| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murdock (fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. SG - Tyler White (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Leonard Gaskin (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. PF - James Lamothe (fresh) C - Travis Loyd (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Daniel Lee (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - John Morrison (fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - John Mauriello (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Norman Provost (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. C - Lawrence Branson (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | John Mauriello inbounds the ball | 34-29 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 19:43 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson scores on a fadeaway in the lane set up by John Morrison | 34-31 |
| 19:22 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock hits a 3 pointer from the left wing | 37-31 |
| 19:00 | Illinois | John Morrison hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Daniel Lee | 37-33 |
| 18:54 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock buries a 3pt jumper from the left corner on a nice dish by James Lamothe | 40-33 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | John Morrison is fouled on the floor by Tyler White - foul #3 on Tyler White, team foul #1 | 40-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vern Stegall (SG), Fred Langlais (SF), Robert Robinson (PF), Albert Littlejohn (C) Tyler White, Leonard Gaskin, James Lamothe, Travis Loyd | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 18:06 | Illinois | Daniel Lee makes the jumper from the free throw line on a nice dish by Lawrence Branson | 40-35 |
| 17:56 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn hits the front of the rim on the floater from just outside the lane | 40-35 |
| 17:55 | Illinois | Daniel Lee pulls down the rebound | 40-35 |
| 17:39 | Illinois | Norman Provost misses the lay-in but he's hacked by Robert Robinson - foul #1 on Robert Robinson, team foul #2 | 40-35 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Barry Jones (PG), James Lamothe (PF), John Hubbs (C) Joseph Murdock, Fred Langlais, Albert Littlejohn | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 17:39 | Illinois | Norman Provost misses the 1st free throw | 40-35 |
| 17:39 | Illinois | Norman Provost misses the 2nd free throw | 40-35 |
| 17:39 | Michigan State | John Hubbs gets the rebound | 40-35 |
| 17:23 | Michigan State | Robert Robinson can't connect on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 40-35 |
| 17:22 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson grabs the board | 40-35 |
| 17:01 | Illinois | Daniel Lee drills a 3 from the left wing set up by John Morrison | 40-38 |
| 16:35 | Michigan State | Robert Robinson misses the jumpshot from the left side | 40-38 |
| 16:33 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson snags the defensive board | 40-38 |
| 16:09 | Illinois | John Mauriello can't connect on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 40-38 |
| 16:08 | Michigan State | James Lamothe grabs the board | 40-38 |
| 16:01 | Michigan State | James Lamothe makes the shot from the left block set up by Robert Robinson | 42-38 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Barry Jones (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Vern Stegall (fresh) SF - Robert Robinson (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. PF - James Lamothe (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - John Hubbs (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Daniel Lee (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SG - John Morrison (fresh) 13 pts. 4 ast. SF - John Mauriello (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Norman Provost (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. C - Lawrence Branson (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 15:32 | Illinois | Norman Provost clanks a floater from the left block | 42-38 |
| 15:31 | Michigan State | John Hubbs gets the rebound | 42-38 |
| 15:27 | Michigan State | Robert Robinson misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 42-38 |
| 15:25 | Illinois | Norman Provost gets the rebound | 42-38 |
| 15:06 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson knocks in the floater from the baseline on a great pass from John Mauriello | 42-40 |
| 14:40 | Michigan State | James Lamothe is called for traveling | 42-40 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock (PG), Tyler White (SG), Leonard Gaskin (SF), Albert Littlejohn (PF), Travis Loyd (C) Barry Jones, Vern Stegall, Robert Robinson, James Lamothe, John Hubbs | |
