| Lineup | Arkansas State | PG - Jeffrey Sneed (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Darell Hodgdon (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Stephen Darnall (fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Morgan (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. C - Chuck Cropper (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Derek Crocker (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SG - Jerry Stankiewicz (fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Alan Barnes (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Nathaniel Cook (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - George Tuten (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Alan Barnes inbounds the ball | 34-32 |
| Game Plan | Arkansas State | Arkansas State is playing a fastbreak offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:49 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz hits the front of the rim on the shot near the basket | 34-32 |
| 19:48 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Nathaniel Cook | 34-32 |
| 19:30 | Illinois | Derek Crocker hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 34-32 |
| 19:29 | Illinois | Alan Barnes grabs the offensive rebound | 34-32 |
| 19:21 | Illinois | Alan Barnes is hacked by Stephen Darnall - foul #2 on Stephen Darnall, team foul #1 | 34-32 |
| 19:08 | Illinois | George Tuten makes the turnaround from close range on a nice dish by Derek Crocker and he's hacked by Chuck Cropper - foul #1 on Chuck Cropper, team foul #2 | 34-34 |
| 19:08 | Illinois | George Tuten makes the free throw | 34-35 |
| 18:46 | Arkansas State | Jerry Stankiewicz steps in front of the Jeffrey Sneed pass | 34-35 |
| 18:38 | Illinois | George Tuten knocks in the runner from the right block on a great pass from Alan Barnes | 34-37 |
| 18:23 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Jerry Stankiewicz - foul #1 on Jerry Stankiewicz, team foul #1 | 34-37 |
| 18:23 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed makes the 1st free throw | 35-37 |
| 18:23 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed makes the 2nd free throw | 36-37 |
| 18:03 | Illinois | George Tuten throws a bad pass out of bounds | 36-37 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Neal Jones (C) Chuck Cropper | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 17:51 | Arkansas State | Derek Crocker is called for the reach on Jeffrey Sneed - foul #2 on Derek Crocker, team foul #2 | 36-37 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Abel Bean (SF) Stephen Darnall | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Childs (SF), Russell Kennelly (C) Alan Barnes, George Tuten | |
| 17:28 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 36-37 |
| 17:26 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz gets the rebound | 36-37 |
| 17:14 | Illinois | Abel Bean steals it from Russell Kennelly | 36-37 |
| 17:08 | Arkansas State | Abel Bean hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 36-37 |
| 17:06 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly pulls down the rebound | 36-37 |
| 16:49 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz's pass is intercepted by Abel Bean | 36-37 |
| 16:45 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed misses the easy layup | 36-37 |
| 16:43 | Arkansas State | Neal Jones snags the offensive board | 36-37 |
| 16:19 | Arkansas State | John Morgan makes the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 39-37 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly misses long on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 39-37 |
| 15:58 | Arkansas State | The rebound goes to John Morgan | 39-37 |
| Lineup | Arkansas State | PG - Jeffrey Sneed (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Darell Hodgdon (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - Abel Bean (fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. PF - John Morgan (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. C - Neal Jones (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Derek Crocker (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. SG - Jerry Stankiewicz (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. 3 stl. SF - Steven Childs (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. PF - Nathaniel Cook (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Russell Kennelly (fresh) 4 reb. | |
| 15:53 | Arkansas State | Abel Bean is called for a pushoff foul - foul #1 on Abel Bean, team foul #3 | 39-37 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle (PG), Stephen Darnall (SF), Chuck Cropper (C) Jeffrey Sneed, Darell Hodgdon, John Morgan | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lars Wojnowski (PG), Alan Barnes (SF), George Tuten (C) Derek Crocker, Jerry Stankiewicz, Nathaniel Cook | |
| 15:36 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from straight away | 39-37 |
| 15:35 | Illinois | Alan Barnes tips it but misses | 39-37 |
| 15:33 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly tips it but misses | 39-37 |
| 15:31 | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle snags the defensive board | 39-37 |
