| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Darren Blaise (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Everett Kinney (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Dikembe Abdo (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. PF - Alphonse Marino (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. C - Robert Haddix (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kentucky | PG - James Smith (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - Kevin Coughlin (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SF - Xing-Fu Yen (fresh) PF - Robert Larsen (fresh) 2 reb. C - Phillip Mercer (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Kentucky | Xing-Fu Yen inbounds the ball | 28-33 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Kentucky | Kentucky is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:40 | Kentucky | Phillip Mercer drills a jump hook from the baseline set up by Kevin Coughlin | 28-35 |
| 19:18 | Illinois | Everett Kinney drills a 3 pointer from straight away on a nice dish by Dikembe Abdo | 31-35 |
| 18:53 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin double dribbles | 31-35 |
| 18:37 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo misses short on a turnaround from close range | 31-35 |
| 18:35 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Robert Haddix | 31-35 |
| 18:18 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Darren Blaise | 33-35 |
| 18:11 | Kentucky | James Smith throws a bad pass out of bounds | 33-35 |
| 17:53 | Illinois | Darren Blaise is fouled on the floor by Robert Larsen - foul #1 on Robert Larsen, team foul #1 | 33-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Michael Mapp (PF), Ian Roberts (C) Robert Larsen, Phillip Mercer | |
| 17:38 | Illinois | Darren Blaise buries a fadeaway from the free throw line and he's hacked by Kevin Coughlin - foul #3 on Kevin Coughlin, team foul #2 | 35-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brad Wynne (SG), Jessie Biddle (PF), Harry Gill (C) Everett Kinney, Alphonse Marino, Robert Haddix | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Matt Linger (PG), Billy Mier (SG) James Smith, Kevin Coughlin | |
| 17:38 | Illinois | Darren Blaise makes the free throw | 36-35 |
| 17:26 | Kentucky | Harry Gill is called for the reach on Matt Linger - foul #1 on Harry Gill, team foul #1 | 36-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Raul Martin (SF) Dikembe Abdo | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood (C) Xing-Fu Yen | |
| 17:11 | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood comes up short on the jumper from the right block but he's hacked by Harry Gill - foul #2 on Harry Gill, team foul #2 | 36-35 |
| 17:11 | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood misses the 1st free throw | 36-35 |
| 17:11 | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood makes the 2nd free throw | 36-36 |
| 16:58 | Illinois | Ian Roberts swats the short shot by Raul Martin | 36-36 |
| 16:56 | Illinois | Harry Gill tips it but misses | 36-36 |
| 16:54 | Kentucky | Ian Roberts snags the defensive board | 36-36 |
| 16:48 | Kentucky | Michael Mapp buries a driving attempt from close range set up by Billy Mier | 36-38 |
| 16:25 | Illinois | Darren Blaise is called for traveling | 36-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Everett Kinney (SG), Dikembe Abdo (SF), Robert Haddix (C) Darren Blaise, Raul Martin, Harry Gill | |
| Subs | Kentucky | James Smith (PG), Xing-Fu Yen (SF), Robert Larsen (PF), Phillip Mercer (C) Billy Mier, Ian Roberts, Benjamin Wood, Michael Mapp | |
| 16:03 | Kentucky | James Smith hits a floater from the free throw line on a nice dish by Xing-Fu Yen | 36-40 |
| 15:48 | Illinois | Everett Kinney misses the fadeaway from the left side but he's fouled by Phillip Mercer - foul #3 on Phillip Mercer, team foul #3 | 36-40 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski (PG), Alphonse Marino (PF) Brad Wynne, Jessie Biddle | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin (SG) Matt Linger | |
| 15:48 | Illinois | Everett Kinney misses the 1st free throw | 36-40 |
| 15:48 | Illinois | Everett Kinney misses the 2nd free throw | 36-40 |
