| Lineup | Rhode Island | PG - Ralph Barbee (fresh) SG - Randall Buker (fresh) SF - Frank Shaw (fresh) PF - Charles Whiten (fresh) C - Daniel Johnson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Tracy Flax (fresh) SG - Joseph Allshouse (fresh) SF - Daniel Smith (fresh) PF - John Allen (fresh) C - Roderick Melson (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Rhode Island | Rhode Island is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:41 | Rhode Island | The short jumper by Daniel Johnson is denied by John Allen | 0-0 |
| 19:40 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Roderick Melson | 0-0 |
| 19:17 | Illinois | John Allen throws a bad pass out of bounds | 0-0 |
| 19:06 | Rhode Island | Daniel Johnson knocks in the jumper near the basket | 2-0 |
| 18:44 | Illinois | Daniel Smith's pass is intercepted by Randall Buker | 2-0 |
| 18:38 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten comes up short on the 3pt attempt from straight away | 2-0 |
| 18:37 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Joseph Allshouse | 2-0 |
| 18:13 | Illinois | John Allen hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right side but he's hacked by Randall Buker - foul #1 on Randall Buker, team foul #1 | 2-0 |
| 18:13 | Illinois | John Allen misses the 1st free throw | 2-0 |
| 18:13 | Illinois | John Allen misses the 2nd free throw | 2-0 |
| 18:13 | Rhode Island | The rebound goes to Charles Whiten | 2-0 |
| 17:48 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker misses badly on a 3 from straight away | 2-0 |
| 17:46 | Illinois | John Allen snags the defensive board | 2-0 |
| 17:24 | Illinois | John Allen comes up short on the 3pt shot from the right corner | 2-0 |
| 17:23 | Illinois | Roderick Melson snags the offensive board | 2-0 |
| 17:07 | Illinois | John Allen's pass is intercepted by Charles Whiten | 2-0 |
| 16:44 | Rhode Island | Roderick Melson is called for the reach on Randall Buker - foul #1 on Roderick Melson, team foul #1 | 2-0 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Ted McCoy (SG), John Simmons (SF), Donald Noguera (C) Randall Buker, Frank Shaw, Daniel Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 16:24 | Rhode Island | John Simmons comes up short on the jumper from the left side | 2-0 |
| 16:23 | Rhode Island | Donald Noguera gets the offensive rebound | 2-0 |
| 16:03 | Rhode Island | John Simmons misses long on a fadeaway from the right wing | 2-0 |
| 16:02 | Illinois | John Allen snags the defensive board | 2-0 |
| Lineup | Rhode Island | PG - Ralph Barbee (fairly fresh) SG - Ted McCoy (fresh) SF - John Simmons (fresh) PF - Charles Whiten (fresh) C - Donald Noguera (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Tracy Flax (fresh) SG - Joseph Allshouse (fresh) SF - Daniel Smith (fresh) PF - John Allen (fresh) 2 reb. C - Roderick Melson (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 15:39 | Illinois | Tracy Flax scores on a jumper from just outside the lane | 2-2 |
| 15:30 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten scores on a shot from the left side on a great pass from Ralph Barbee | 4-2 |
| 15:25 | Illinois | Tracy Flax is hacked by Ralph Barbee - foul #1 on Ralph Barbee, team foul #2 | 4-2 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Randall Buker (SG), Frank Shaw (SF), Daniel Johnson (C) Ralph Barbee, John Simmons, Charles Whiten | |
| Subs | Illinois | Darren Blaise (PG), Robert Haddix (PF) Tracy Flax, John Allen | |
| 15:14 | Illinois | Daniel Smith hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left corner | 4-2 |
| 15:13 | Illinois | Robert Haddix pulls down the offensive rebound | 4-2 |
| 14:58 | Illinois | Daniel Smith is whistled for a carry | 4-2 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski (SG), Jack Sullivan (SF) Joseph Allshouse, Daniel Smith | |
| 14:38 | Rhode Island | Daniel Johnson hits the front of the rim on the jumper in the lane but he's hacked by Roderick Melson - foul #2 on Roderick Melson, team foul #2 | 4-2 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten (PF) Donald Noguera | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kevin Davis (C) Roderick Melson | |
| 14:38 | Rhode Island | Daniel Johnson misses the 1st free throw | 4-2 |
| 14:38 | Rhode Island | Daniel Johnson makes the 2nd free throw | 5-2 |
| 14:09 | Illinois | Jack Sullivan scores on a 3 from the right wing on a nice dish by Darren Blaise | 5-5 |
| 13:47 | Rhode Island | Robert Haddix swats the layup by Charles Whiten | 5-5 |
| 13:45 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten grabs the offensive rebound | 5-5 |
| 13:22 | Rhode Island | Frank Shaw loses the dribble to Kevin Davis | 5-5 |
| 13:05 | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski scores on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 5-8 |
