| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Martin Suggs (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - George Porter (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Willie Minyard (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. PF - Jamie Smith (fresh) 4 pts. C - Nestor Panek (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gerald Taylor (fresh) 11 pts. 3 ast. SG - Roy Smith (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Richard Bernardi (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Ivan Orduna (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - Jose Mendoza (fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi inbounds the ball | 38-43 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 19:39 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor scores on a shot from the right wing on a great pass from Jose Mendoza | 38-45 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from just outside the lane but the foul's on Roy Smith - foul #2 on Roy Smith, team foul #1 | 38-45 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs makes the 1st free throw | 39-45 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs misses the 2nd free throw | 39-45 |
| 19:34 | Illinois | Roy Smith gets the rebound | 39-45 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna can't finish the layup | 39-45 |
| 19:07 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi tips it in | 39-47 |
| 18:43 | Northwestern | George Porter can't connect on a turnaround from the left block but the foul's on Roy Smith - foul #3 on Roy Smith, team foul #2 | 39-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Vernon Corey (PF), James Nichols (C) Jamie Smith, Nestor Panek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Perkins (SG) Roy Smith | |
| 18:43 | Northwestern | George Porter makes the 1st free throw | 40-47 |
| 18:43 | Northwestern | George Porter makes the 2nd free throw | 41-47 |
| 18:21 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor is called for the illegal screen - foul #2 on Gerald Taylor, team foul #3 | 41-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo (PG), James Burke (SG), Jeffrey Gray (SF) Martin Suggs, George Porter, Willie Minyard | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kenneth Topete (SF), Arthur Bowman (PF), Charles Campbell (C) Richard Bernardi, Ivan Orduna, Jose Mendoza | |
| 17:58 | Northwestern | James Burke misses the easy layup | 41-47 |
| 17:57 | Northwestern | Vernon Corey gets the offensive rebound | 41-47 |
| 17:49 | Northwestern | Vernon Corey makes the jumper from close range | 43-47 |
| 17:32 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete misses short on a jump hook in the paint but he's fouled by Abraham Kilgo - foul #3 on Abraham Kilgo, team foul #1 | 43-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gary Sharpe (PG), Jamie Smith (PF), Nestor Panek (C) Abraham Kilgo, Vernon Corey, James Nichols | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 17:32 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete makes the 1st free throw | 43-48 |
| 17:32 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete makes the 2nd free throw | 43-49 |
| 17:19 | Northwestern | Thomas Perkins is called for the reach on James Burke - foul #2 on Thomas Perkins, team foul #4 | 43-49 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Martin Suggs (PG), George Porter (SG) Gary Sharpe, James Burke | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ivan Orduna (PF), Jose Mendoza (C) Arthur Bowman, Charles Campbell | |
| 17:03 | Northwestern | George Porter comes up short on the floater from the right wing | 43-49 |
| 17:02 | Northwestern | George Porter snags the offensive board | 43-49 |
| 16:54 | Northwestern | George Porter can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 43-49 |
| 16:52 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete grabs the board | 43-49 |
| 16:33 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor can't connect on a jumpshot from the left wing | 43-49 |
| 16:31 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna tips it in | 43-51 |
| 16:05 | Northwestern | Jamie Smith scores on a jump hook near the basket on a nice dish by Jeffrey Gray | 45-51 |
| 15:54 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna scores on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 45-54 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Martin Suggs (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - George Porter (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jeffrey Gray (fairly fresh) 3 pts. PF - Jamie Smith (fairly fresh) 6 pts. C - Nestor Panek (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gerald Taylor (tiring) 13 pts. 3 ast. SG - Thomas Perkins (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SF - Kenneth Topete (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. PF - Ivan Orduna (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Jose Mendoza (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 15:42 | Northwestern | George Porter misses the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 45-54 |
| 15:41 | Northwestern | Nestor Panek can't tip it in | 45-54 |