| 15:48 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin pulls down the rebound | 36-40 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dobromierz Lakowski (fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. SG - Everett Kinney (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Dikembe Abdo (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. PF - Alphonse Marino (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. C - Robert Haddix (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kentucky | PG - James Smith (fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SG - Kevin Coughlin (fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Xing-Fu Yen (fresh) PF - Robert Larsen (fresh) 2 reb. C - Phillip Mercer (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 15:39 | Kentucky | Dobromierz Lakowski swats the layup by Phillip Mercer | 36-40 |
| 15:38 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Robert Haddix | 36-40 |
| 15:25 | Illinois | Everett Kinney comes up short on the 3 pointer from straight away | 36-40 |
| 15:23 | Illinois | Alphonse Marino tips it but misses | 36-40 |
| 15:22 | Kentucky | Phillip Mercer grabs the board | 36-40 |
| 15:02 | Kentucky | Xing-Fu Yen is hacked by Alphonse Marino - foul #2 on Alphonse Marino, team foul #3 | 36-40 |
| Subs | Illinois | Darren Blaise (PG) Everett Kinney | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Ian Roberts (SF) Xing-Fu Yen | |
| 14:52 | Kentucky | Ian Roberts travels with the ball | 36-40 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brad Wynne (SG), Jessie Biddle (C) Dikembe Abdo, Robert Haddix | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Michael Mapp (C) Phillip Mercer | |
| 14:36 | Illinois | Alphonse Marino misses short on a driving attempt from the left block but he's hacked by Robert Larsen - foul #2 on Robert Larsen, team foul #4 | 36-40 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Matt Linger (PG), Benjamin Wood (C) James Smith, Robert Larsen | |
| 14:36 | Illinois | Alphonse Marino makes the 1st free throw | 37-40 |
| 14:36 | Illinois | Alphonse Marino makes the 2nd free throw | 38-40 |
| 14:23 | Kentucky | Ian Roberts scores on a driving attempt in the paint on a great pass from Matt Linger | 38-42 |
| 14:16 | Illinois | Brad Wynne buries a floater from the free throw line | 40-42 |
| 13:58 | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood makes the fadeaway jumper from the right side on a great pass from Ian Roberts and the foul's on Jessie Biddle - foul #1 on Jessie Biddle, team foul #4 | 40-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Harry Gill (C) Alphonse Marino | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Xing-Fu Yen (SF) Ian Roberts | |
| 13:58 | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood makes the free throw | 40-45 |
| 13:49 | Illinois | Jessie Biddle is hacked by Benjamin Wood - foul #1 on Benjamin Wood, team foul #5 | 40-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo (SF), Robert Haddix (C) Brad Wynne, Harry Gill | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Ian Roberts (C) Benjamin Wood | |
| 13:32 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo connects on the jump hook in the paint on a great pass from Jessie Biddle | 42-45 |
| 13:13 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 42-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Everett Kinney (SG) Darren Blaise | |
| Subs | Kentucky | James Smith (PG), Robert Larsen (PF), Phillip Mercer (C) Matt Linger, Michael Mapp, Ian Roberts | |
| 12:53 | Illinois | Everett Kinney scores on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line set up by Dikembe Abdo | 44-45 |
| 12:25 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin clanks a 3pt shot from the left corner | 44-45 |
| 12:23 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo gets the rebound | 44-45 |
| 12:00 | Illinois | Everett Kinney drills a floater from the right wing set up by Jessie Biddle | 46-45 |
