-29 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Bianco (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SG - Andrew Meehan (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SF - Stuart Moritz (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. 3 stl. PF - Kevin Blaski (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. C - Michael Sison (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Ronald Miller (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SG - Matthew Woods (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SF - Robert Jackson (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. PF - Timothy Brunson (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Doyle Porter (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:29 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz scores on a fadeaway from the left wing | 36-29 |
| 15:19 | Northern Iowa | Kevin Blaski steals the ball from Doyle Porter | 36-29 |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Michael Sison loses the dribble to Ronald Miller | 36-29 |
| 15:09 | Northern Iowa | Matthew Woods misses the lay-in | 36-29 |
| 15:08 | Illinois | Kevin Blaski gets the rebound | 36-29 |
| 14:47 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz misses long on a floater from close range | 36-29 |
| 14:46 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Brunson grabs the board | 36-29 |
| 14:28 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller is fouled on the floor by Michael Sison - foul #2 on Michael Sison, team foul #1 | 36-29 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joe Bowen (PG), Dikembe Diop (SG), James Odom (SF), Mojiesz Zutell (PF), Phillip Schwier (C) James Bianco, Andrew Meehan, Stuart Moritz, Kevin Blaski, Michael Sison | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout (PG), John Blaine (SG), Donald Andrews (SF), Vincent Emig (PF), Edwin Dansereau (C) Ronald Miller, Matthew Woods, Robert Jackson, Timothy Brunson, Doyle Porter | |
| 14:17 | Northern Iowa | John Blaine scores on a 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by Edwin Dansereau | 36-32 |
| 13:53 | Illinois | Joe Bowen misses short on a pull-up jumper from the right wing | 36-32 |
| 13:51 | Illinois | James Odom pulls down the offensive rebound | 36-32 |
| 13:38 | Illinois | Mojiesz Zutell scores on a floater from the left block and he's hacked by Vincent Emig - foul #2 on Vincent Emig, team foul #2 | 38-32 |
| 13:38 | Illinois | Mojiesz Zutell misses the free throw | 38-32 |
| 13:38 | Northern Iowa | Edwin Dansereau pulls down the rebound | 38-32 |
| 13:12 | Northern Iowa | John Blaine drills a 3pt shot from the right corner | 38-35 |
| 12:47 | Illinois | Dikembe Diop hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from straight away | 38-35 |
| 12:45 | Northern Iowa | Vincent Emig grabs the board | 38-35 |
| 12:29 | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout misses badly on a jump hook from the left block | 38-35 |
| 12:27 | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout grabs the offensive board | 38-35 |
| 12:13 | Northern Iowa | John Blaine comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 38-35 |
| 12:12 | Illinois | James Odom pulls down the rebound | 38-35 |
| 12:09 | Illinois | Joe Bowen is hacked by Vernon Swarthout in the backcourt - foul #3 on Vernon Swarthout, team foul #3 | 38-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Meehan (SG) Phillip Schwier | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller (PG) Edwin Dansereau | |
| 11:54 | Illinois | Ronald Miller takes the ball from Mojiesz Zutell | 38-35 |
| 11:51 | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout dunks the ball set up by Ronald Miller | 38-37 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Joe Bowen (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Andrew Meehan (fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SF - Dikembe Diop (fresh) PF - Mojiesz Zutell (fairly fresh) 4 pts. C - James Odom (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Ronald Miller (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - John Blaine (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Vernon Swarthout (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. PF - Donald Andrews (fresh) 2 reb. C - Vincent Emig (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 11:40 | Illinois | Dikembe Diop is whistled for traveling | 38-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ronald Sikora (PG), Stuart Moritz (SF), Kevin Blaski (PF), Jeremy Kimball (C) Joe Bowen, Dikembe Diop, Mojiesz Zutell, James Odom | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson (SF), Timothy Brunson (PF), Doyle Porter (C) John Blaine, Donald Andrews, Vincent Emig | |
| 11:33 | Northern Iowa | Doyle Porter misses the pull-up jumper from the left side | 38-37 |
| 11:32 | Illinois | Kevin Blaski pulls down the rebound | 38-37 |
| 11:18 | Illinois | Ronald Sikora can't connect on a floater from the right wing | 38-37 |
| 11:16 | Northern Iowa | Doyle Porter gets the rebound | 38-37 |
| 10:55 | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the right wing | 38-37 |
| 10:54 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz gets the rebound | 38-37 |
| 10:33 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan clanks a jumper from the right side | 38-37 |
| 10:32 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Doyle Porter | 38-37 |