| 15:40 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete snags the defensive board | 45-54 |
| 15:19 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left wing but the foul's on Martin Suggs - foul #3 on Martin Suggs, team foul #2 | 45-54 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo (PG), Laurence Wanner (SG), Willie Minyard (SF), Vernon Corey (PF), James Nichols (C) Martin Suggs, George Porter, Jeffrey Gray, Jamie Smith, Nestor Panek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roy Smith (SG), Richard Bernardi (SF), Frank Gates (PF), Charles Campbell (C) Thomas Perkins, Kenneth Topete, Ivan Orduna, Jose Mendoza | |
| 15:19 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor makes the 1st free throw | 45-55 |
| 15:19 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor makes the 2nd free throw | 45-56 |
| 14:59 | Northwestern | James Nichols misses the 3pt shot from the left corner | 45-56 |
| 14:58 | Illinois | Roy Smith grabs the board | 45-56 |
| 14:54 | Illinois | Laurence Wanner steals the ball from Frank Gates | 45-56 |
| 14:31 | Northwestern | Vernon Corey knocks in the shot in the lane on a great pass from Willie Minyard | 47-56 |
| 14:07 | Illinois | Charles Campbell travels with the ball | 47-56 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arthur Bowman (PF) Gerald Taylor | |
| 13:56 | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo throws a bad pass out of bounds | 47-56 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Burke (SG), Nestor Panek (C) Vernon Corey, James Nichols | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Perkins (PG), Jose Mendoza (C) Frank Gates, Charles Campbell | |
| 13:39 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza can't connect on an uncontested runner from the left block | 47-56 |
| 13:38 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Nestor Panek | 47-56 |
| 13:34 | Northwestern | Richard Bernardi steals it from James Burke | 47-56 |
| 13:30 | Illinois | Roy Smith is fouled in the backcourt by Abraham Kilgo - foul #4 on Abraham Kilgo, team foul #3 | 47-56 |
| Subs | Northwestern | George Porter (SG), Jamie Smith (PF) Abraham Kilgo, Laurence Wanner | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ivan Orduna (PF) Richard Bernardi | |
| 13:07 | Illinois | Roy Smith scores on a runner in the lane | 47-58 |
| 13:00 | Northwestern | Jamie Smith's fadeaway is rejected by Ivan Orduna | 47-58 |
| 12:59 | Northwestern | George Porter tips it home | 49-58 |
| 12:57 | Illinois | George Porter steps in front of the Roy Smith pass in the backcourt | 49-58 |
| 12:41 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard comes up short on the 3pt shot from the right corner | 49-58 |
| 12:39 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Jose Mendoza | 49-58 |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins makes the 3 pointer from the left corner on a great pass from Jose Mendoza | 49-61 |
| 12:10 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard comes up short on the shot from the free throw line | 49-61 |
| 12:09 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Arthur Bowman | 49-61 |
| 11:49 | Illinois | Arthur Bowman misses the lay-in but he's hacked by George Porter - foul #2 on George Porter, team foul #4 | 49-61 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Martin Suggs (PG), Laurence Wanner (SG), Jeffrey Gray (SF), Vernon Corey (PF), James Nichols (C) James Burke, George Porter, Willie Minyard, Jamie Smith, Nestor Panek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frank Gates (PG), Kenneth Topete (SG), Richard Bernardi (SF), Charles Campbell (C) Thomas Perkins, Roy Smith, Ivan Orduna, Jose Mendoza | |
| 11:49 | Illinois | Arthur Bowman misses the 1st free throw | 49-61 |
| 11:49 | Illinois | Arthur Bowman misses the 2nd free throw | 49-61 |
| 11:49 | Northwestern | Vernon Corey snags the defensive board | 49-61 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Martin Suggs (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SG - Laurence Wanner (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. SF - Jeffrey Gray (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Vernon Corey (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - James Nichols (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Frank Gates (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. SG - Kenneth Topete (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. SF - Richard Bernardi (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Arthur Bowman (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Charles Campbell (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| 11:45 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs misses badly on a jumpshot from the left side | 49-61 |
| 11:43 | Northwestern | Laurence Wanner tips it back up and in | 51-61 |
| 11:25 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete misses short on a jump hook from the baseline | 51-61 |
| 11:23 | Northwestern | Vernon Corey gets the rebound | 51-61 |
| 11:19 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 51-61 |
| 11:18 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi pulls down the rebound | 51-61 |
| 11:06 | Illinois | Arthur Bowman scores on a driving attempt in the paint | 51-63 |