| 11:43 | Kentucky | James Smith scores on a 3pt jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Kevin Coughlin | 46-48 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dobromierz Lakowski (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. SG - Everett Kinney (fresh) 12 pts. SF - Dikembe Abdo (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - Jessie Biddle (fairly fresh) C - Robert Haddix (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kentucky | PG - James Smith (fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. SG - Kevin Coughlin (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SF - Xing-Fu Yen (fairly fresh) PF - Robert Larsen (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Phillip Mercer (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 11:20 | Illinois | Phillip Mercer is called for the reach on Dobromierz Lakowski - foul #4 on Phillip Mercer, team foul #6 | 46-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | Darren Blaise (PG), Brad Wynne (SG), Raul Martin (SF), Alphonse Marino (PF), Harry Gill (C) Dobromierz Lakowski, Everett Kinney, Dikembe Abdo, Jessie Biddle, Robert Haddix | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Matt Linger (PG), Billy Mier (SG), Ian Roberts (SF), Michael Mapp (PF), Benjamin Wood (C) James Smith, Kevin Coughlin, Xing-Fu Yen, Robert Larsen, Phillip Mercer | |
| 11:01 | Illinois | Darren Blaise is fouled on the floor by Matt Linger - foul #2 on Matt Linger, team foul #7 | 46-48 |
| 11:01 | Illinois | Darren Blaise makes the 1st free throw | 47-48 |
| 11:01 | Illinois | Darren Blaise makes the 2nd free throw | 48-48 |
| 10:38 | Kentucky | Matt Linger scores on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 48-51 |
| 10:30 | Illinois | Raul Martin misses the lay-in | 48-51 |
| 10:28 | Kentucky | Billy Mier snags the defensive board | 48-51 |
| 10:22 | Kentucky | Ian Roberts hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Matt Linger | 48-53 |
| 10:01 | Illinois | Brad Wynne connects on the 3 from the right corner | 51-53 |
| 09:32 | Kentucky | Ian Roberts hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right block but he's hacked by Harry Gill - foul #3 on Harry Gill, team foul #5 | 51-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Everett Kinney (SG), Dikembe Abdo (SF), Russell Jarrard (C) Brad Wynne, Raul Martin, Harry Gill | |
| Subs | Kentucky | James Smith (PG), Kevin Coughlin (SG), Robert Larsen (PF) Matt Linger, Billy Mier, Benjamin Wood | |
| 09:32 | Kentucky | Ian Roberts misses the 1st free throw | 51-53 |
| 09:32 | Kentucky | Ian Roberts makes the 2nd free throw | 51-54 |
| 09:19 | Illinois | Darren Blaise comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 51-54 |
| 09:18 | Illinois | Alphonse Marino pulls down the offensive rebound | 51-54 |
| 09:09 | Illinois | Alphonse Marino knocks in the jumpshot from the right wing on a nice dish by Darren Blaise | 53-54 |
| 08:53 | Kentucky | Robert Larsen connects on the 3pt shot from the right wing on a nice dish by Ian Roberts | 53-57 |
| 08:36 | Illinois | Everett Kinney is fouled on the floor by Kevin Coughlin - foul #4 on Kevin Coughlin, team foul #8 | 53-57 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski (PG), Jessie Biddle (PF), Robert Haddix (C) Darren Blaise, Alphonse Marino, Russell Jarrard | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Matt Linger (SG), Xing-Fu Yen (SF), Benjamin Wood (C) Kevin Coughlin, Ian Roberts, Michael Mapp | |
| 08:36 | Illinois | Everett Kinney makes the 1st free throw | 54-57 |
| 08:36 | Illinois | Everett Kinney makes the 2nd free throw | 55-57 |
| 08:15 | Kentucky | Dobromierz Lakowski is called for the reach on Robert Larsen - foul #4 on Dobromierz Lakowski, team foul #6 | 55-57 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brad Wynne (PG) Dobromierz Lakowski | |
| Subs | Kentucky | | |
| 08:10 | Kentucky | Robert Larsen hits the front of the rim on the runner from the baseline | 55-57 |
| 08:09 | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood snags the offensive board | 55-57 |
| 08:02 | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood's floater is knocked away by Jessie Biddle | 55-57 |
| 08:01 | Illinois | Everett Kinney grabs the board | 55-57 |