| 13:00 | Rhode Island | Ted McCoy makes the 3 pointer from the right wing on a great pass from Daniel Johnson | 8-8 |
| 12:48 | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski buries a 3pt jumper from the right corner on a great pass from Kevin Davis | 8-11 |
| 12:37 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten is called for the offensive foul - foul #1 on Charles Whiten, team foul #3 | 8-11 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Ralph Barbee (PG), John Simmons (SF), Donald Noguera (C) Ted McCoy, Frank Shaw, Daniel Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tracy Flax (PG), Joseph Allshouse (SG), Daniel Smith (SF), John Allen (PF) Darren Blaise, Dobromierz Lakowski, Jack Sullivan, Kevin Davis | |
| 12:22 | Illinois | Daniel Smith misses long on a floater from the left side | 8-11 |
| 12:21 | Illinois | Robert Haddix pulls down the offensive rebound | 8-11 |
| 12:14 | Illinois | Robert Haddix drills a shot in the paint set up by Joseph Allshouse | 8-13 |
| 11:58 | Rhode Island | Donald Noguera misses the fadeaway from close range | 8-13 |
| 11:57 | Illinois | Joseph Allshouse gets the rebound | 8-13 |
| Lineup | Rhode Island | PG - Ralph Barbee (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Randall Buker (fairly fresh) SF - John Simmons (fresh) PF - Charles Whiten (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Donald Noguera (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Tracy Flax (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Joseph Allshouse (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Daniel Smith (fresh) PF - John Allen (fresh) 2 reb. C - Robert Haddix (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:47 | Illinois | Daniel Smith hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left wing but he's hacked by John Simmons - foul #1 on John Simmons, team foul #4 | 8-13 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Douglas Neagle (SF), Robert Thorton (C) Randall Buker, Charles Whiten | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kevin Davis (C) Robert Haddix | |
| 11:47 | Illinois | Daniel Smith misses the 1st free throw | 8-13 |
| 11:47 | Illinois | Daniel Smith misses the 2nd free throw | 8-13 |
| 11:47 | Rhode Island | Douglas Neagle snags the defensive board | 8-13 |
| 11:32 | Rhode Island | Robert Thorton makes the driving attempt from the baseline | 10-13 |
| 11:15 | Illinois | Kevin Davis is fouled on the floor by Robert Thorton - foul #1 on Robert Thorton, team foul #5 | 10-13 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Ted McCoy (SG), Frank Shaw (SF) John Simmons, Douglas Neagle | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:59 | Illinois | Frank Shaw steals the ball from John Allen | 10-13 |
| 10:41 | Rhode Island | Robert Thorton is denied on a layup by Daniel Smith | 10-13 |
| 10:40 | Illinois | Kevin Davis grabs the defensive rebound | 10-13 |
| 10:34 | Illinois | Tracy Flax misses badly on a 3 from the left wing | 10-13 |
| 10:33 | Rhode Island | Robert Thorton pulls down the rebound | 10-13 |
| 10:09 | Rhode Island | Ralph Barbee makes the shot from the right wing set up by Ted McCoy | 12-13 |
| 09:55 | Illinois | John Allen misses badly on a fadeaway from close range but he's hacked by Frank Shaw - foul #1 on Frank Shaw, team foul #6 | 12-13 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Randall Buker (SG), Charles Whiten (PF), Daniel Johnson (C) Ted McCoy, Donald Noguera, Robert Thorton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Haddix (C) Kevin Davis | |
| 09:55 | Illinois | John Allen makes the 1st free throw | 12-14 |
| 09:55 | Illinois | John Allen misses the 2nd free throw | 12-14 |
| 09:55 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Daniel Smith | 12-14 |
| 09:46 | Illinois | Tracy Flax clanks a jumpshot from the right wing | 12-14 |
| 09:44 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten pulls down the rebound | 12-14 |
| 09:24 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker clanks a shot from the right wing but the foul's on Daniel Smith - foul #1 on Daniel Smith, team foul #3 | 12-14 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Darren Blaise (PG), Kevin Davis (C) Tracy Flax, John Allen | |
| 09:24 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker makes the 1st free throw | 13-14 |
| 09:24 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker misses the 2nd free throw | 13-14 |
| 09:24 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten pulls down the offensive rebound | 13-14 |
| 09:16 | Rhode Island | Daniel Johnson makes the turnaround from the right block | 15-14 |
| 08:52 | Illinois | Joseph Allshouse misses long on a jumper from the free throw line | 15-14 |