| Subs | Illinois | Louis Gordon (PG), James Myers (SG), Robert Hale (SF), Edward Davies (PF) Daniel Lee, John Morrison, John Mauriello, Norman Provost | |
| 14:13 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson's fadeaway is rejected by Travis Loyd | 42-40 |
| 14:11 | Michigan State | Leonard Gaskin grabs the defensive rebound | 42-40 |
| 14:05 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn scores on a floater from the left side on a great pass from Joseph Murdock | 44-40 |
| 13:50 | Illinois | Robert Hale misses the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 44-40 |
| 13:48 | Illinois | Louis Gordon tips it home | 44-42 |
| 13:25 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 44-42 |
| 13:23 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson pulls down the rebound | 44-42 |
| 12:54 | Illinois | Edward Davies is hacked by Albert Littlejohn - foul #2 on Albert Littlejohn, team foul #3 | 44-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Fred Langlais (SF) Leonard Gaskin | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Morrison (SG), John Mauriello (SF), Norman Provost (PF) James Myers, Robert Hale, Lawrence Branson | |
| 12:39 | Illinois | John Morrison misses badly on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 44-42 |
| 12:37 | Michigan State | Travis Loyd pulls down the rebound | 44-42 |
| 12:31 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn can't connect on a turnaround from the left block | 44-42 |
| 12:29 | Illinois | Louis Gordon grabs the defensive rebound | 44-42 |
| 12:09 | Illinois | John Morrison misses the floater from the free throw line | 44-42 |
| 12:07 | Michigan State | Travis Loyd grabs the board | 44-42 |
| 12:03 | Michigan State | Tyler White can't finish the layup | 44-42 |
| 12:02 | Illinois | Edward Davies snags the defensive board | 44-42 |
| 11:56 | Illinois | John Morrison misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 44-42 |
| 11:55 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn snags the defensive board | 44-42 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murdock (fresh) 18 pts. 3 ast. SG - Tyler White (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Fred Langlais (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Albert Littlejohn (fresh) 5 pts. C - Travis Loyd (fresh) 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Louis Gordon (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. SG - John Morrison (fresh) 13 pts. 4 ast. SF - John Mauriello (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Norman Provost (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. C - Edward Davies (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:36 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn travels with the ball | 44-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leonard Gaskin (SF), Robert Robinson (PF), John Hubbs (C) Fred Langlais, Albert Littlejohn, Travis Loyd | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Lee (PG) Louis Gordon | |
| 11:13 | Illinois | John Morrison makes the 3 pointer from straight away | 44-45 |
| 11:06 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock is hacked by Norman Provost - foul #1 on Norman Provost, team foul #1 | 44-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Fred Langlais (SF) Leonard Gaskin | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:54 | Michigan State | Tyler White comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the left side but he's hacked by John Morrison - foul #1 on John Morrison, team foul #2 | 44-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leonard Gaskin (SF), Travis Loyd (C) Fred Langlais, John Hubbs | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:54 | Michigan State | Tyler White makes the 1st free throw | 45-45 |
| 10:54 | Michigan State | Tyler White misses the 2nd free throw | 45-45 |
| 10:54 | Illinois | Edward Davies grabs the board | 45-45 |
| 10:33 | Illinois | Norman Provost knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the left side on a great pass from Daniel Lee | 45-47 |
| 10:20 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 45-47 |
| 10:19 | Illinois | Norman Provost snags the defensive board | 45-47 |
| 09:59 | Illinois | John Mauriello misses the floater from the left side but he's fouled by Travis Loyd - foul #3 on Travis Loyd, team foul #4 | 45-47 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vern Stegall (SG), Fred Langlais (SF), James Lamothe (PF), Albert Littlejohn (C) Tyler White, Leonard Gaskin, Robert Robinson, Travis Loyd | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Hale (PF), Lawrence Branson (C) Norman Provost, Edward Davies | |
| 09:59 | Illinois | John Mauriello makes the 1st free throw | 45-48 |