| 07:38 | Illinois | Robert Haddix scores on a fadeaway near the basket | 57-57 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brad Wynne (fresh) 5 pts. SG - Everett Kinney (fresh) 14 pts. SF - Dikembe Abdo (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - Jessie Biddle (fresh) C - Robert Haddix (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kentucky | PG - James Smith (fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. SG - Matt Linger (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Xing-Fu Yen (fresh) PF - Robert Larsen (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. C - Benjamin Wood (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:14 | Kentucky | Robert Larsen misses long on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 57-57 |
| 07:12 | Kentucky | Matt Linger can't tip it in | 57-57 |
| 07:10 | Illinois | Jessie Biddle pulls down the rebound | 57-57 |
| 07:06 | Illinois | Everett Kinney misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the right wing | 57-57 |
| 07:05 | Illinois | Robert Haddix tips it home | 59-57 |
| 06:54 | Kentucky | Robert Larsen's pass is intercepted by Everett Kinney | 59-57 |
| 06:51 | Illinois | Brad Wynne lays it in on a nice dish by Everett Kinney | 61-57 |
| 06:38 | Kentucky | James Smith makes the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 61-59 |
| 06:29 | Illinois | Everett Kinney hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Jessie Biddle | 63-59 |
| 06:17 | Kentucky | Robert Larsen drills a jumper near the basket set up by Xing-Fu Yen | 63-61 |
| 06:02 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo buries a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 66-61 |
| 06:00 | Kentucky | Kentucky calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 66-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | Darren Blaise (PG), Dobromierz Lakowski (SG), Alphonse Marino (PF) Brad Wynne, Everett Kinney, Dikembe Abdo | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin (SG), Michael Mapp (PF), Phillip Mercer (C) Matt Linger, Robert Larsen, Benjamin Wood | |
| 05:48 | Kentucky | Xing-Fu Yen connects on the 3pt shot from straight away set up by James Smith | 66-64 |
| 05:45 | Illinois | James Smith steals the ball from Darren Blaise in the backcourt | 66-64 |
| 05:43 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin lays it in on a nice dish by James Smith | 66-66 |
| 05:25 | Illinois | Robert Haddix misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 66-66 |
| 05:23 | Kentucky | James Smith pulls down the rebound | 66-66 |
| 05:10 | Kentucky | Phillip Mercer clanks a jump hook in the paint | 66-66 |
| 05:08 | Illinois | Alphonse Marino gets the rebound | 66-66 |
| 04:52 | Illinois | Robert Haddix's fadeaway is rejected by Phillip Mercer | 66-66 |
| 04:51 | Kentucky | Michael Mapp gets the rebound | 66-66 |
| 04:32 | Kentucky | James Smith knocks in the 3 from straight away on a great pass from Xing-Fu Yen | 66-69 |
| 04:12 | Illinois | Darren Blaise is whistled for a carry | 66-69 |
| Subs | Illinois | Everett Kinney (SG), Dikembe Abdo (SF), Harry Gill (C) Dobromierz Lakowski, Jessie Biddle, Robert Haddix | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Matt Linger (PG), Ian Roberts (SF) James Smith, Xing-Fu Yen | |
| 03:58 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin clanks a 3 pointer from straight away | 66-69 |
| 03:56 | Illinois | Darren Blaise snags the defensive board | 66-69 |
| 03:39 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo hits a driving attempt from the right block on a nice dish by Everett Kinney and he's fouled by Michael Mapp - foul #1 on Michael Mapp, team foul #9 | 68-69 |
| Subs | Illinois | Russell Jarrard (C) Alphonse Marino | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Robert Larsen (PF), Benjamin Wood (C) Michael Mapp, Phillip Mercer | |
| 03:39 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo misses the free throw | 68-69 |
| 03:39 | Kentucky | The rebound goes to Kevin Coughlin | 68-69 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Darren Blaise (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SG - Everett Kinney (fresh) 16 pts. 2 ast. SF - Dikembe Abdo (fresh) 12 pts. 5 reb. PF - Harry Gill (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. C - Russell Jarrard (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Kentucky | PG - Matt Linger (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Kevin Coughlin (fresh) 14 pts. 3 ast. 4 pf. SF - Ian Roberts (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. PF - Robert Larsen (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Benjamin Wood (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 03:20 | Kentucky | Benjamin Wood lays it up and in | 68-71 |
