| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Davis (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Franklin Slater (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Mike Cooper (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. PF - Vaughn Powers (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - James Hicks (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Samford | PG - Lawrence Davis (fresh) 9 pts. SG - James Hammond (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SF - Johnnie Scott (fresh) 2 stl. PF - Ronald Pompey (fresh) 2 pts. C - Gary Brigman (fresh) 5 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Samford | Johnnie Scott inbounds the ball | 33-28 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 19:41 | Samford | Vaughn Powers is called for the reach on Ronald Pompey - foul #1 on Vaughn Powers, team foul #1 | 33-28 |
| 19:26 | Samford | Ronald Pompey dunks the ball on a great pass from Lawrence Davis | 33-30 |
| 19:14 | Illinois | James Hicks clanks a runner near the basket | 33-30 |
| 19:13 | Samford | Ronald Pompey grabs the board | 33-30 |
| 18:58 | Samford | Ronald Pompey misses long on a fadeaway in the paint | 33-30 |
| 18:56 | Samford | Gary Brigman snags the offensive board | 33-30 |
| 18:36 | Samford | James Hammond misses long on a 3 from straight away | 33-30 |
| 18:34 | Samford | Ronald Pompey grabs the offensive rebound | 33-30 |
| 18:15 | Samford | James Hammond double dribbles | 33-30 |
| 17:55 | Illinois | John Davis makes the jumpshot from the right side set up by Vaughn Powers | 35-30 |
| 17:46 | Samford | Gary Brigman's floater is tipped away by Vaughn Powers | 35-30 |
| 17:44 | Samford | Gary Brigman tips it in | 35-32 |
| 17:28 | Illinois | Ronald Pompey swats the short shot by Vaughn Powers | 35-32 |
| 17:27 | Samford | James Hammond grabs the board | 35-32 |
| 17:21 | Samford | Lawrence Davis misses short on a floater from just outside the lane | 35-32 |
| 17:19 | Illinois | James Hicks grabs the defensive rebound | 35-32 |
| 16:54 | Illinois | James Hicks can't finish the layup | 35-32 |
| 16:53 | Illinois | John Davis tips it but misses | 35-32 |
| 16:52 | Samford | James Hammond grabs the board | 35-32 |
| 16:45 | Samford | Gary Brigman hits a shot from close range set up by Johnnie Scott | 35-34 |
| 16:24 | Illinois | Franklin Slater is called for a moving pick - foul #3 on Franklin Slater, team foul #2 | 35-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Chapman (PG), Brian Paras (SG), Jerome Lorkowski (SF), Nathan Blewett (PF), Abel Baskerville (C) John Davis, Franklin Slater, Mike Cooper, Vaughn Powers, James Hicks | |
| Subs | Samford | Sean Cusumano (PG), John Deforge (SG), Don Jackson (SF) Lawrence Davis, James Hammond, Johnnie Scott | |
| 16:05 | Samford | John Deforge drills a 3pt shot from the right wing on a nice dish by Ronald Pompey | 35-37 |
| 15:40 | Illinois | John Chapman connects on the 3pt jumper from straight away on a great pass from Brian Paras | 38-37 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Chapman (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Brian Paras (fresh) SF - Jerome Lorkowski (fresh) PF - Nathan Blewett (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Abel Baskerville (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Samford | PG - Sean Cusumano (fresh) 1 ast. SG - John Deforge (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Don Jackson (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Ronald Pompey (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Gary Brigman (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 9 reb. | |
| 15:23 | Samford | Don Jackson misses badly on a jumper from just outside the lane | 38-37 |
| 15:21 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Brian Paras | 38-37 |
| 15:01 | Illinois | Gary Brigman steals it from John Chapman | 38-37 |
| 14:41 | Samford | Gary Brigman is whistled for a carry | 38-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Cheatham (PG), Franklin Slater (SG), Mike Cooper (SF), Vaughn Powers (PF) John Chapman, Brian Paras, Nathan Blewett, Abel Baskerville | |
| Subs | Samford | Lawrence Davis (PG), Johnnie Scott (SF), Matthew Jenkins (C) John Deforge, Ronald Pompey, Gary Brigman | |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham misses short on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 38-37 |
| 14:18 | Samford | Sean Cusumano grabs the defensive rebound | 38-37 |
| 13:52 | Samford | Sean Cusumano comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 38-37 |
| 13:50 | Samford | Matthew Jenkins tips it in | 38-39 |
| 13:33 | Illinois | Jerome Lorkowski knocks in the runner near the basket set up by Franklin Slater | 40-39 |
| 13:09 | Samford | Franklin Slater steps in front of the Matthew Jenkins pass | 40-39 |
