| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Mueller (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Cooper (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Howard Perry (fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. PF - Chris Galaz (fresh) 2 pts. C - Joseph Crowe (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Freddy Derryberry (fresh) 2 pts. SG - George Poole (fresh) 9 pts. SF - Thomas Betancourt (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Robert Warren (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Eugene Hale (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Howard Perry inbounds the ball | 30-29 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-3) | |
| 19:47 | Illinois | Thomas Betancourt steals the ball from John Cooper | 30-29 |
| 19:25 | Michigan State | George Poole is called for a backcourt violation | 30-29 |
| 19:00 | Illinois | John Cooper comes up short on the floater from the left side | 30-29 |
| 18:58 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt grabs the defensive rebound | 30-29 |
| 18:33 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt lays it in on a nice dish by George Poole and he's hacked by Chris Galaz - foul #1 on Chris Galaz, team foul #1 | 30-31 |
| 18:33 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt makes the free throw | 30-32 |
| 18:21 | Illinois | Robert Warren swats the dunk try by Howard Perry | 30-32 |
| 18:19 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to John Cooper | 30-32 |
| 18:01 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 30-32 |
| 17:59 | Illinois | Chris Galaz pulls down the offensive rebound | 30-32 |
| 17:43 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller hits a 3pt shot from the left wing on a great pass from John Cooper | 33-32 |
| 17:23 | Michigan State | Robert Warren hits a wide open 3 from straight away on a nice dish by Thomas Betancourt | 33-35 |
| 17:09 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe is fouled on the floor by Freddy Derryberry - foul #2 on Freddy Derryberry, team foul #1 | 33-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Noel McClatchey (PF), Dennis Oliver (C) Chris Galaz, Joseph Crowe | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Patin (SF), Damian McComack (PF) Thomas Betancourt, Robert Warren | |
| 17:02 | Illinois | John Cooper knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 35-35 |
| 16:37 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 35-35 |
| 16:36 | Illinois | John Cooper gets the rebound | 35-35 |
| 16:07 | Illinois | Noel McClatchey comes up short on the 3 pointer from straight away | 35-35 |
| 16:06 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale gets the rebound | 35-35 |
| 15:47 | Michigan State | The jumper by Freddy Derryberry is denied by Dennis Oliver | 35-35 |
| 15:46 | Michigan State | Robert Patin tips it back up and in | 35-37 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Mueller (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Cooper (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. SF - Howard Perry (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. PF - Noel McClatchey (fresh) 3 pts. C - Dennis Oliver (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Freddy Derryberry (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - George Poole (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Patin (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Damian McComack (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - Eugene Hale (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 15:30 | Illinois | Howard Perry scores on a fadeaway jumper from the right side set up by John Cooper | 37-37 |
| 15:08 | Michigan State | Howard Perry denies the turnaround by Eugene Hale | 37-37 |
| 15:06 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller grabs the board | 37-37 |
| 14:47 | Illinois | John Cooper comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the right side | 37-37 |
| 14:46 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver grabs the offensive board | 37-37 |
| 14:33 | Illinois | John Cooper misses short on a driving attempt near the basket | 37-37 |
| 14:32 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale gets the rebound | 37-37 |
| 14:07 | Michigan State | George Poole is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 37-37 |
| 14:06 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Dennis Oliver | 37-37 |
| 14:00 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller clanks a shot from the left side | 37-37 |
| 13:59 | Michigan State | Damian McComack pulls down the rebound | 37-37 |
| 13:39 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry lays it in on a nice dish by Eugene Hale | 37-39 |
| 13:20 | Illinois | John Cooper misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line but he's hacked by Damian McComack - foul #2 on Damian McComack, team foul #2 | 37-39 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG), Chris Galaz (PF), Joseph Crowe (C) Arnold Mueller, Howard Perry, Dennis Oliver | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy (PG), Thomas Betancourt (SF), Robert Warren (PF), Richard Waters (C) Freddy Derryberry, Robert Patin, Damian McComack, Eugene Hale | |
| 13:20 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 1st free throw | 38-39 |
| 13:20 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 2nd free throw | 39-39 |
| 12:52 | Michigan State | George Poole hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Joseph Murphy | 39-41 |
| 12:30 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe scores on a jumpshot from the right wing on a great pass from John Cooper | 41-41 |
| 12:16 | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy is called for traveling | 41-41 |
| Subs | Illinois | Monte Fisher (SG), Douglas Claiborne (SF) John Cooper, Noel McClatchey | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Scot Mastin (SG) George Poole | |
| 12:05 | Illinois | Chris Galaz knocks in the pull-up jumper from the left wing | 43-41 |
| 11:43 | Michigan State | Scot Mastin comes up short on the jump hook from the baseline but the foul's on Monte Fisher - foul #3 on Monte Fisher, team foul #2 | 43-41 |
| 11:43 | Michigan State | Scot Mastin makes the 1st free throw | 43-42 |