| 10:10 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 38-37 |
| 10:09 | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout gets the offensive rebound | 38-37 |
| 09:54 | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout misses long on a jumpshot from the right side | 38-37 |
| 09:53 | Illinois | Ronald Sikora snags the defensive board | 38-37 |
| 09:47 | Illinois | Ronald Sikora connects on the 3 from the right wing | 41-37 |
| 09:33 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson misses short on a shot from the baseline | 41-37 |
| 09:32 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Stuart Moritz | 41-37 |
| 09:20 | Illinois | Ronald Sikora throws a bad pass out of bounds | 41-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Bianco (PG), James Odom (SF), Mojiesz Zutell (PF), Michael Sison (C) Ronald Sikora, Stuart Moritz, Kevin Blaski, Jeremy Kimball | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | John Blaine (PG), Matthew Woods (SG), Donald Andrews (SF), Vincent Emig (PF), Edwin Dansereau (C) Ronald Miller, Vernon Swarthout, Robert Jackson, Timothy Brunson, Doyle Porter | |
| 08:55 | Northern Iowa | Donald Andrews loses the dribble to Michael Sison | 41-37 |
| 08:33 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 41-37 |
| 08:32 | Illinois | Michael Sison tips it back up and in | 43-37 |
| 08:18 | Northern Iowa | John Blaine drills a floater from the left side on a nice dish by Matthew Woods and the foul's on Mojiesz Zutell - foul #1 on Mojiesz Zutell, team foul #2 | 43-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dikembe Diop (SG) Andrew Meehan | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson (SF) Vincent Emig | |
| 08:18 | Northern Iowa | John Blaine makes the free throw | 43-40 |
| 07:57 | Illinois | Mojiesz Zutell clanks a jumpshot from the right wing | 43-40 |
| 07:55 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson grabs the defensive rebound | 43-40 |
| 07:49 | Northern Iowa | John Blaine buries a 3 pointer from the left corner on a nice dish by Robert Jackson | 43-43 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Bianco (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Dikembe Diop (fresh) SF - James Odom (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. PF - Mojiesz Zutell (fresh) 4 pts. C - Michael Sison (fresh) 5 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - John Blaine (fresh) 12 pts. SG - Matthew Woods (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Robert Jackson (fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. PF - Donald Andrews (fresh) 2 reb. C - Edwin Dansereau (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:28 | Illinois | Michael Sison's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 43-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Meehan (SG), Kevin Blaski (PF) Dikembe Diop, Mojiesz Zutell | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller (PG), Timothy Brunson (PF) John Blaine, Donald Andrews | |
| 07:14 | Northern Iowa | James Bianco picks off the pass by Matthew Woods | 43-43 |
| 06:58 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan buries a 3pt jumper from the left wing on a great pass from James Bianco | 46-43 |
| 06:38 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson blows the layup but he's hacked by James Odom - foul #2 on James Odom, team foul #3 | 46-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joe Bowen (PG), Stuart Moritz (SF), Phillip Schwier (C) James Bianco, James Odom, Michael Sison | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout (SG), Doyle Porter (C) Matthew Woods, Edwin Dansereau | |
| 06:38 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson makes the 1st free throw | 46-44 |
| 06:38 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson makes the 2nd free throw | 46-45 |
| 06:17 | Illinois | Phillip Schwier hits the finger roll | 48-45 |
| 06:15 | Northern Iowa | Joe Bowen is called for the reach on Ronald Miller in the backcourt - foul #1 on Joe Bowen, team foul #4 | 48-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Donald Andrews (SF) Robert Jackson | |
| 06:00 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Brunson is whistled for traveling | 48-45 |
| 05:39 | Illinois | Joe Bowen misses badly on a jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Ronald Miller - foul #1 on Ronald Miller, team foul #4 | 48-45 |
| 05:39 | Illinois | Joe Bowen misses the 1st free throw | 48-45 |
| 05:39 | Illinois | Joe Bowen misses the 2nd free throw | 48-45 |
| 05:39 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Brunson grabs the defensive rebound | 48-45 |
| 05:21 | Northern Iowa | Donald Andrews clanks a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 48-45 |
| 05:20 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan snags the defensive board | 48-45 |
| 05:07 | Illinois | Donald Andrews blocks the short jumper by Kevin Blaski | 48-45 |
| 05:06 | Northern Iowa | Vernon Swarthout grabs the defensive rebound | 48-45 |
| 04:50 | Northern Iowa | Donald Andrews drills a turnaround from the right block | 48-47 |
| 04:33 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz can't connect on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 48-47 |
| 04:32 | Illinois | Phillip Schwier grabs the offensive board | 48-47 |
| 04:18 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan misses short on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 48-47 |