| 15:26 | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle misses short on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 39-37 |
| 15:24 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly gets the rebound | 39-37 |
| 14:56 | Illinois | Alan Barnes drills a shot from the baseline on a great pass from Lars Wojnowski and he's hacked by Abel Bean - foul #2 on Abel Bean, team foul #4 | 39-39 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Louis Smith (SG), Larry Thompson (PF) Abel Bean, Neal Jones | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jared Justice (SG), Nathaniel Cook (PF) Steven Childs, Russell Kennelly | |
| 14:56 | Illinois | Alan Barnes makes the free throw | 39-40 |
| 14:47 | Arkansas State | Chuck Cropper misses long on a fadeaway in the paint but he's fouled by George Tuten - foul #2 on George Tuten, team foul #3 | 39-40 |
| 14:47 | Arkansas State | Chuck Cropper misses the 1st free throw | 39-40 |
| 14:47 | Arkansas State | Chuck Cropper makes the 2nd free throw | 40-40 |
| 14:33 | Illinois | Nathaniel Cook is hacked by Larry Thompson - foul #1 on Larry Thompson, team foul #5 | 40-40 |
| 14:06 | Illinois | Lars Wojnowski is fouled on the floor by Samuel Caudle - foul #2 on Samuel Caudle, team foul #6 | 40-40 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | John Morgan (PF) Stephen Darnall | |
| Subs | Illinois | Derek Crocker (PG), Jerry Stankiewicz (SG) Jared Justice, Alan Barnes | |
| 13:55 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz makes the 3 pointer from the left wing on a nice dish by Derek Crocker | 40-43 |
| 13:33 | Arkansas State | Derek Crocker is called for the reach on Samuel Caudle - foul #3 on Derek Crocker, team foul #4 | 40-43 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed (PG), Abel Bean (SF), Neal Jones (C) Louis Smith, Larry Thompson, Chuck Cropper | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Childs (SF), Russell Kennelly (PF) Nathaniel Cook, George Tuten | |
| 13:10 | Arkansas State | John Morgan hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 40-43 |
| 13:09 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Russell Kennelly | 40-43 |
| 13:03 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz misses long on a jumper in the paint | 40-43 |
| 13:01 | Arkansas State | Neal Jones pulls down the rebound | 40-43 |
| 12:42 | Arkansas State | Abel Bean is hacked by Russell Kennelly - foul #3 on Russell Kennelly, team foul #5 | 40-43 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Darell Hodgdon (SG), Stephen Darnall (SF) Samuel Caudle, Abel Bean | |
| Subs | Illinois | Alan Barnes (SF) Lars Wojnowski | |
| 12:28 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed drills a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 43-43 |
| 12:10 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz buries a floater from the right block on a great pass from Alan Barnes and the foul's on Neal Jones - foul #3 on Neal Jones, team foul #7 | 43-45 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jared Justice (PG), George Tuten (C) Derek Crocker, Russell Kennelly | |
| 12:10 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz makes the free throw | 43-46 |
| 11:47 | Arkansas State | Darell Hodgdon connects on the shot from the left side on a nice dish by John Morgan | 45-46 |
| Lineup | Arkansas State | PG - Jeffrey Sneed (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Darell Hodgdon (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Stephen Darnall (fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Morgan (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. C - Neal Jones (fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jared Justice (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Jerry Stankiewicz (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 ast. 3 stl. SF - Alan Barnes (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Steven Childs (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. C - George Tuten (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 11:32 | Illinois | Alan Barnes misses the easy layup | 45-46 |
| 11:30 | Illinois | George Tuten gets the offensive rebound | 45-46 |
| 11:09 | Illinois | Steven Childs misses the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 45-46 |
| 11:08 | Arkansas State | John Morgan gets the rebound | 45-46 |
| 11:03 | Arkansas State | Darell Hodgdon buries a 3 pointer from the left corner set up by John Morgan | 48-46 |
| 10:44 | Illinois | Steven Childs makes the fadeaway from the free throw line on a great pass from Jared Justice | 48-48 |
| 10:39 | Arkansas State | John Morgan buries a driving attempt from close range on a great pass from Jeffrey Sneed | 50-48 |
| 10:17 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz misses the 3 from the left corner | 50-48 |
| 10:15 | Arkansas State | The rebound goes to Neal Jones | 50-48 |
| 10:10 | Arkansas State | John Morgan is hacked by Steven Childs - foul #2 on Steven Childs, team foul #6 | 50-48 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle (PG), Louis Smith (SG), Abel Bean (SF), Larry Thompson (PF), Chuck Cropper (C) Jeffrey Sneed, Darell Hodgdon, Stephen Darnall, John Morgan, Neal Jones | |