| 08:51 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten grabs the defensive rebound | 15-14 |
| 08:47 | Rhode Island | Ralph Barbee misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 15-14 |
| 08:46 | Illinois | Kevin Davis grabs the defensive rebound | 15-14 |
| 08:27 | Illinois | Robert Haddix can't finish the layup but the foul's on Charles Whiten - foul #2 on Charles Whiten, team foul #7 | 15-14 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Ted McCoy (PG), John Simmons (SF), Donald Noguera (PF) Ralph Barbee, Frank Shaw, Charles Whiten | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tracy Flax (PG), Jack Sullivan (SF) Joseph Allshouse, Daniel Smith | |
| 08:27 | Illinois | Robert Haddix makes the 1st free throw | 15-15 |
| 08:27 | Illinois | Robert Haddix misses the 2nd free throw | 15-15 |
| 08:27 | Rhode Island | The rebound goes to Daniel Johnson | 15-15 |
| 08:10 | Rhode Island | John Simmons misses the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 15-15 |
| 08:09 | Rhode Island | Daniel Johnson snags the offensive board | 15-15 |
| 07:56 | Rhode Island | John Simmons is fouled on the floor by Kevin Davis - foul #1 on Kevin Davis, team foul #4 | 15-15 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Allen (PF) Kevin Davis | |
| Lineup | Rhode Island | PG - Ted McCoy (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randall Buker (fresh) 1 pts. SF - John Simmons (fresh) PF - Donald Noguera (fresh) C - Daniel Johnson (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Tracy Flax (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Darren Blaise (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Jack Sullivan (fresh) 3 pts. PF - John Allen (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Robert Haddix (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:41 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker misses the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 15-15 |
| 07:40 | Rhode Island | Ted McCoy grabs the offensive rebound | 15-15 |
| 07:28 | Rhode Island | John Simmons is fouled on the floor by Tracy Flax - foul #1 on Tracy Flax, team foul #5 | 15-15 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Ralph Barbee (PG) Ted McCoy | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Smith (SF), Alphonse Marino (C) Jack Sullivan, Robert Haddix | |
| 07:11 | Rhode Island | Donald Noguera is called for 3 seconds in the lane | 15-15 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Frank Shaw (SF) John Simmons | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Allshouse (SG), Kevin Davis (C) Darren Blaise, Alphonse Marino | |
| 06:54 | Illinois | Frank Shaw steps in front of the Joseph Allshouse pass | 15-15 |
| 06:32 | Rhode Island | Ralph Barbee can't connect on a 3 from the right wing | 15-15 |
| 06:31 | Rhode Island | Frank Shaw tips it in | 17-15 |
| 06:08 | Illinois | Joseph Allshouse connects on the 3pt jumper from the left corner on a great pass from Daniel Smith | 17-18 |
| 05:44 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker misses badly on a 3 from the left corner but he's fouled by Kevin Davis - foul #2 on Kevin Davis, team foul #6 | 17-18 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Robert Thorton (PF), Scott Andrews (C) Donald Noguera, Daniel Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Darren Blaise (PG), Jack Sullivan (PF), Robert Haddix (C) Tracy Flax, John Allen, Kevin Davis | |
| 05:44 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker misses the 1st free throw | 17-18 |
| 05:44 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker misses the 2nd free throw | 17-18 |
| 05:44 | Rhode Island | Randall Buker makes the 3rd free throw | 18-18 |
| 05:15 | Illinois | Daniel Smith misses long on a 3 pointer from straight away | 18-18 |
| 05:14 | Illinois | Jack Sullivan grabs the offensive board | 18-18 |
| 04:52 | Illinois | Robert Haddix double dribbles | 18-18 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Jerry Wayland (PG), Ted McCoy (SG), John Simmons (SF) Ralph Barbee, Randall Buker, Frank Shaw | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski (SG), Alphonse Marino (C) Joseph Allshouse, Daniel Smith | |
| 04:26 | Rhode Island | Jerry Wayland is hacked by Darren Blaise - foul #1 on Darren Blaise, team foul #7 | 18-18 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Allen (PF) Alphonse Marino | |
| 04:26 | Rhode Island | Jerry Wayland makes the 1st free throw | 19-18 |
| 04:26 | Rhode Island | Jerry Wayland makes the 2nd free throw | 20-18 |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski is fouled on the floor by Jerry Wayland - foul #1 on Jerry Wayland, team foul #8 | 20-18 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tracy Flax (PG) Darren Blaise | |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski makes the 1st free throw | 20-19 |
