| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bryant Anthony (fresh) SG - Herman Brooks (fresh) SF - Junior Lynn (fresh) PF - Richard Yeager (fresh) C - Keith Kelly (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Thomas | PG - John McCollum (fresh) SG - David Gannon (fresh) SF - Joey Johnson (fresh) PF - Stephen Jensen (fresh) C - Timothy Davis (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Thomas | Timothy Davis wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a fastbreak offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Thomas | Thomas is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:39 | Thomas | John McCollum connects on the pull-up jumper from the free throw line on a nice dish by David Gannon | 0-2 |
| 19:18 | Illinois | Richard Yeager drills a shot from close range set up by Herman Brooks | 2-2 |
| 19:11 | Thomas | David Gannon hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right corner | 2-2 |
| 19:10 | Illinois | Richard Yeager snags the defensive board | 2-2 |
| 19:04 | Illinois | Herman Brooks scores on a pull-up jumper from the right side set up by Richard Yeager | 4-2 |
| 18:52 | Thomas | Joey Johnson buries a runner in the paint on a nice dish by John McCollum and the foul's on Junior Lynn - foul #1 on Junior Lynn, team foul #1 | 4-4 |
| 18:52 | Thomas | Joey Johnson makes the free throw | 4-5 |
| 18:41 | Illinois | Keith Kelly hits a jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Herman Brooks | 6-5 |
| 18:24 | Thomas | John McCollum is hacked by Herman Brooks - foul #1 on Herman Brooks, team foul #2 | 6-5 |
| 18:01 | Thomas | Joey Johnson misses long on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 6-5 |
| 17:59 | Illinois | Keith Kelly grabs the board | 6-5 |
| 17:53 | Illinois | Richard Yeager misses the floater from close range | 6-5 |
| 17:52 | Thomas | Joey Johnson snags the defensive board | 6-5 |
| 17:42 | Thomas | John McCollum is whistled for a carry | 6-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Thomas | Samuel Pruitt (PF), John Olesen (C) Stephen Jensen, Timothy Davis | |
| 17:29 | Illinois | Richard Yeager misses badly on a floater from the baseline but he's hacked by Samuel Pruitt - foul #1 on Samuel Pruitt, team foul #1 | 6-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Thomas | Joseph Slater (SG), Jesse Bell (SF) David Gannon, Joey Johnson | |
| 17:29 | Illinois | Richard Yeager misses the 1st free throw | 6-5 |
| 17:29 | Illinois | Richard Yeager misses the 2nd free throw | 6-5 |
| 17:29 | Thomas | Samuel Pruitt grabs the defensive rebound | 6-5 |
| 17:19 | Thomas | Junior Lynn picks off the pass by John Olesen | 6-5 |
| 16:57 | Illinois | Keith Kelly clanks a jumper from the right side but the foul's on John Olesen - foul #1 on John Olesen, team foul #2 | 6-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Vallejos (PG), Robert Sanborn (SF) Bryant Anthony, Junior Lynn | |
| Subs | Thomas | August Johnson (SG) John McCollum | |
| 16:57 | Illinois | Keith Kelly makes the 1st free throw | 7-5 |
| 16:57 | Illinois | Keith Kelly makes the 2nd free throw | 8-5 |
| 16:37 | Thomas | Joseph Slater clanks a 3pt shot from the left wing | 8-5 |
| 16:35 | Illinois | Keith Kelly snags the defensive board | 8-5 |
| 16:31 | Illinois | Larry Vallejos is fouled in the backcourt by Joseph Slater - foul #1 on Joseph Slater, team foul #3 | 8-5 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Stillman (PG), Eugene Mitchell (SG), Stephen Astorga (C) Herman Brooks, Richard Yeager, Keith Kelly | |
| Subs | Thomas | | |
| 16:16 | Illinois | Michael Stillman connects on the fadeaway from the left side set up by Robert Sanborn | 10-5 |
| 15:57 | Thomas | The jump hook by Samuel Pruitt is blocked by Robert Sanborn | 10-5 |
| 15:56 | Thomas | The offensive rebound goes to John Olesen | 10-5 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Stillman (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Eugene Mitchell (fresh) SF - Larry Vallejos (fresh) PF - Robert Sanborn (fresh) C - Stephen Astorga (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Thomas | PG - Joseph Slater (fresh) SG - August Johnson (fresh) SF - Jesse Bell (fresh) PF - Samuel Pruitt (fresh) C - John Olesen (fresh) | |
| 15:40 | Thomas | Stephen Astorga denies the turnaround by John Olesen | 10-5 |
| 15:39 | Illinois | Stephen Astorga gets the rebound | 10-5 |
| 15:31 | Illinois | Michael Stillman makes the turnaround from the left block on a nice dish by Eugene Mitchell | 12-5 |
| 15:11 | Thomas | The pull-up jumper by August Johnson is blocked by Robert Sanborn | 12-5 |
| 15:09 | Thomas | August Johnson pulls down the offensive rebound | 12-5 |
| 14:49 | Thomas | Jesse Bell scores on a jumpshot from the right side | 12-7 |