| Subs | Illinois | Derek Crocker (PG), Lars Wojnowski (SG), Nathaniel Cook (PF), Russell Kennelly (C) Jared Justice, Jerry Stankiewicz, Steven Childs, George Tuten | |
| 09:44 | Arkansas State | Larry Thompson makes the fadeaway from the right wing | 52-48 |
| 09:37 | Illinois | Nathaniel Cook hits a shot from the right side on a nice dish by Derek Crocker | 52-50 |
| 09:24 | Arkansas State | Abel Bean double dribbles | 52-50 |
| 09:08 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly misses long on a jump hook from the baseline | 52-50 |
| 09:06 | Arkansas State | The rebound goes to Louis Smith | 52-50 |
| 09:02 | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle misses long on a jumpshot from the left wing but the foul's on Alan Barnes - foul #2 on Alan Barnes, team foul #7 | 52-50 |
| 09:02 | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle makes the 1st free throw | 53-50 |
| 09:02 | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle makes the 2nd free throw | 54-50 |
| 08:45 | Illinois | Alan Barnes scores on a 3 pointer from the right wing set up by Derek Crocker | 54-53 |
| 08:30 | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 54-53 |
| 08:28 | Illinois | Nathaniel Cook pulls down the rebound | 54-53 |
| 08:21 | Illinois | Nathaniel Cook knocks in the jump hook in the lane on a great pass from Derek Crocker | 54-55 |
| 08:16 | Arkansas State | Derek Crocker picks off the pass by Abel Bean | 54-55 |
| 08:01 | Illinois | Derek Crocker lays it up and in on a great pass from Alan Barnes | 54-57 |
| 07:37 | Arkansas State | Louis Smith scores on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 57-57 |
| Lineup | Arkansas State | PG - Samuel Caudle (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Louis Smith (fairly fresh) 8 pts. SF - Abel Bean (fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. PF - Larry Thompson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Chuck Cropper (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Derek Crocker (fresh) 8 pts. 7 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - Lars Wojnowski (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SF - Alan Barnes (tiring) 8 pts. 3 reb. PF - Nathaniel Cook (fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Russell Kennelly (fresh) 7 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 07:18 | Illinois | Derek Crocker comes up short on the 3pt shot from straight away | 57-57 |
| 07:16 | Illinois | Alan Barnes misses the tip | 57-57 |
| 07:14 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly gets the offensive rebound | 57-57 |
| 06:53 | Illinois | Alan Barnes hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left side but he's fouled by Abel Bean - foul #3 on Abel Bean, team foul #8 | 57-57 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed (PG), Darell Hodgdon (SG), Stephen Darnall (SF), John Morgan (PF), Neal Jones (C) Samuel Caudle, Louis Smith, Abel Bean, Larry Thompson, Chuck Cropper | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jared Justice (PG), Jerry Stankiewicz (SG), Steven Childs (PF), George Tuten (C) Derek Crocker, Lars Wojnowski, Nathaniel Cook, Russell Kennelly | |
| 06:53 | Illinois | Alan Barnes makes the 1st free throw | 57-58 |
| 06:53 | Illinois | Alan Barnes misses the 2nd free throw | 57-58 |
| 06:53 | Arkansas State | Neal Jones pulls down the rebound | 57-58 |
| 06:47 | Arkansas State | Neal Jones blows the layup | 57-58 |
| 06:46 | Illinois | George Tuten grabs the board | 57-58 |
| 06:25 | Illinois | Jared Justice knocks in the 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Alan Barnes | 57-61 |
| 05:56 | Arkansas State | John Morgan hits a floater near the basket on a great pass from Darell Hodgdon | 59-61 |
| 05:36 | Illinois | Alan Barnes can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the right side | 59-61 |
| 05:35 | Arkansas State | John Morgan grabs the board | 59-61 |
| 05:31 | Arkansas State | Neal Jones double dribbles | 59-61 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Derek Crocker (PG), Nathaniel Cook (PF) Jared Justice, Alan Barnes | |
| 05:11 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz drills a 3 pointer from the right corner | 59-64 |
| 04:47 | Arkansas State | Stephen Darnall hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the free throw line but he's fouled by Derek Crocker - foul #4 on Derek Crocker, team foul #8 | 59-64 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Russell Kennelly (C) George Tuten | |
| 04:47 | Arkansas State | Stephen Darnall makes the 1st free throw | 60-64 |
| 04:47 | Arkansas State | Stephen Darnall makes the 2nd free throw | 61-64 |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly can't connect on a floater in the paint but the foul's on Neal Jones - foul #4 on Neal Jones, team foul #9 | 61-64 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle (PG), Louis Smith (SG), Abel Bean (SF) Jeffrey Sneed, Darell Hodgdon, Stephen Darnall | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly makes the 1st free throw | 61-65 |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly makes the 2nd free throw | 61-66 |