| 03:13 | Illinois | Harry Gill banks in the layup and he's fouled by Robert Larsen - foul #3 on Robert Larsen, team foul #10 | 70-71 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski (PG) Darren Blaise | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Xing-Fu Yen (SF) Benjamin Wood | |
| 03:13 | Illinois | Harry Gill misses the free throw | 70-71 |
| 03:13 | Kentucky | Robert Larsen snags the defensive board | 70-71 |
| 03:08 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin makes the 3pt shot from the left corner on a nice dish by Matt Linger | 70-74 |
| 03:00 | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski buries a 3pt shot from the left corner on a nice dish by Everett Kinney | 73-74 |
| 03:00 | Kentucky | Kentucky calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 73-74 |
| Subs | Illinois | Darren Blaise (PG), Alphonse Marino (PF), Robert Haddix (C) Dobromierz Lakowski, Harry Gill, Russell Jarrard | |
| Subs | Kentucky | James Smith (PG), Phillip Mercer (C) Matt Linger, Ian Roberts | |
| 02:51 | Kentucky | James Smith's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 73-74 |
| 02:39 | Illinois | Darren Blaise drills a jumper from the left wing set up by Everett Kinney | 75-74 |
| 02:21 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin comes up short on the shot from the left wing | 75-74 |
| 02:19 | Kentucky | Robert Larsen pulls down the offensive rebound | 75-74 |
| 02:10 | Kentucky | James Smith can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 75-74 |
| 02:09 | Kentucky | Phillip Mercer tips it home | 75-76 |
| 01:54 | Illinois | Everett Kinney comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 75-76 |
| 01:53 | Kentucky | Phillip Mercer snags the defensive board | 75-76 |
| 01:39 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin is fouled on the floor by Dikembe Abdo - foul #2 on Dikembe Abdo, team foul #7 | 75-76 |
| 01:39 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin makes the 1st free throw | 75-77 |
| 01:39 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin misses the 2nd free throw | 75-77 |
| 01:39 | Illinois | Robert Haddix snags the defensive board | 75-77 |
| 01:10 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo blows the layup | 75-77 |
| 01:09 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo tips it back up and in | 77-77 |
| 00:54 | Kentucky | Kevin Coughlin misses short on a 3 from straight away | 77-77 |
| 00:53 | Illinois | Alphonse Marino grabs the defensive rebound | 77-77 |
| 00:35 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo drills a jump hook from close range and the foul's on Xing-Fu Yen - foul #1 on Xing-Fu Yen, team foul #11 | 79-77 |
| 00:35 | Illinois | Dikembe Abdo makes the free throw | 80-77 |
| 00:19 | Kentucky | Everett Kinney steps in front of the Kevin Coughlin pass | 80-77 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Kentucky | Kentucky is playing a triangle offense and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Kevin Coughlin is called for the reach on Robert Haddix in the backcourt - foul #5 on Kevin Coughlin, team foul #12 | 80-77 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dobromierz Lakowski (SF) Dikembe Abdo | |
| Subs | Kentucky | Matt Linger (SG) Kevin Coughlin | |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Robert Haddix misses the 1st free throw | 80-77 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Robert Haddix makes the 2nd free throw | 81-77 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Kentucky | Kentucky is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:11 | Kentucky | James Smith comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 81-77 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Robert Haddix snags the defensive board | 81-77 |
| 00:06 | Illinois | Robert Haddix is hacked by James Smith in the backcourt - foul #1 on James Smith, team foul #13 | 81-77 |
| 00:06 | Illinois | Robert Haddix misses the 1st free throw | 81-77 |
| 00:06 | Illinois | Robert Haddix makes the 2nd free throw | 82-77 |
| 00:00 | Kentucky | James Smith hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from straight away | 82-77 |