| 12:47 | Illinois | Jerome Lorkowski makes the floater from the right block on a great pass from Larry Cheatham | 42-39 |
| 12:30 | Samford | Don Jackson is fouled on the floor by Vaughn Powers - foul #2 on Vaughn Powers, team foul #3 | 42-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathan Blewett (PF), James Hicks (C) Vaughn Powers, Jerome Lorkowski | |
| Subs | Samford | James Hammond (SG), Ronald Pompey (PF), Gary Brigman (C) Sean Cusumano, Don Jackson, Matthew Jenkins | |
| 12:19 | Samford | Gary Brigman misses badly on a fadeaway from the baseline but the foul's on James Hicks - foul #1 on James Hicks, team foul #4 | 42-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Paras (SG) Franklin Slater | |
| Subs | Samford | Joshua Murray (SF) Johnnie Scott | |
| 12:19 | Samford | Gary Brigman makes the 1st free throw | 42-40 |
| 12:19 | Samford | Gary Brigman makes the 2nd free throw | 42-41 |
| 11:55 | Illinois | James Hicks hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the right wing but he's fouled by Gary Brigman - foul #2 on Gary Brigman, team foul #1 | 42-41 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Samford | James Berlin (PG) Lawrence Davis | |
| 11:55 | Illinois | James Hicks makes the 1st free throw | 43-41 |
| 11:55 | Illinois | James Hicks makes the 2nd free throw | 44-41 |
| 11:41 | Samford | James Hicks picks off the pass by Joshua Murray | 44-41 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Cheatham (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Brian Paras (fresh) SF - Mike Cooper (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. PF - Nathan Blewett (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - James Hicks (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Samford | PG - James Berlin (fresh) SG - James Hammond (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SF - Joshua Murray (fresh) PF - Ronald Pompey (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Gary Brigman (fresh) 11 pts. 9 reb. | |
| 11:23 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham misses long on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 44-41 |
| 11:22 | Illinois | Brian Paras grabs the offensive board | 44-41 |
| 11:07 | Illinois | Mike Cooper hits a 3pt shot from the right wing | 47-41 |
| 10:50 | Samford | James Hammond misses badly on a shot from the left block | 47-41 |
| 10:49 | Illinois | Nathan Blewett grabs the board | 47-41 |
| 10:26 | Illinois | James Hicks connects on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 50-41 |
| 10:04 | Samford | James Berlin misses short on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 50-41 |
| 10:02 | Illinois | James Hicks gets the rebound | 50-41 |
| 09:46 | Illinois | Brian Paras is whistled for a carry | 50-41 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Davis (PG), Franklin Slater (SG), Jerome Lorkowski (SF), Vaughn Powers (PF) Larry Cheatham, Brian Paras, Mike Cooper, James Hicks | |
| Subs | Samford | Lawrence Davis (PG), Sean Cusumano (SG), Johnnie Scott (SF) James Berlin, James Hammond, Joshua Murray | |
| 09:39 | Samford | Sean Cusumano makes the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Johnnie Scott | 50-43 |
| 09:29 | Illinois | Vaughn Powers buries a 3pt jumper from straight away on a nice dish by Jerome Lorkowski | 53-43 |
| 09:17 | Samford | Lawrence Davis hits the front of the rim on the floater from the right wing | 53-43 |
| 09:16 | Samford | Sean Cusumano tips it home | 53-45 |
| 09:05 | Illinois | Nathan Blewett misses short on a driving attempt from the baseline | 53-45 |
| 09:03 | Samford | Ronald Pompey pulls down the rebound | 53-45 |
| 08:53 | Samford | Lawrence Davis comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 53-45 |
| 08:51 | Samford | Sean Cusumano misses the tip | 53-45 |
| 08:50 | Illinois | Jerome Lorkowski snags the defensive board | 53-45 |
| 08:30 | Illinois | Franklin Slater is fouled on the floor by Johnnie Scott - foul #1 on Johnnie Scott, team foul #2 | 53-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Hicks (C) Nathan Blewett | |
| Subs | Samford | James Hammond (SG), Don Jackson (PF), Matthew Jenkins (C) Sean Cusumano, Ronald Pompey, Gary Brigman | |
| 08:15 | Illinois | Jerome Lorkowski hits the front of the rim on the jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by James Hammond - foul #1 on James Hammond, team foul #3 | 53-45 |
| 08:15 | Illinois | Jerome Lorkowski makes the 1st free throw | 54-45 |
| 08:15 | Illinois | Jerome Lorkowski misses the 2nd free throw | 54-45 |
| 08:15 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to James Hicks | 54-45 |
| 08:02 | Illinois | Vaughn Powers buries a 3pt shot from the left wing | 57-45 |