| 04:11 | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski makes the 2nd free throw | 20-20 |
| 03:56 | Rhode Island | Scott Andrews misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 20-20 |
| 03:54 | Illinois | Robert Haddix grabs the defensive rebound | 20-20 |
| Lineup | Rhode Island | PG - Jerry Wayland (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Ted McCoy (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - John Simmons (fresh) PF - Robert Thorton (fresh) 2 pts. C - Scott Andrews (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Tracy Flax (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Dobromierz Lakowski (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Jack Sullivan (fresh) 3 pts. PF - John Allen (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Robert Haddix (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:42 | Illinois | John Allen hits the front of the rim on the floater from the baseline | 20-20 |
| 03:40 | Rhode Island | The rebound goes to Jerry Wayland | 20-20 |
| 03:28 | Rhode Island | Scott Andrews is hacked by Dobromierz Lakowski - foul #1 on Dobromierz Lakowski, team foul #8 | 20-20 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Ralph Barbee (PG), Charles Whiten (PF), Daniel Johnson (C) Jerry Wayland, John Simmons, Robert Thorton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Allshouse (SG), Daniel Smith (SF), Roderick Melson (C) Dobromierz Lakowski, Jack Sullivan, Robert Haddix | |
| 03:28 | Rhode Island | Scott Andrews makes the 1st free throw | 21-20 |
| 03:28 | Rhode Island | Scott Andrews makes the 2nd free throw | 22-20 |
| 03:11 | Illinois | John Allen misses long on a fadeaway from the left wing | 22-20 |
| 03:09 | Rhode Island | Daniel Johnson grabs the defensive rebound | 22-20 |
| 03:03 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten knocks in the jump hook in the paint on a great pass from Ted McCoy and the foul's on Joseph Allshouse - foul #1 on Joseph Allshouse, team foul #9 | 24-20 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Randall Buker (SG), Frank Shaw (SF) Ted McCoy, Scott Andrews | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 03:03 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten makes the free throw | 25-20 |
| 02:51 | Illinois | John Allen misses the 3 from the right wing | 25-20 |
| 02:49 | Illinois | Daniel Smith misses the tip | 25-20 |
| 02:48 | Rhode Island | Frank Shaw grabs the defensive rebound | 25-20 |
| 02:32 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 25-20 |
| 02:12 | Illinois | Tracy Flax misses badly on a fadeaway from the right block | 25-20 |
| 02:10 | Illinois | Daniel Smith pulls down the offensive rebound | 25-20 |
| 01:50 | Illinois | Daniel Smith is hacked by Randall Buker - foul #2 on Randall Buker, team foul #9 | 25-20 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Darren Blaise (PG), Robert Haddix (PF) Tracy Flax, John Allen | |
| 01:50 | Illinois | Daniel Smith makes the 1st free throw | 25-21 |
| 01:50 | Illinois | Daniel Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 25-22 |
| 01:41 | Rhode Island | Ralph Barbee lays it up and in set up by Randall Buker | 27-22 |
| 01:24 | Illinois | Joseph Allshouse drills a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 27-24 |
| 01:09 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 27-24 |
| 01:07 | Illinois | Robert Haddix grabs the defensive rebound | 27-24 |
| 00:58 | Illinois | Daniel Smith misses the easy layup | 27-24 |
| 00:56 | Rhode Island | Ralph Barbee gets the rebound | 27-24 |
| 00:35 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 27-24 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | Ted McCoy (SG), Donald Noguera (C) Randall Buker, Daniel Johnson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tracy Flax (PG), John Allen (PF) Joseph Allshouse, Robert Haddix | |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Tracy Flax can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing but he's hacked by Ralph Barbee - foul #2 on Ralph Barbee, team foul #10 | 27-24 |
| Subs | Rhode Island | John Simmons (SG) Ralph Barbee | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jack Sullivan (SF) Daniel Smith | |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Tracy Flax makes the 1st free throw | 27-25 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Tracy Flax makes the 2nd free throw | 27-26 |
| 00:05 | Rhode Island | Charles Whiten knocks in the jumper from close range | 29-26 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Ted McCoy steals it from Jack Sullivan | 29-26 |