| 09:59 | Illinois | John Mauriello makes the 2nd free throw | 45-49 |
| 09:45 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn buries a turnaround from close range on a great pass from Joseph Murdock | 47-49 |
| 09:24 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right wing but he's hacked by Albert Littlejohn - foul #3 on Albert Littlejohn, team foul #5 | 47-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leonard Gaskin (SF), John Hubbs (C) Fred Langlais, Albert Littlejohn | |
| Subs | Illinois | Louis Gordon (SG), Norman Provost (PF) John Morrison, John Mauriello | |
| 09:24 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson misses the 1st free throw | 47-49 |
| 09:24 | Illinois | Lawrence Branson makes the 2nd free throw | 47-50 |
| 09:00 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock scores on a 3 from the left corner on a great pass from James Lamothe | 50-50 |
| 08:31 | Illinois | Daniel Lee makes the 3pt attempt from the right wing on a nice dish by Louis Gordon | 50-53 |
| 08:15 | Michigan State | Leonard Gaskin is open but comes up short on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 50-53 |
| 08:14 | Illinois | Norman Provost grabs the board | 50-53 |
| 07:49 | Illinois | Norman Provost banks in the layup | 50-55 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murdock (fairly fresh) 21 pts. 4 ast. SG - Vern Stegall (fresh) SF - Leonard Gaskin (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. PF - James Lamothe (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - John Hubbs (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Daniel Lee (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SG - Louis Gordon (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. SF - Robert Hale (fresh) PF - Norman Provost (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. C - Lawrence Branson (fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:36 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from straight away | 50-55 |
| 07:35 | Michigan State | Leonard Gaskin tips it back up and in | 52-55 |
| 07:06 | Illinois | The jump hook by Lawrence Branson is blocked by Leonard Gaskin | 52-55 |
| 07:05 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to James Lamothe | 52-55 |
| 07:00 | Michigan State | Daniel Lee steals it from James Lamothe | 52-55 |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Louis Gordon misses the lay-in | 52-55 |
| 06:56 | Michigan State | John Hubbs snags the defensive board | 52-55 |
| 06:32 | Michigan State | Leonard Gaskin is hacked by Norman Provost - foul #2 on Norman Provost, team foul #3 | 52-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Barry Jones (PG), Tyler White (SG), Robert Robinson (SF), Albert Littlejohn (PF), Travis Loyd (C) Joseph Murdock, Vern Stegall, Leonard Gaskin, James Lamothe, John Hubbs | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Morrison (SG), John Mauriello (SF), Edward Davies (PF) Daniel Lee, Robert Hale, Norman Provost | |
| 06:17 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn misses badly on a floater from just outside the lane but the foul's on Edward Davies - foul #1 on Edward Davies, team foul #4 | 52-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Fred Langlais (SF) Travis Loyd | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 06:17 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn makes the 1st free throw | 53-55 |
| 06:17 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn makes the 2nd free throw | 54-55 |
| 05:55 | Illinois | John Morrison knocks in the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 54-58 |
| 05:36 | Michigan State | Robert Robinson misses short on a fadeaway from the left block but he's fouled by Lawrence Branson - foul #3 on Lawrence Branson, team foul #5 | 54-58 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Travis Loyd (C) Albert Littlejohn | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Hale (C) Lawrence Branson | |
| 05:36 | Michigan State | Robert Robinson makes the 1st free throw | 55-58 |
| 05:36 | Michigan State | Robert Robinson misses the 2nd free throw | 55-58 |
| 05:36 | Illinois | John Morrison grabs the defensive rebound | 55-58 |
| 05:14 | Illinois | Edward Davies misses badly on a jump hook from close range | 55-58 |
| 05:12 | Illinois | Edward Davies grabs the offensive board | 55-58 |
| 04:50 | Illinois | John Morrison can't throw it down but the foul's on Tyler White - foul #4 on Tyler White, team foul #6 | 55-58 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock (PG), Albert Littlejohn (PF) Barry Jones, Fred Langlais | |
| Subs | Illinois | Daniel Lee (PG) Louis Gordon | |
| 04:50 | Illinois | John Morrison makes the 1st free throw | 55-59 |