| 14:32 | Illinois | Larry Vallejos hits a 3 from straight away on a great pass from Eugene Mitchell | 15-7 |
| 14:19 | Thomas | Joseph Slater lays it up and in | 15-9 |
| 14:15 | Illinois | Stephen Astorga loses the ball out of bounds | 15-9 |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryant Anthony (PG), Herman Brooks (SG), Junior Lynn (SF), Richard Yeager (PF), Keith Kelly (C) Michael Stillman, Eugene Mitchell, Larry Vallejos, Robert Sanborn, Stephen Astorga | |
| Subs | Thomas | John McCollum (PG), David Gannon (SG), Joey Johnson (SF), Stephen Jensen (PF), Timothy Davis (C) Joseph Slater, August Johnson, Jesse Bell, Samuel Pruitt, John Olesen | |
| 13:54 | Thomas | John McCollum knocks in the floater from the free throw line set up by Stephen Jensen and the foul's on Bryant Anthony - foul #1 on Bryant Anthony, team foul #3 | 15-11 |
| 13:54 | Thomas | John McCollum makes the free throw | 15-12 |
| 13:28 | Illinois | Keith Kelly scores on a floater from the right side on a nice dish by Bryant Anthony | 17-12 |
| 13:06 | Thomas | John McCollum is hacked by Bryant Anthony - foul #2 on Bryant Anthony, team foul #4 | 17-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Vallejos (PG) Bryant Anthony | |
| Subs | Thomas | | |
| 12:48 | Thomas | Larry Vallejos picks off the pass by David Gannon | 17-12 |
| 12:36 | Illinois | Richard Yeager is called for traveling | 17-12 |
| 12:15 | Thomas | John McCollum misses the 3 from the left corner | 17-12 |
| 12:13 | Illinois | Keith Kelly pulls down the rebound | 17-12 |
| 12:08 | Illinois | Herman Brooks misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 17-12 |
| 12:07 | Thomas | Stephen Jensen snags the defensive board | 17-12 |
| 11:52 | Thomas | Keith Kelly is called for the reach on John McCollum - foul #1 on Keith Kelly, team foul #5 | 17-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Sanborn (SF) Junior Lynn | |
| Subs | Thomas | Joseph Slater (SG), Jamie Lawrence (SF), John Olesen (C) David Gannon, Joey Johnson, Timothy Davis | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Vallejos (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Herman Brooks (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - Robert Sanborn (fresh) 2 blk. PF - Richard Yeager (fresh) 2 pts. C - Keith Kelly (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Thomas | PG - John McCollum (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Joseph Slater (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Jamie Lawrence (fresh) PF - Stephen Jensen (fairly fresh) C - John Olesen (fresh) | |
| 11:46 | Thomas | Joseph Slater loses the ball out of bounds | 17-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Stillman (PG), Junior Lynn (SF), Stephen Astorga (C) Larry Vallejos, Richard Yeager, Keith Kelly | |
| Subs | Thomas | Samuel Pruitt (PF) Stephen Jensen | |
| 11:27 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn is hacked by Samuel Pruitt - foul #2 on Samuel Pruitt, team foul #4 | 17-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eugene Mitchell (SG) Herman Brooks | |
| Subs | Thomas | Jesse Bell (SF) Samuel Pruitt | |
| 11:13 | Illinois | Eugene Mitchell is fouled on the floor by John Olesen - foul #2 on John Olesen, team foul #5 | 17-12 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Thomas | August Johnson (SG), Timothy Davis (C) John McCollum, John Olesen | |
| 11:00 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn can't connect on a jumpshot from the left wing but he's hacked by Jamie Lawrence - foul #1 on Jamie Lawrence, team foul #6 | 17-12 |
| 11:00 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn makes the 1st free throw | 18-12 |
| 11:00 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn makes the 2nd free throw | 19-12 |
| 10:41 | Thomas | Timothy Davis connects on the jumper from the baseline set up by Joseph Slater | 19-14 |
| 10:27 | Illinois | Joseph Slater takes the ball from Stephen Astorga | 19-14 |
| 10:12 | Thomas | August Johnson can't connect on a 3 from the left wing | 19-14 |
| 10:11 | Thomas | Timothy Davis tips it in | 19-16 |
| 09:53 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn misses the jumper from close range | 19-16 |
| 09:52 | Thomas | The rebound goes to Joseph Slater | 19-16 |
| 09:40 | Thomas | August Johnson misses long on a jumper from the left side | 19-16 |
| 09:39 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn snags the defensive board | 19-16 |
| 09:34 | Illinois | Michael Stillman is fouled on the floor by Joseph Slater - foul #2 on Joseph Slater, team foul #7 | 19-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Herman Brooks (SG), Larry Vallejos (SF), Richard Yeager (PF), Keith Kelly (C) Eugene Mitchell, Junior Lynn, Robert Sanborn, Stephen Astorga | |
