| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Chad Sanders (fresh) 10 pts. 3 stl. SF - Jim Queen (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. PF - Ricky Williams (fresh) 2 pts. C - Daniel Patterson (fresh) 7 pts. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Steven Abbott (fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SG - Richard Guerrera (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ryan Church (fresh) 4 pts. PF - James Nichols (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. C - Anthony McMaken (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Jim Queen inbounds the ball | 27-32 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:38 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson is open but comes up short on the jumper from the baseline | 27-32 |
| 19:36 | Illinois | James Nichols grabs the defensive rebound | 27-32 |
| 19:18 | Illinois | Ricky Williams denies the turnaround by Steven Abbott | 27-32 |
| 19:16 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson grabs the board | 27-32 |
| 18:55 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson misses the easy layup | 27-32 |
| 18:54 | Illinois | Steven Abbott snags the defensive board | 27-32 |
| 18:33 | Illinois | Steven Abbott misses the shot from the left side | 27-32 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Ryan Church gets the offensive rebound | 27-32 |
| 18:12 | Illinois | Ryan Church drills a jumpshot from the free throw line on a great pass from Richard Guerrera | 27-34 |
| 17:48 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson drills a runner near the basket and the foul's on Richard Guerrera - foul #1 on Richard Guerrera, team foul #1 | 29-34 |
| 17:48 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson misses the free throw | 29-34 |
| 17:48 | Illinois | James Nichols snags the defensive board | 29-34 |
| 17:24 | Illinois | Steven Abbott buries a jumpshot from the free throw line on a nice dish by Anthony McMaken | 29-36 |
| 16:55 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson can't finish the layup | 29-36 |
| 16:53 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera grabs the defensive rebound | 29-36 |
| 16:31 | Illinois | James Nichols is whistled for traveling | 29-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (SG), Richard Sorrells (SF), Joseph Powers (PF) Chad Sanders, Jim Queen, Ricky Williams | |
| Subs | Illinois | Doug Whitten (SF), David Williams (C) Ryan Church, Anthony McMaken | |
| 16:16 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole drills a 3 pointer from the right wing on a nice dish by Richard Sorrells | 32-36 |
| 16:03 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera drills a jumper from the free throw line set up by Steven Abbott and the foul's on Joseph Powers - foul #3 on Joseph Powers, team foul #1 | 32-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jan Tarver (SG) Steven Abbott | |
| 16:03 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera misses the free throw | 32-38 |
| 16:03 | Illinois | James Nichols grabs the offensive rebound | 32-38 |
| 15:50 | Illinois | Jan Tarver misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 32-38 |
| 15:49 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson grabs the board | 32-38 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Thomas Poole (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Richard Sorrells (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Joseph Powers (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Daniel Patterson (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Richard Guerrera (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - Jan Tarver (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Doug Whitten (fresh) 2 pts. PF - James Nichols (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. C - David Williams (fresh) | |
| 15:41 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells misses badly on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 32-38 |
| 15:40 | Michigan State | John Coffey grabs the offensive board | 32-38 |
| 15:11 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells hits a 3pt shot from the left wing | 35-38 |
| 15:04 | Illinois | James Nichols is hacked by Joseph Powers - foul #4 on Joseph Powers, team foul #2 | 35-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Chad Sanders (SG), Jim Queen (SF) John Coffey, Joseph Powers | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Abbott (PG), Ryan Church (SF), Anthony McMaken (C) Richard Guerrera, Doug Whitten, James Nichols | |
| 14:44 | Illinois | Steven Abbott is hacked by Daniel Patterson - foul #4 on Daniel Patterson, team foul #3 | 35-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Ricky Williams (C) Daniel Patterson | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 14:30 | Illinois | Jan Tarver is fouled on the floor by Ricky Williams - foul #1 on Ricky Williams, team foul #4 | 35-38 |
| 14:13 | Illinois | David Williams is whistled for traveling | 35-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Nichols (PF) David Williams | |
| 13:44 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole misses the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 35-38 |
| 13:42 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams grabs the offensive rebound | 35-38 |
| 13:31 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left corner | 35-38 |
| 13:30 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Anthony McMaken | 35-38 |
| 13:13 | Illinois | Ryan Church misses short on a floater from the baseline | 35-38 |
| 13:11 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams grabs the defensive rebound | 35-38 |
| 12:52 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells loses the dribble to Steven Abbott | 35-38 |
| 12:34 | Illinois | Jan Tarver connects on the 3pt attempt from straight away set up by Steven Abbott | 35-41 |
| 12:14 | Michigan State | Ryan Church is called for the reach on Chad Sanders - foul #1 on Ryan Church, team foul #2 | 35-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Coffey (PG), Joseph Powers (PF), Daniel Patterson (C) Thomas Poole, Richard Sorrells, Ricky Williams | |