| 07:38 | Samford | James Hammond makes the 3 pointer from straight away on a nice dish by Lawrence Davis | 57-48 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Davis (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - Franklin Slater (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SF - Jerome Lorkowski (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Vaughn Powers (fresh) 12 pts. 4 reb. C - James Hicks (fresh) 9 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Samford | PG - Lawrence Davis (fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - James Hammond (fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SF - Johnnie Scott (fresh) 2 stl. PF - Don Jackson (fresh) 4 pts. C - Matthew Jenkins (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:28 | Illinois | John Davis makes the jumpshot from the left wing set up by Vaughn Powers | 59-48 |
| 06:59 | Samford | Lawrence Davis misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 59-48 |
| 06:57 | Samford | Don Jackson tips it in | 59-50 |
| 06:44 | Illinois | Jerome Lorkowski buries a 3pt jumper from the right corner on a nice dish by John Davis | 62-50 |
| 06:18 | Samford | Don Jackson can't finish the layup but the foul's on James Hicks - foul #2 on James Hicks, team foul #5 | 62-50 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Cheatham (PG), Brian Paras (SG), Mike Cooper (SF), Nathan Blewett (PF), Abel Baskerville (C) John Davis, Franklin Slater, Jerome Lorkowski, Vaughn Powers, James Hicks | |
| Subs | Samford | Sean Cusumano (PG), John Deforge (SG), Ronald Pompey (PF), Gary Brigman (C) Lawrence Davis, James Hammond, Johnnie Scott, Matthew Jenkins | |
| 06:18 | Samford | Don Jackson makes the 1st free throw | 62-51 |
| 06:18 | Samford | Don Jackson makes the 2nd free throw | 62-52 |
| 05:55 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham hits a 3pt attempt from the right corner set up by Brian Paras | 65-52 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 05:37 | Samford | Nathan Blewett steps in front of the Ronald Pompey pass | 65-52 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 05:16 | Illinois | Mike Cooper misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 65-52 |
| 05:15 | Samford | Ronald Pompey grabs the board | 65-52 |
| 05:09 | Samford | Mike Cooper takes the ball from John Deforge | 65-52 |
| 04:45 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham misses the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 65-52 |
| 04:43 | Samford | Gary Brigman snags the defensive board | 65-52 |
| 04:25 | Samford | Sean Cusumano connects on the shot from the right side set up by John Deforge | 65-54 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 04:02 | Illinois | Larry Cheatham connects on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 68-54 |
| 04:02 | Samford | Samford calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 68-54 |
| Subs | Illinois | Franklin Slater (SG), Vaughn Powers (PF), James Hicks (C) Brian Paras, Nathan Blewett, Abel Baskerville | |
| Subs | Samford | Lawrence Davis (PG), James Hammond (SG), Johnnie Scott (SF) Sean Cusumano, John Deforge, Don Jackson | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 03:46 | Samford | Johnnie Scott makes the 3pt shot from straight away set up by James Hammond | 68-57 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-1) | |
| 03:35 | Illinois | James Hicks misses short on a runner from the left block | 68-57 |
| 03:33 | Samford | Gary Brigman grabs the board | 68-57 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Larry Cheatham (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Franklin Slater (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SF - Mike Cooper (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. PF - Vaughn Powers (fresh) 12 pts. 4 reb. C - James Hicks (fresh) 9 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Samford | PG - Lawrence Davis (fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - James Hammond (fresh) 9 pts. 3 ast. SF - Johnnie Scott (fresh) 3 pts. 2 stl. PF - Ronald Pompey (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. C - Gary Brigman (fresh) 11 pts. 11 reb. | |
| 03:28 | Samford | Lawrence Davis hits a 3pt jumper from the right wing set up by Gary Brigman | 68-60 |
| 03:05 | Illinois | Vaughn Powers can't connect on a runner from close range but he's fouled by James Hammond - foul #2 on James Hammond, team foul #4 | 68-60 |
| 03:05 | Illinois | Vaughn Powers makes the 1st free throw | 69-60 |
| 03:05 | Illinois | Vaughn Powers misses the 2nd free throw | 69-60 |
| 03:05 | Samford | Gary Brigman grabs the board | 69-60 |
| 02:49 | Samford | Johnnie Scott hits a 3pt shot from the left corner on a great pass from Lawrence Davis | 69-63 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 02:32 | Illinois | James Hicks scores on a floater from the left block on a nice dish by Franklin Slater and he's hacked by James Hammond - foul #3 on James Hammond, team foul #5 | 71-63 |