| 04:50 | Illinois | John Morrison makes the 2nd free throw | 55-60 |
| 04:24 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 55-60 |
| 04:23 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn grabs the offensive rebound | 55-60 |
| 04:06 | Michigan State | Robert Robinson connects on the 3pt jumper from the left wing set up by Joseph Murdock | 58-60 |
| 03:47 | Illinois | John Morrison misses long on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 58-60 |
| 03:46 | Illinois | John Mauriello tips it back up and in | 58-62 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murdock (fairly fresh) 21 pts. 5 ast. SG - Tyler White (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. 4 pf. SF - Robert Robinson (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. PF - Albert Littlejohn (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Travis Loyd (fresh) 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Daniel Lee (fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SG - John Morrison (fresh) 21 pts. 4 ast. SF - John Mauriello (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. PF - Edward Davies (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. C - Robert Hale (fresh) | |
| 03:22 | Michigan State | Tyler White connects on the open 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Joseph Murdock | 61-62 |
| 03:22 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 61-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Barry Jones (PG), Leonard Gaskin (SF) Joseph Murdock, Travis Loyd | |
| Subs | Illinois | Norman Provost (PF), Lawrence Branson (C) Edward Davies, Robert Hale | |
| 03:04 | Illinois | John Morrison double dribbles | 61-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock (PG), James Lamothe (PF), Travis Loyd (C) Barry Jones, Robert Robinson, Albert Littlejohn | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 02:50 | Michigan State | Travis Loyd comes up short on the driving attempt from close range but the foul's on John Morrison - foul #2 on John Morrison, team foul #6 | 61-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Barry Jones (PG), Robert Robinson (PF) Joseph Murdock, James Lamothe | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 02:50 | Michigan State | Travis Loyd misses the 1st free throw | 61-62 |
| 02:50 | Michigan State | Travis Loyd makes the 2nd free throw | 62-62 |
| 02:25 | Illinois | John Morrison is whistled for traveling | 62-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock (PG), Vern Stegall (SG), James Lamothe (PF), Albert Littlejohn (C) Barry Jones, Tyler White, Robert Robinson, Travis Loyd | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 02:01 | Michigan State | Leonard Gaskin can't connect on a runner from the left block | 62-62 |
| 02:00 | Michigan State | Albert Littlejohn tips it home | 64-62 |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Daniel Lee is hacked by Joseph Murdock - foul #1 on Joseph Murdock, team foul #7 | 64-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Tyler White (SG), Travis Loyd (C) Vern Stegall, Albert Littlejohn | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Daniel Lee makes the 1st free throw | 64-63 |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Daniel Lee makes the 2nd free throw | 64-64 |
| 01:24 | Michigan State | Tyler White is whistled for traveling | 64-64 |
| 01:10 | Illinois | John Morrison comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 64-64 |
| 01:09 | Illinois | Daniel Lee tips it back up and in | 64-66 |
| 00:53 | Michigan State | Tyler White misses short on a 3 from straight away | 64-66 |
| 00:52 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to James Lamothe | 64-66 |
| 00:34 | Michigan State | Norman Provost steals it from Travis Loyd | 64-66 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 00:32 | Illinois | John Mauriello is hacked by Tyler White in the backcourt - foul #5 on Tyler White, team foul #8 | 64-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vern Stegall (SG) Tyler White | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:32 | Illinois | John Mauriello misses the 1st free throw | 64-66 |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Travis Loyd | 64-66 |
| 00:05 | Michigan State | Vern Stegall is whistled for a carry | 64-66 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Vern Stegall is called for the reach on John Morrison in the backcourt - foul #1 on Vern Stegall, team foul #9 | 64-66 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | John Morrison makes the 1st free throw | 64-67 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | John Morrison makes the 2nd free throw | 64-68 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Joseph Murdock misses the halfcourt shot | 64-68 |