| Subs | Illinois | Richard Guerrera (PG), Richard Deady (SG), Doug Whitten (SF), David Williams (C) Steven Abbott, Jan Tarver, Ryan Church, Anthony McMaken | |
| 11:58 | Michigan State | Jim Queen misses the wide open 3 pointer from the left corner | 35-41 |
| 11:57 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson pulls down the offensive rebound | 35-41 |
| 11:39 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders misses the fadeaway from the left side but he's fouled by Richard Deady - foul #1 on Richard Deady, team foul #3 | 35-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dennis Hazelwood (C) James Nichols | |
| 11:39 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders misses the 1st free throw | 35-41 |
| 11:39 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the 2nd free throw | 36-41 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Chad Sanders (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 3 stl. SF - Jim Queen (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. PF - Joseph Powers (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. C - Daniel Patterson (fresh) 9 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Richard Guerrera (fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Deady (fresh) SF - Doug Whitten (fresh) 2 pts. PF - David Williams (fresh) C - Dennis Hazelwood (fresh) | |
| 11:24 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera clanks a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 36-41 |
| 11:22 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders snags the defensive board | 36-41 |
| 11:03 | Michigan State | Jim Queen comes up short on the 3 from the left wing | 36-41 |
| 11:01 | Illinois | Dennis Hazelwood grabs the defensive rebound | 36-41 |
| 10:42 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera buries a jumpshot from the right wing on a nice dish by Richard Deady | 36-43 |
| 10:25 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers is fouled on the floor by David Williams - foul #2 on David Williams, team foul #4 | 36-43 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (SG), Richard Sorrells (SF), Ricky Williams (PF) Chad Sanders, Jim Queen, Daniel Patterson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Abbott (PG), Ryan Church (SF), James Nichols (PF), Anthony McMaken (C) Richard Deady, Doug Whitten, David Williams, Dennis Hazelwood | |
| 10:10 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole is hacked by Richard Guerrera - foul #2 on Richard Guerrera, team foul #5 | 36-43 |
| 09:41 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells is fouled on the floor by Richard Guerrera - foul #3 on Richard Guerrera, team foul #6 | 36-43 |
| 09:22 | Michigan State | John Coffey makes the jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Richard Sorrells | 38-43 |
| 09:11 | Illinois | Steven Abbott's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 38-43 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson (C) Joseph Powers | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 08:51 | Michigan State | Anthony McMaken steals the ball from Daniel Patterson | 38-43 |
| 08:35 | Illinois | Steven Abbott misses badly on a fadeaway from the free throw line but he's fouled by John Coffey - foul #2 on John Coffey, team foul #5 | 38-43 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Chad Sanders (PF) Ricky Williams | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 08:35 | Illinois | Steven Abbott misses the 1st free throw | 38-43 |
| 08:35 | Illinois | Steven Abbott makes the 2nd free throw | 38-44 |
| 08:16 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 38-44 |
| 08:15 | Illinois | Anthony McMaken grabs the board | 38-44 |
| 07:54 | Illinois | Steven Abbott misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 38-44 |
| 07:53 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders snags the defensive board | 38-44 |
| 07:24 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole misses the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 38-44 |
| 07:23 | Illinois | Ryan Church grabs the defensive rebound | 38-44 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Thomas Poole (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Richard Sorrells (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. PF - Chad Sanders (fresh) 11 pts. 2 reb. 3 stl. C - Daniel Patterson (fresh) 9 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Steven Abbott (fresh) 8 pts. 5 ast. 2 stl. SG - Richard Guerrera (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Ryan Church (fresh) 6 pts. PF - James Nichols (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. C - Anthony McMaken (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 07:19 | Illinois | James Nichols loses the dribble to Chad Sanders | 38-44 |
| 06:59 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 38-44 |
| 06:57 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera grabs the defensive rebound | 38-44 |
| 06:39 | Illinois | Steven Abbott can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 38-44 |
| 06:37 | Illinois | Anthony McMaken snags the offensive board | 38-44 |
| 06:21 | Illinois | Steven Abbott drills a 3 pointer from the right corner set up by Ryan Church | 38-47 |
| 06:01 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells connects on the open 3 pointer from the right corner on a nice dish by a doubleteamed Chad Sanders | 41-47 |
| 05:41 | Illinois | Steven Abbott hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 41-47 |
| 05:40 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders gets the rebound | 41-47 |
| 05:40 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 41-47 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jim Queen (SF), Ricky Williams (PF) Thomas Poole, Richard Sorrells | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| 05:18 | Michigan State | John Coffey connects on the open floater from the right wing set up by Chad Sanders out of the doubleteam | 43-47 |
| 04:55 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera misses the dunk attempt | 43-47 |
| 04:53 | Illinois | James Nichols hits the follow up shot | 43-49 |
| 04:36 | Michigan State | Jim Queen connects on the open 3 from the right wing | 46-49 |