| 04:07 | Arkansas State | Louis Smith misses long on a 3pt shot from straight away | 61-66 |
| 04:05 | Arkansas State | Abel Bean tips it in | 63-66 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Derek Crocker is fouled on the floor by Samuel Caudle - foul #3 on Samuel Caudle, team foul #10 | 63-66 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Larry Thompson (PF), Chuck Cropper (C) John Morgan, Neal Jones | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jared Justice (SG), Lars Wojnowski (SF), George Tuten (C) Jerry Stankiewicz, Steven Childs, Nathaniel Cook | |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Derek Crocker makes the 1st free throw | 63-67 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Derek Crocker misses the 2nd free throw | 63-67 |
| 03:51 | Arkansas State | Chuck Cropper snags the defensive board | 63-67 |
| 03:34 | Arkansas State | Larry Thompson misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 63-67 |
| 03:32 | Illinois | George Tuten grabs the board | 63-67 |
| Lineup | Arkansas State | PG - Samuel Caudle (fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. SG - Louis Smith (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Abel Bean (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. PF - Larry Thompson (fresh) 2 pts. C - Chuck Cropper (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Derek Crocker (fresh) 9 pts. 7 ast. 2 stl. 4 pf. SG - Jared Justice (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Lars Wojnowski (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. PF - Russell Kennelly (fresh) 2 pts. 8 reb. 3 pf. C - George Tuten (fresh) 7 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Lars Wojnowski comes up short on the floater from the left wing | 63-67 |
| 03:05 | Arkansas State | The rebound goes to Larry Thompson | 63-67 |
| 02:51 | Arkansas State | George Tuten is called for the reach on Samuel Caudle - foul #3 on George Tuten, team foul #9 | 63-67 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Darell Hodgdon (SG), John Morgan (PF) Louis Smith, Larry Thompson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz (SG), Steven Childs (SF), Nathaniel Cook (PF) Derek Crocker, Jared Justice, George Tuten | |
| 02:51 | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle makes the 1st free throw | 64-67 |
| 02:51 | Arkansas State | Samuel Caudle makes the 2nd free throw | 65-67 |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 65-67 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed (PG), Stephen Darnall (SF) Samuel Caudle, Abel Bean | |
| Subs | Illinois | Derek Crocker (PG) Lars Wojnowski | |
| 02:33 | Illinois | Jeffrey Sneed takes the ball from Derek Crocker | 65-67 |
| 02:11 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left side | 65-67 |
| 02:09 | Illinois | Russell Kennelly pulls down the rebound | 65-67 |
| 02:09 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 65-67 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | George Tuten (C) Russell Kennelly | |
| 01:56 | Illinois | Steven Childs's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 65-67 |
| Subs | Arkansas State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Alan Barnes (SF) Steven Childs | |
| 01:40 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed hits a shot from the right wing on a nice dish by Stephen Darnall | 67-67 |
| 01:20 | Illinois | Alan Barnes misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 67-67 |
| 01:18 | Arkansas State | Stephen Darnall snags the defensive board | 67-67 |
| 01:13 | Arkansas State | Stephen Darnall misses the jumper from the free throw line | 67-67 |
| 01:12 | Illinois | George Tuten grabs the board | 67-67 |
| 00:53 | Illinois | Derek Crocker is fouled on the floor by Jeffrey Sneed - foul #2 on Jeffrey Sneed, team foul #11 | 67-67 |
| 00:53 | Illinois | Derek Crocker makes the 1st free throw | 67-68 |
| 00:53 | Illinois | Derek Crocker misses the 2nd free throw | 67-68 |
| 00:53 | Arkansas State | Darell Hodgdon pulls down the rebound | 67-68 |
| 00:32 | Arkansas State | Nathaniel Cook steals it from Jeffrey Sneed | 67-68 |
| Game Plan | Arkansas State | Arkansas State is playing a fastbreak offense and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz is hacked by Darell Hodgdon in the backcourt - foul #2 on Darell Hodgdon, team foul #12 | 67-68 |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz makes the 1st free throw | 67-69 |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Jerry Stankiewicz makes the 2nd free throw | 67-70 |
| 00:10 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed misses short on a 3 from straight away | 67-70 |
| 00:09 | Arkansas State | Chuck Cropper gets the offensive rebound | 67-70 |
| 00:07 | Arkansas State | Jeffrey Sneed buries a 3pt shot from the right wing set up by John Morgan | 70-70 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | Illinois calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 2 full remaining) | 70-70 |
| Game Plan | Arkansas State | Arkansas State is playing a fastbreak offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Nathaniel Cook jams it | 70-72 |