| 10:48 | Northwestern | Jeffrey Gray buries a fadeaway from the left wing on a nice dish by James Nichols | 53-63 |
| 10:24 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete can't finish the layup | 53-63 |
| 10:23 | Northwestern | Laurence Wanner pulls down the rebound | 53-63 |
| 10:19 | Northwestern | Laurence Wanner hits a fadeaway from the right side on a nice dish by Jeffrey Gray | 55-63 |
| 10:13 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete is hacked by Vernon Corey in the backcourt - foul #2 on Vernon Corey, team foul #5 | 55-63 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gary Sharpe (PG), George Porter (SG), Willie Minyard (SF), Jamie Smith (PF), Nestor Panek (C) Martin Suggs, Laurence Wanner, Jeffrey Gray, Vernon Corey, James Nichols | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gerald Taylor (PG), Roy Smith (SG), Ivan Orduna (PF), Jose Mendoza (C) Frank Gates, Kenneth Topete, Arthur Bowman, Charles Campbell | |
| 10:02 | Illinois | Roy Smith misses the easy layup | 55-63 |
| 10:00 | Northwestern | George Porter grabs the board | 55-63 |
| 09:55 | Northwestern | Richard Bernardi steals it from Willie Minyard | 55-63 |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor buries a floater from the left wing | 55-65 |
| 09:18 | Northwestern | George Porter misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the left side but the foul's on Roy Smith - foul #4 on Roy Smith, team foul #5 | 55-65 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Martin Suggs (PG), James Burke (SF), Laurence Wanner (PF), James Nichols (C) Gary Sharpe, Willie Minyard, Jamie Smith, Nestor Panek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Perkins (SG) Roy Smith | |
| 09:18 | Northwestern | George Porter makes the 1st free throw | 56-65 |
| 09:18 | Northwestern | George Porter makes the 2nd free throw | 57-65 |
| 09:01 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza is fouled on the floor by James Nichols - foul #3 on James Nichols, team foul #6 | 57-65 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kenneth Topete (SF) Richard Bernardi | |
| 08:42 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins hits a 3pt shot from the right wing on a nice dish by Gerald Taylor | 57-68 |
| 08:23 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs buries a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 59-68 |
| 08:12 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete knocks in the 3pt shot from straight away on a great pass from Ivan Orduna | 59-71 |
| 07:50 | Northwestern | James Burke scores on a floater from the left block set up by Martin Suggs | 61-71 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Martin Suggs (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. 3 pf. SG - George Porter (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SF - James Burke (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. PF - Laurence Wanner (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. C - James Nichols (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gerald Taylor (tiring) 17 pts. 4 ast. SG - Thomas Perkins (tiring) 12 pts. 2 ast. SF - Kenneth Topete (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. PF - Ivan Orduna (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Jose Mendoza (tiring) 2 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 07:26 | Illinois | Kenneth Topete misses short on a shot from the left side | 61-71 |
| 07:25 | Northwestern | George Porter snags the defensive board | 61-71 |
| 07:20 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 61-71 |
| 07:19 | Northwestern | James Nichols pulls down the offensive rebound | 61-71 |
| 07:03 | Northwestern | George Porter throws a bad pass out of bounds | 61-71 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo (PG), Jeffrey Gray (SF), Vernon Corey (PF), Nestor Panek (C) Martin Suggs, James Burke, Laurence Wanner, James Nichols | |
| Subs | Illinois | Roy Smith (SG), Richard Bernardi (SF), Frank Gates (PF), Charles Campbell (C) Thomas Perkins, Kenneth Topete, Ivan Orduna, Jose Mendoza | |
| 06:53 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi is called for 10 seconds | 61-71 |
| 06:31 | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo is fouled on the floor by Roy Smith - foul #5 on Roy Smith, team foul #6 | 61-71 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Willie Minyard (SF), Jamie Smith (PF) George Porter, Nestor Panek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arthur Bowman (PF) Roy Smith | |
| 06:16 | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the right side but the foul's on Gerald Taylor - foul #3 on Gerald Taylor, team foul #7 | 61-71 |
| 06:16 | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo misses the 1st free throw | 61-71 |
| 06:16 | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo misses the 2nd free throw | 61-71 |
| 06:16 | Illinois | Frank Gates grabs the board | 61-71 |
| 06:00 | Illinois | Jamie Smith steps in front of the Arthur Bowman pass | 61-71 |
| 05:39 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard makes the shot from the baseline on a great pass from Abraham Kilgo | 63-71 |
| 05:29 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 63-71 |