| 02:32 | Illinois | James Hicks makes the free throw | 72-63 |
| 02:18 | Samford | James Hammond misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 72-63 |
| 02:17 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Vaughn Powers | 72-63 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-1) | |
| 01:51 | Illinois | Mike Cooper misses badly on a 3 from the left corner | 72-63 |
| 01:50 | Samford | Ronald Pompey snags the defensive board | 72-63 |
| 01:32 | Samford | Ronald Pompey comes up short on the driving attempt in the lane but the foul's on Vaughn Powers - foul #3 on Vaughn Powers, team foul #6 | 72-63 |
| 01:32 | Samford | Ronald Pompey makes the 1st free throw | 72-64 |
| 01:32 | Samford | Ronald Pompey makes the 2nd free throw | 72-65 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 01:11 | Illinois | Lawrence Davis steps in front of the Mike Cooper pass | 72-65 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 00:43 | Samford | Gary Brigman hits the front of the rim on the runner from the right block | 72-65 |
| 00:42 | Illinois | James Hicks pulls down the rebound | 72-65 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a triangle offense and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:41 | Illinois | Lawrence Davis is called for the reach on James Hicks in the backcourt - foul #3 on Lawrence Davis, team foul #6 | 72-65 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Davis (PG), Brian Paras (SG), Nathan Blewett (PF) Larry Cheatham, Franklin Slater, Vaughn Powers | |
| Subs | Samford | | |
| 00:38 | Illinois | John Davis is hacked by Gary Brigman - foul #3 on Gary Brigman, team foul #7 | 72-65 |
| 00:38 | Illinois | John Davis makes the 1st free throw | 73-65 |
| 00:38 | Illinois | John Davis makes the 2nd free throw | 74-65 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:32 | Samford | Lawrence Davis buries a 3pt jumper from the right corner on a nice dish by James Hammond | 74-68 |
| 00:32 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 74-68 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Chapman (PG), Vaughn Powers (PF) John Davis, James Hicks | |
| Subs | Samford | | |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Nathan Blewett is hacked by James Hammond in the backcourt - foul #4 on James Hammond, team foul #8 | 74-68 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Hicks (C) Vaughn Powers | |
| Subs | Samford | | |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Nathan Blewett makes the 1st free throw | 75-68 |
| 00:30 | Illinois | Nathan Blewett misses the 2nd free throw | 75-68 |
| 00:30 | Samford | Ronald Pompey snags the defensive board | 75-68 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:22 | Samford | Lawrence Davis clanks a 3pt shot from the right wing | 75-68 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | The rebound goes to James Hicks | 75-68 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 75-68 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Davis (PG) John Chapman | |
| Subs | Samford | | |
| 00:19 | Illinois | Nathan Blewett is hacked by Lawrence Davis in the backcourt - foul #4 on Lawrence Davis, team foul #9 | 75-68 |
| 00:19 | Illinois | Nathan Blewett makes the 1st free throw | 76-68 |
| 00:19 | Illinois | Nathan Blewett makes the 2nd free throw | 77-68 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:14 | Samford | Lawrence Davis double dribbles | 77-68 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:12 | Illinois | Brian Paras is fouled in the backcourt by Lawrence Davis - foul #5 on Lawrence Davis, team foul #10 | 77-68 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Samford | Sean Cusumano (PG) Lawrence Davis | |
| 00:12 | Illinois | Brian Paras makes the 1st free throw | 78-68 |
| 00:12 | Illinois | Brian Paras makes the 2nd free throw | 79-68 |
| 00:07 | Samford | Johnnie Scott is fouled on the floor by Nathan Blewett - foul #1 on Nathan Blewett, team foul #7 | 79-68 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jerome Lorkowski (SF), Abel Baskerville (C) Mike Cooper, James Hicks | |
| Subs | Samford | John Deforge (SG), Don Jackson (PF), Matthew Jenkins (C) James Hammond, Ronald Pompey, Gary Brigman | |
| 00:07 | Samford | Johnnie Scott makes the 1st free throw | 79-69 |
| 00:07 | Samford | Johnnie Scott misses the 2nd free throw | 79-69 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Abel Baskerville | 79-69 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Samford | Samford is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a 2-3 zone (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | John Davis runs out the clock | 79-69 |