| Subs | Thomas | John McCollum (PG), David Gannon (SG), Joey Johnson (SF), Stephen Jensen (PF) Joseph Slater, August Johnson, Jesse Bell, Jamie Lawrence | |
| 09:34 | Illinois | Michael Stillman misses the 1st free throw | 19-16 |
| 09:34 | Thomas | Timothy Davis pulls down the rebound | 19-16 |
| 09:24 | Thomas | Keith Kelly is called for the reach on Stephen Jensen - foul #2 on Keith Kelly, team foul #6 | 19-16 |
| Subs | Illinois | Sylvester Dimattia (C) Keith Kelly | |
| Subs | Thomas | | |
| 09:05 | Thomas | John McCollum misses long on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 19-16 |
| 09:03 | Thomas | Stephen Jensen grabs the offensive board | 19-16 |
| 08:48 | Thomas | John McCollum scores on a 3pt jumper from straight away on a great pass from David Gannon | 19-19 |
| 08:31 | Illinois | Herman Brooks misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 19-19 |
| 08:29 | Thomas | The rebound goes to Stephen Jensen | 19-19 |
| 08:10 | Thomas | Stephen Jensen is called for traveling | 19-19 |
| Subs | Illinois | Gabriel Stacy (PG) Michael Stillman | |
| Subs | Thomas | | |
| 07:49 | Illinois | Timothy Davis steals the ball from Herman Brooks | 19-19 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Gabriel Stacy (fresh) SG - Herman Brooks (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - Larry Vallejos (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Richard Yeager (fresh) 2 pts. C - Sylvester Dimattia (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Thomas | PG - John McCollum (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SG - David Gannon (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Joey Johnson (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Stephen Jensen (fresh) 3 reb. C - Timothy Davis (tiring) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:34 | Thomas | John McCollum hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 19-19 |
| 07:33 | Illinois | Sylvester Dimattia snags the defensive board | 19-19 |
| 07:09 | Illinois | Herman Brooks knocks in the jump hook near the basket set up by Gabriel Stacy | 21-19 |
| 06:48 | Thomas | Stephen Jensen lays it in on a great pass from John McCollum and the foul's on Richard Yeager - foul #1 on Richard Yeager, team foul #7 | 21-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | Junior Lynn (SF), Robert Sanborn (PF), Stephen Astorga (C) Larry Vallejos, Richard Yeager, Sylvester Dimattia | |
| Subs | Thomas | August Johnson (SG), Jesse Bell (SF) David Gannon, Joey Johnson | |
| 06:48 | Thomas | Stephen Jensen makes the free throw | 21-22 |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn hits a jumpshot from the left side set up by Junior Lynn | 23-22 |
| 06:00 | Thomas | John McCollum scores on a 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by August Johnson | 23-25 |
| 05:58 | Illinois | John McCollum picks off the pass by Gabriel Stacy in the backcourt | 23-25 |
| 05:45 | Thomas | The pull-up jumper by John McCollum is blocked by Robert Sanborn | 23-25 |
| 05:44 | Thomas | The offensive rebound goes to Timothy Davis | 23-25 |
| 05:39 | Thomas | John McCollum drills a fadeaway from the free throw line on a great pass from Stephen Jensen | 23-27 |
| 05:19 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn is fouled on the floor by Jesse Bell - foul #1 on Jesse Bell, team foul #8 | 23-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Vallejos (PG), Michael Stillman (SG), Richard Yeager (PF) Gabriel Stacy, Herman Brooks, Junior Lynn | |
| Subs | Thomas | David Gannon (SG), Joey Johnson (SF), Jamie Lawrence (PF) John McCollum, Jesse Bell, Stephen Jensen | |
| 05:19 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn makes the 1st free throw | 24-27 |
| 05:19 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn makes the 2nd free throw | 25-27 |
| 04:59 | Thomas | David Gannon comes up short on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 25-27 |
| 04:57 | Illinois | Larry Vallejos grabs the defensive rebound | 25-27 |
| 04:50 | Illinois | David Gannon picks off the pass by Robert Sanborn | 25-27 |
| 04:36 | Thomas | Jamie Lawrence blows the layup | 25-27 |
| 04:34 | Thomas | Jamie Lawrence snags the offensive board | 25-27 |
| 04:26 | Thomas | David Gannon's pass is intercepted by Robert Sanborn | 25-27 |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Larry Vallejos clanks a jumpshot from the left side | 25-27 |
| 04:20 | Illinois | Richard Yeager misses the tip | 25-27 |
| 04:18 | Thomas | Joey Johnson pulls down the rebound | 25-27 |