| 05:28 | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo grabs the board | 63-71 |
| 05:23 | Northwestern | Charles Campbell denies the turnaround by Abraham Kilgo | 63-71 |
| 05:22 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi snags the defensive board | 63-71 |
| 04:58 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi clanks a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Jamie Smith - foul #3 on Jamie Smith, team foul #7 | 63-71 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gary Sharpe (PG), George Porter (SG), Laurence Wanner (PF), Nestor Panek (C) Abraham Kilgo, Jeffrey Gray, Jamie Smith, Vernon Corey | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Perkins (PG), Ivan Orduna (PF), Jose Mendoza (C) Gerald Taylor, Arthur Bowman, Charles Campbell | |
| 04:58 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi misses the 1st free throw | 63-71 |
| 04:58 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi makes the 2nd free throw | 63-72 |
| 04:43 | Northwestern | Laurence Wanner misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 63-72 |
| 04:41 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi snags the defensive board | 63-72 |
| 04:35 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins misses long on a 3 from the right corner | 63-72 |
| 04:33 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard snags the defensive board | 63-72 |
| 04:27 | Northwestern | Thomas Perkins picks off the pass by Gary Sharpe | 63-72 |
| 04:25 | Illinois | Frank Gates is hacked by Gary Sharpe in the backcourt - foul #1 on Gary Sharpe, team foul #8 | 63-72 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Martin Suggs (PG) Gary Sharpe | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kenneth Topete (SF) Richard Bernardi | |
| 04:25 | Illinois | Frank Gates makes the 1st free throw | 63-73 |
| 04:25 | Illinois | Frank Gates makes the 2nd free throw | 63-74 |
| 04:03 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard can't throw it down | 63-74 |
| 04:02 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard can't tip it in | 63-74 |
| 04:01 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard grabs the offensive board | 63-74 |
| 03:50 | Northwestern | Thomas Perkins steals it from Laurence Wanner | 63-74 |
| 03:46 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins hits the finger roll | 63-76 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Martin Suggs (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. 3 pf. SG - George Porter (tiring) 12 pts. 1 ast. SF - Willie Minyard (tiring) 5 pts. 6 reb. PF - Laurence Wanner (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. C - Nestor Panek (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Frank Gates (tiring) 4 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. SG - Thomas Perkins (tiring) 14 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Kenneth Topete (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. PF - Ivan Orduna (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Jose Mendoza (tiring) 2 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 03:41 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs comes up short on the driving attempt in the paint but he's hacked by Thomas Perkins - foul #3 on Thomas Perkins, team foul #8 | 63-76 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Burke (SG), Jamie Smith (PF), James Nichols (C) George Porter, Willie Minyard, Nestor Panek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Bernardi (SF) Frank Gates | |
| 03:41 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs misses the 1st free throw | 63-76 |
| 03:41 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs makes the 2nd free throw | 64-76 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 03:22 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna is hacked by Jamie Smith - foul #4 on Jamie Smith, team foul #9 | 64-76 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gerald Taylor (PG) Kenneth Topete | |
| 03:22 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna makes the 1st free throw | 64-77 |
| 03:22 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna makes the 2nd free throw | 64-78 |
| 03:15 | Northwestern | Martin Suggs knocks in the 3pt attempt from straight away on a great pass from Jamie Smith | 67-78 |
| 03:11 | Illinois | Laurence Wanner steps in front of the Thomas Perkins pass in the backcourt | 67-78 |
| 03:09 | Northwestern | Laurence Wanner can't finish the layup | 67-78 |
| 03:08 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins snags the defensive board | 67-78 |
| 03:05 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna is called for a moving pick in the backcourt - foul #2 on Ivan Orduna, team foul #9 | 67-78 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo (PG), Jeffrey Gray (SF) Martin Suggs, Laurence Wanner | |
| Subs | Illinois | Arthur Bowman (SF) Richard Bernardi | |
| 02:55 | Northwestern | Gerald Taylor takes the ball from Jamie Smith | 67-78 |
| 02:28 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna misses badly on a fadeaway in the paint | 67-78 |
| 02:26 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to James Nichols | 67-78 |