| 04:16 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller grabs the board | 48-47 |
| 04:16 | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 48-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Bianco (PG), Michael Sison (C) Joe Bowen, Phillip Schwier | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Matthew Woods (SG), Robert Jackson (SF) Vernon Swarthout, Donald Andrews | |
| 03:51 | Northern Iowa | Matthew Woods is fouled on the floor by James Bianco - foul #1 on James Bianco, team foul #5 | 48-47 |
| 03:36 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson hits a floater from the right side on a great pass from Matthew Woods | 48-49 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Bianco (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Andrew Meehan (fresh) 14 pts. 1 ast. SF - Stuart Moritz (fresh) 9 pts. 7 reb. 3 stl. PF - Kevin Blaski (fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Michael Sison (fresh) 5 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Ronald Miller (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Matthew Woods (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Robert Jackson (fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. PF - Timothy Brunson (fresh) 4 reb. C - Doyle Porter (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 03:15 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan knocks in the 3pt jumper from straight away | 51-49 |
| 02:56 | Northern Iowa | Doyle Porter's pass is intercepted by Kevin Blaski | 51-49 |
| 02:35 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan scores on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 53-49 |
| 02:19 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller makes the pull-up jumper from the right side set up by Timothy Brunson | 53-51 |
| 01:55 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz can't connect on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 53-51 |
| 01:53 | Illinois | Andrew Meehan tips it home | 55-51 |
| 01:37 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller clanks a jumper from the free throw line but he's fouled by James Bianco - foul #2 on James Bianco, team foul #6 | 55-51 |
| 01:37 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller makes the 1st free throw | 55-52 |
| 01:37 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller makes the 2nd free throw | 55-53 |
| 01:25 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz loses the dribble to Timothy Brunson | 55-53 |
| 01:09 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson scores on a fadeaway from the right wing on a nice dish by Ronald Miller and he's hacked by Stuart Moritz - foul #2 on Stuart Moritz, team foul #7 | 55-55 |
| 01:09 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson misses the free throw | 55-55 |
| 01:09 | Illinois | Michael Sison grabs the defensive rebound | 55-55 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Stuart Moritz scores on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 57-55 |
| 00:28 | Northern Iowa | James Bianco takes the ball from Robert Jackson | 57-55 |
| 00:25 | Illinois | James Bianco lays it up and in | 59-55 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:19 | Northern Iowa | Doyle Porter hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left wing | 59-55 |
| 00:17 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Kevin Blaski | 59-55 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Kevin Blaski is fouled in the backcourt by Matthew Woods - foul #2 on Matthew Woods, team foul #5 | 59-55 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joe Bowen (PG), Dikembe Diop (SF) James Bianco, Stuart Moritz | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 00:13 | Illinois | Dikembe Diop is hacked by Matthew Woods - foul #3 on Matthew Woods, team foul #6 | 59-55 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Ronald Miller is called for the reach on Joe Bowen - foul #2 on Ronald Miller, team foul #7 | 59-55 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Joe Bowen misses the 1st free throw | 59-55 |
| 00:10 | Northern Iowa | Timothy Brunson gets the rebound | 59-55 |
| 00:06 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller is hacked by Joe Bowen in the backcourt - foul #2 on Joe Bowen, team foul #8 | 59-55 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Bianco (PG), Stuart Moritz (SF) Joe Bowen, Dikembe Diop | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 00:06 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller makes the 1st free throw | 59-56 |
| 00:06 | Northern Iowa | Ronald Miller misses the 2nd free throw | 59-56 |
| 00:06 | Illinois | Michael Sison snags the defensive board | 59-56 |
| 00:04 | Illinois | Michael Sison is hacked by Ronald Miller in the backcourt - foul #3 on Ronald Miller, team foul #8 | 59-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joe Bowen (PG), Dikembe Diop (SF) James Bianco, Stuart Moritz | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 00:04 | Illinois | Michael Sison misses the 1st free throw | 59-56 |
| 00:04 | Northern Iowa | Doyle Porter grabs the defensive rebound | 59-56 |
| 00:04 | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 3 full remaining) | 59-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:00 | Northern Iowa | Robert Jackson misses badly on a halfcourt shot | 59-56 |