| 11:43 | Michigan State | Scot Mastin makes the 2nd free throw | 43-43 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Eddy Lovett (fresh) SG - Monte Fisher (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Douglas Claiborne (fresh) PF - Chris Galaz (fresh) 4 pts. C - Joseph Crowe (fresh) 6 pts. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murphy (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Scot Mastin (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Thomas Betancourt (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Robert Warren (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - Richard Waters (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 11:22 | Illinois | Douglas Claiborne misses the pull-up jumper from the left side | 43-43 |
| 11:21 | Michigan State | Robert Warren grabs the board | 43-43 |
| 11:08 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt clanks a jump hook near the basket but he's hacked by Douglas Claiborne - foul #1 on Douglas Claiborne, team foul #3 | 43-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Noel McClatchey (SF) Douglas Claiborne | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Eugene Hale (C) Richard Waters | |
| 11:08 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt misses the 1st free throw | 43-43 |
| 11:08 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt makes the 2nd free throw | 43-44 |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe is fouled on the floor by Scot Mastin - foul #1 on Scot Mastin, team foul #3 | 43-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Mueller (PG), Howard Perry (SF) Eddy Lovett, Noel McClatchey | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Damian McComack (PF) Robert Warren | |
| 10:39 | Illinois | Howard Perry misses badly on a shot from the left wing but he's hacked by Thomas Betancourt - foul #3 on Thomas Betancourt, team foul #4 | 43-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry (PG), George Poole (SG) Joseph Murphy, Scot Mastin | |
| 10:39 | Illinois | Howard Perry misses the 1st free throw | 43-44 |
| 10:39 | Illinois | Howard Perry makes the 2nd free throw | 44-44 |
| 10:10 | Michigan State | Damian McComack loses the ball out of bounds | 44-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Noel McClatchey (PF), Dennis Oliver (C) Chris Galaz, Joseph Crowe | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Patin (SF) Thomas Betancourt | |
| 09:48 | Illinois | Howard Perry throws it down set up by Noel McClatchey | 46-44 |
| 09:22 | Michigan State | Damian McComack loses the ball out of bounds | 46-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Warren (PF), Richard Waters (C) Damian McComack, Eugene Hale | |
| 09:00 | Illinois | Richard Waters swats the short shot by Dennis Oliver | 46-44 |
| 08:59 | Illinois | Howard Perry pulls down the offensive rebound | 46-44 |
| 08:46 | Illinois | Dennis Oliver knocks in the fadeaway from just outside the lane | 48-44 |
| 08:22 | Michigan State | Richard Waters is hacked by Howard Perry - foul #3 on Howard Perry, team foul #4 | 48-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG), John Cooper (SG), Chris Galaz (PF), Joseph Crowe (C) Arnold Mueller, Monte Fisher, Howard Perry, Dennis Oliver | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy (PG), Scot Mastin (SG), Thomas Betancourt (SF) Freddy Derryberry, George Poole, Robert Patin | |
| 07:59 | Michigan State | Noel McClatchey is called for the reach on Thomas Betancourt - foul #2 on Noel McClatchey, team foul #5 | 48-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Eugene Hale (C) Richard Waters | |
| 07:44 | Michigan State | Robert Warren blows the layup but the foul's on Chris Galaz - foul #2 on Chris Galaz, team foul #6 | 48-44 |
| 07:44 | Michigan State | Robert Warren makes the 1st free throw | 48-45 |
| 07:44 | Michigan State | Robert Warren makes the 2nd free throw | 48-46 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Eddy Lovett (fresh) SG - John Cooper (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. SF - Noel McClatchey (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Chris Galaz (fresh) 4 pts. C - Joseph Crowe (fresh) 6 pts. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murphy (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Scot Mastin (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Thomas Betancourt (fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. PF - Robert Warren (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. C - Eugene Hale (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:25 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the pull-up jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Eddy Lovett | 50-46 |
| 06:57 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 50-46 |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe grabs the board | 50-46 |
| 06:35 | Illinois | Robert Warren steps in front of the Noel McClatchey pass | 50-46 |
| 06:18 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt misses long on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 50-46 |
| 06:16 | Illinois | John Cooper pulls down the rebound | 50-46 |
| 06:11 | Illinois | John Cooper throws a bad pass out of bounds | 50-46 |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Mueller (PG), Howard Perry (SF) Eddy Lovett, Noel McClatchey | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry (PG), George Poole (SG), Damian McComack (PF), Richard Waters (C) Joseph Murphy, Scot Mastin, Robert Warren, Eugene Hale | |
| 05:52 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt is fouled on the floor by Joseph Crowe - foul #3 on Joseph Crowe, team foul #7 | 50-46 |
| 05:52 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt misses the 1st free throw | 50-46 |
| 05:52 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller pulls down the rebound | 50-46 |
| 05:47 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 50-46 |
| 05:45 | Illinois | John Cooper tips it back up and in | 52-46 |
| 05:16 | Michigan State | Damian McComack misses the lay-in | 52-46 |
| 05:15 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Chris Galaz | 52-46 |
| 05:02 | Illinois | Chris Galaz is hacked by Damian McComack - foul #3 on Damian McComack, team foul #5 | 52-46 |
| Subs | Illinois | Monte Fisher (SG), Noel McClatchey (PF), Dennis Oliver (C) John Cooper, Chris Galaz, Joseph Crowe | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Patin (SF) Thomas Betancourt | |
| 04:46 | Illinois | Damian McComack steals it from Dennis Oliver | 52-46 |
| 04:27 | Michigan State | Arnold Mueller is called for the reach on Freddy Derryberry - foul #1 on Arnold Mueller, team foul #8 | 52-46 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Eugene Hale (C) Richard Waters | |
| 04:27 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry makes the 1st free throw | 52-47 |