| 04:18 | Illinois | James Nichols travels with the ball | 46-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Powers (C) Daniel Patterson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Doug Whitten (SF), David Williams (C) Ryan Church, Anthony McMaken | |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the contested floater from the right wing set up by Jim Queen | 48-49 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 48-49 |
| 03:57 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders gets the rebound | 48-49 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| 03:28 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the floater from the left wing | 48-49 |
| 03:26 | Illinois | James Nichols pulls down the rebound | 48-49 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SG - Chad Sanders (fresh) 13 pts. 4 reb. 4 stl. SF - Jim Queen (fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. PF - Ricky Williams (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Joseph Powers (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Steven Abbott (fresh) 11 pts. 5 ast. 2 stl. SG - Richard Guerrera (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Doug Whitten (fresh) 2 pts. PF - James Nichols (fresh) 10 pts. 8 reb. C - David Williams (fresh) | |
| 03:07 | Illinois | James Nichols misses long on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 48-49 |
| 03:05 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers grabs the board | 48-49 |
| 03:00 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders is hacked by David Williams - foul #3 on David Williams, team foul #7 | 48-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (PG) John Coffey | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jan Tarver (SG), Ryan Church (SF), Anthony McMaken (C) Steven Abbott, Richard Guerrera, David Williams | |
| 03:00 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the 1st free throw | 49-49 |
| 03:00 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders misses the 2nd free throw | 49-49 |
| 03:00 | Illinois | James Nichols snags the defensive board | 49-49 |
| 03:00 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 49-49 |
| 02:45 | Illinois | James Nichols hits a floater from the left wing | 49-51 |
| 02:45 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 49-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Coffey (PG), Daniel Patterson (C) Thomas Poole, Joseph Powers | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Abbott (PG), Richard Guerrera (SG) Doug Whitten, Jan Tarver | |
| 02:19 | Michigan State | Jim Queen makes the 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by John Coffey | 52-51 |
| 02:02 | Illinois | Richard Guerrera is called for the offensive foul - foul #4 on Richard Guerrera, team foul #8 | 52-51 |
| 01:39 | Michigan State | Jim Queen misses short on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 52-51 |
| 01:38 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Steven Abbott | 52-51 |
| 01:32 | Illinois | Chad Sanders steals the ball from Ryan Church | 52-51 |
| 01:04 | Michigan State | John Coffey connects on the shot in the paint and the foul's on James Nichols - foul #3 on James Nichols, team foul #9 | 54-51 |
| 01:04 | Michigan State | John Coffey makes the free throw | 55-51 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Anthony McMaken clanks a fadeaway from the right wing | 55-51 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Chad Sanders | 55-51 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| 00:42 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders is fouled in the backcourt by Steven Abbott - foul #3 on Steven Abbott, team foul #10 | 55-51 |
| 00:42 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the 1st free throw | 56-51 |
| 00:42 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the 2nd free throw | 57-51 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| 00:35 | Illinois | Steven Abbott knocks in the 3 from the right corner | 57-54 |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | Steven Abbott is called for the reach on John Coffey in the backcourt - foul #4 on Steven Abbott, team foul #11 | 57-54 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (SG) Ricky Williams | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | John Coffey makes the 1st free throw | 58-54 |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | John Coffey makes the 2nd free throw | 59-54 |
| 00:24 | Illinois | Steven Abbott can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 59-54 |
| 00:22 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole snags the defensive board | 59-54 |
| 00:20 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole is fouled in the backcourt by Richard Guerrera - foul #5 on Richard Guerrera, team foul #12 | 59-54 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jan Tarver (SG) Richard Guerrera | |
| 00:20 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole makes the 1st free throw | 60-54 |
| 00:20 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole makes the 2nd free throw | 61-54 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Jan Tarver hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 61-54 |
| 00:13 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Steven Abbott | 61-54 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Jan Tarver buries a 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by Steven Abbott | 61-57 |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole is hacked by Jan Tarver in the backcourt - foul #3 on Jan Tarver, team foul #13 | 61-57 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells (PF) John Coffey | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole makes the 1st free throw | 62-57 |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole makes the 2nd free throw | 63-57 |
| 00:04 | Illinois | Jan Tarver hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 63-57 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Anthony McMaken | 63-57 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Jan Tarver misses the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 63-57 |