| 04:07 | Thomas | Joey Johnson misses long on a runner from close range but the foul's on Robert Sanborn - foul #1 on Robert Sanborn, team foul #8 | 25-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | Junior Lynn (SF), Sylvester Dimattia (C) Robert Sanborn, Stephen Astorga | |
| Subs | Thomas | John McCollum (PG) August Johnson | |
| 04:07 | Thomas | Joey Johnson makes the 1st free throw | 25-28 |
| 04:07 | Thomas | Joey Johnson makes the 2nd free throw | 25-29 |
| 03:52 | Illinois | The jumper by Junior Lynn is denied by John McCollum | 25-29 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Richard Yeager tips it back up and in | 27-29 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Vallejos (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Michael Stillman (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Junior Lynn (fresh) PF - Richard Yeager (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Sylvester Dimattia (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Thomas | PG - John McCollum (fresh) 13 pts. 2 ast. SG - David Gannon (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Joey Johnson (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Jamie Lawrence (fresh) C - Timothy Davis (tired) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:29 | Thomas | Jamie Lawrence comes up short on the jumper from the free throw line | 27-29 |
| 03:27 | Illinois | Sylvester Dimattia snags the defensive board | 27-29 |
| 03:07 | Illinois | Richard Yeager is whistled for a charge - foul #2 on Richard Yeager, team foul #9 | 27-29 |
| Subs | Illinois | Bryant Anthony (PG), Herman Brooks (SG), Keith Kelly (C) Larry Vallejos, Michael Stillman, Richard Yeager | |
| Subs | Thomas | Joseph Slater (SG), Jesse Bell (SF), Samuel Pruitt (PF), John Olesen (C) David Gannon, Joey Johnson, Jamie Lawrence, Timothy Davis | |
| 02:49 | Thomas | John McCollum can't connect on a jumpshot from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Herman Brooks - foul #2 on Herman Brooks, team foul #10 | 27-29 |
| 02:49 | Thomas | John McCollum misses the 1st free throw | 27-29 |
| 02:49 | Thomas | John McCollum makes the 2nd free throw | 27-30 |
| 02:35 | Illinois | Bryant Anthony's floater is tipped away by John Olesen | 27-30 |
| 02:33 | Thomas | The rebound goes to Samuel Pruitt | 27-30 |
| 02:08 | Thomas | John McCollum hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the right wing | 27-30 |
| 02:06 | Thomas | John Olesen pulls down the offensive rebound | 27-30 |
| 01:49 | Thomas | John McCollum hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 27-30 |
| 01:48 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Keith Kelly | 27-30 |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Bryant Anthony can't connect on a 3 from straight away | 27-30 |
| 01:43 | Illinois | Sylvester Dimattia pulls down the offensive rebound | 27-30 |
| 01:29 | Illinois | Junior Lynn hits a pull-up jumper from the left side on a great pass from Bryant Anthony | 29-30 |
| 01:12 | Thomas | Joseph Slater misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 29-30 |
| 01:10 | Thomas | John McCollum pulls down the offensive rebound | 29-30 |
| 00:52 | Thomas | Joseph Slater is hacked by Herman Brooks - foul #3 on Herman Brooks, team foul #11 | 29-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Vallejos (SG), Robert Sanborn (SF), Richard Yeager (PF) Herman Brooks, Junior Lynn, Sylvester Dimattia | |
| Subs | Thomas | David Gannon (SG), Joey Johnson (SF), Stephen Jensen (PF) John McCollum, Jesse Bell, Samuel Pruitt | |
| 00:52 | Thomas | Joseph Slater misses the 1st free throw | 29-30 |
| 00:52 | Thomas | Joseph Slater makes the 2nd free throw | 29-31 |
| 00:34 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn blows the dunk but he's hacked by Joey Johnson - foul #1 on Joey Johnson, team foul #9 | 29-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Stillman (SG), Stephen Astorga (C) Bryant Anthony, Keith Kelly | |
| Subs | Thomas | August Johnson (PG), Samuel Pruitt (C) Joseph Slater, John Olesen | |
| 00:34 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn makes the 1st free throw | 30-31 |
| 00:34 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn misses the 2nd free throw | 30-31 |
| 00:34 | Thomas | David Gannon grabs the defensive rebound | 30-31 |
| 00:09 | Thomas | Samuel Pruitt can't connect on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 30-31 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | Robert Sanborn gets the rebound | 30-31 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Richard Yeager's fadeaway is rejected by Samuel Pruitt | 30-31 |
| 00:01 | Thomas | Samuel Pruitt grabs the defensive rebound | 30-31 |
| 00:00 | Thomas | Samuel Pruitt misses long on a fullcourt shot | 30-31 |