| 04:27 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry makes the 2nd free throw | 52-48 |
| 04:15 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller is whistled for a carry | 52-48 |
| 03:46 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 52-48 |
| 03:44 | Michigan State | Robert Patin hits the follow up shot | 52-50 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Arnold Mueller (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Monte Fisher (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Howard Perry (fresh) 14 pts. 7 reb. 3 pf. PF - Noel McClatchey (fresh) 3 pts. C - Dennis Oliver (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Freddy Derryberry (fresh) 6 pts. SG - George Poole (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Patin (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. PF - Damian McComack (fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. 3 pf. C - Eugene Hale (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 03:26 | Illinois | Howard Perry connects on the fadeaway from the left block on a nice dish by Monte Fisher | 54-50 |
| 03:04 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry is fouled on the floor by Arnold Mueller - foul #2 on Arnold Mueller, team foul #9 | 54-50 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Cooper (SG), Chris Galaz (PF), Joseph Crowe (C) Monte Fisher, Noel McClatchey, Dennis Oliver | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Scot Mastin (SG), Thomas Betancourt (SF), Robert Warren (PF) George Poole, Robert Patin, Damian McComack | |
| 03:04 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry makes the 1st free throw | 54-51 |
| 03:04 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry misses the 2nd free throw | 54-51 |
| 03:04 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe pulls down the rebound | 54-51 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Howard Perry misses badly on a jumper from the right block but the foul's on Thomas Betancourt - foul #4 on Thomas Betancourt, team foul #6 | 54-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Eddy Lovett (PG) Arnold Mueller | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy (PG) Freddy Derryberry | |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Howard Perry makes the 1st free throw | 55-51 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Howard Perry makes the 2nd free throw | 56-51 |
| 02:46 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 56-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Arnold Mueller (PG) Eddy Lovett | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry (PG), George Poole (SG) Joseph Murphy, Scot Mastin | |
| 02:22 | Michigan State | George Poole works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the jumper near the basket | 56-51 |
| 02:20 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Joseph Crowe | 56-51 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 02:15 | Illinois | George Poole steals the ball from Howard Perry | 56-51 |
| 02:11 | Michigan State | George Poole hits the finger roll | 56-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-3) | |
| 01:49 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller makes the 3pt jumper from straight away | 59-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| 01:41 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale misses badly on a floater from close range | 59-53 |
| 01:39 | Illinois | John Cooper pulls down the rebound | 59-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 01:35 | Illinois | Howard Perry loses the ball out of bounds | 59-53 |
| 01:23 | Michigan State | George Poole misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 59-53 |
| 01:21 | Illinois | Chris Galaz snags the defensive board | 59-53 |
| 00:52 | Illinois | John Cooper comes up short on the shot from the right block | 59-53 |
| 00:50 | Illinois | John Cooper pulls down the offensive rebound | 59-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:49 | Illinois | John Cooper is hacked by George Poole - foul #3 on George Poole, team foul #7 | 59-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Monte Fisher (SG) Chris Galaz | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 00:49 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 1st free throw | 60-53 |
| 00:49 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 2nd free throw | 61-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:44 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry hits a 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by Thomas Betancourt | 61-56 |
| 00:42 | Illinois | Freddy Derryberry is called for the reach on John Cooper in the backcourt - foul #3 on Freddy Derryberry, team foul #8 | 61-56 |
| 00:42 | Illinois | John Cooper makes the 1st free throw | 62-56 |
| 00:42 | Illinois | John Cooper misses the 2nd free throw | 62-56 |
| 00:42 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale grabs the defensive rebound | 62-56 |
| 00:36 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt misses long on a 3 from the right corner | 62-56 |
| 00:34 | Illinois | Monte Fisher gets the rebound | 62-56 |
| 00:32 | Illinois | Freddy Derryberry is called for the reach on Monte Fisher in the backcourt - foul #4 on Freddy Derryberry, team foul #9 | 62-56 |
| 00:32 | Illinois | Monte Fisher makes the 1st free throw | 63-56 |
| 00:32 | Illinois | Monte Fisher misses the 2nd free throw | 63-56 |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | Robert Warren grabs the board | 63-56 |
| 00:26 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 63-56 |
| 00:24 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale grabs the offensive rebound | 63-56 |
| 00:21 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 63-56 |
| 00:19 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe grabs the board | 63-56 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe is fouled in the backcourt by Freddy Derryberry - foul #5 on Freddy Derryberry, team foul #10 | 63-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy (PG) Freddy Derryberry | |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe makes the 1st free throw | 64-56 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Joseph Crowe makes the 2nd free throw | 65-56 |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 65-56 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | John Cooper snags the defensive board | 65-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Arnold Mueller runs out the clock | 65-56 |