| 02:26 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 67-78 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Martin Suggs (PG), Laurence Wanner (SG), Vernon Corey (PF), Nestor Panek (C) Abraham Kilgo, James Burke, Jamie Smith, James Nichols | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kenneth Topete (SG), Richard Bernardi (SF), Charles Campbell (C) Thomas Perkins, Ivan Orduna, Jose Mendoza | |
| 02:13 | Northwestern | Vernon Corey drills a jump hook from close range set up by Nestor Panek and he's hacked by Arthur Bowman - foul #1 on Arthur Bowman, team foul #10 | 69-78 |
| 02:13 | Northwestern | Vernon Corey makes the free throw | 70-78 |
| 01:49 | Illinois | Arthur Bowman is denied on a layup by Vernon Corey | 70-78 |
| 01:47 | Illinois | Richard Bernardi tips it home | 70-80 |
| 01:35 | Northwestern | Jeffrey Gray scores on a floater from the left side on a great pass from Martin Suggs | 72-80 |
| 01:35 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 72-80 |
| Subs | Northwestern | George Porter (SG), Willie Minyard (SF), Jamie Smith (PF) Laurence Wanner, Jeffrey Gray, Vernon Corey | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Perkins (SG), Ivan Orduna (PF), Jose Mendoza (C) Kenneth Topete, Arthur Bowman, Charles Campbell | |
| 01:06 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins throws a bad pass out of bounds | 72-80 |
| 00:49 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard scores on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 75-80 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins is fouled in the backcourt by Willie Minyard - foul #2 on Willie Minyard, team foul #10 | 75-80 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins makes the 1st free throw | 75-81 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Thomas Perkins makes the 2nd free throw | 75-82 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:40 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard drills a jumper from the left block and he's hacked by Thomas Perkins - foul #4 on Thomas Perkins, team foul #11 | 77-82 |
| 00:40 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard makes the free throw | 78-82 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:37 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna is fouled in the backcourt by Martin Suggs - foul #4 on Martin Suggs, team foul #11 | 78-82 |
| 00:37 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna makes the 1st free throw | 78-83 |
| 00:37 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna makes the 2nd free throw | 78-84 |
| 00:32 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard connects on the 3pt shot from the left corner on a great pass from George Porter | 81-84 |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza is hacked by Martin Suggs in the backcourt - foul #5 on Martin Suggs, team foul #12 | 81-84 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Abraham Kilgo (PG) Martin Suggs | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frank Gates (SF) Richard Bernardi | |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza makes the 1st free throw | 81-85 |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza makes the 2nd free throw | 81-86 |
| 00:24 | Northwestern | George Porter is hacked by Thomas Perkins - foul #5 on Thomas Perkins, team foul #12 | 81-86 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Bernardi (SF) Thomas Perkins | |
| 00:24 | Northwestern | George Porter makes the 1st free throw | 82-86 |
| 00:24 | Northwestern | George Porter makes the 2nd free throw | 83-86 |
| 00:22 | Illinois | George Porter is called for the reach on Gerald Taylor in the backcourt - foul #3 on George Porter, team foul #13 | 83-86 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kenneth Topete (SF) Richard Bernardi | |
| 00:22 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor makes the 1st free throw | 83-87 |
| 00:22 | Illinois | Gerald Taylor makes the 2nd free throw | 83-88 |
| 00:15 | Northwestern | Willie Minyard comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 83-88 |
| 00:13 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna gets the rebound | 83-88 |
| 00:11 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna is hacked by Abraham Kilgo in the backcourt - foul #5 on Abraham Kilgo, team foul #14 | 83-88 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Burke (PG) Abraham Kilgo | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Bernardi (SF) Kenneth Topete | |
| 00:11 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna makes the 1st free throw | 83-89 |
| 00:11 | Illinois | Ivan Orduna makes the 2nd free throw | 83-90 |
| 00:04 | Northwestern | James Burke buries a 3 from the right wing | 86-90 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza is fouled in the backcourt by James Burke - foul #1 on James Burke, team foul #15 | 86-90 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Kenneth Topete (SF) Richard Bernardi | |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza makes the 1st free throw | 86-91 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Jose Mendoza makes the 2nd free throw | 86-92 |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | James Burke hits the front of the rim on the halfcourt shot | 86-92 |