| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Michael Jackson (fresh) 8 pts. SG - Adrian Lee (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Jim Waid (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. PF - Kenneth Glade (fresh) 5 pts. C - George Novetsky (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Christopher Goncalves (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Donald Hadley (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Charles Turner (fresh) 11 pts. 3 reb. PF - Dusty Beeler (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Frederick Dicus (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Charles Turner inbounds the ball | 31-36 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:36 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves misses the easy layup but he's fouled by Adrian Lee - foul #3 on Adrian Lee, team foul #1 | 31-36 |
| 19:36 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves makes the 1st free throw | 31-37 |
| 19:36 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves misses the 2nd free throw | 31-37 |
| 19:36 | Michigan State | George Novetsky grabs the board | 31-37 |
| 19:20 | Michigan State | The jumper by George Novetsky is denied by Dusty Beeler | 31-37 |
| 19:18 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler grabs the board | 31-37 |
| 19:16 | Illinois | Adrian Lee steals it from Charles Turner in the backcourt | 31-37 |
| 19:06 | Michigan State | Adrian Lee's pass is intercepted by Donald Hadley | 31-37 |
| 19:01 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves blows the layup | 31-37 |
| 18:59 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson grabs the board | 31-37 |
| 18:54 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson can't connect on a floater from just outside the lane | 31-37 |
| 18:53 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler gets the rebound | 31-37 |
| 18:32 | Illinois | Charles Turner is hacked by Jim Waid - foul #4 on Jim Waid, team foul #2 | 31-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randall Backus (SG), Duane Bumpers (SF), Rusty Nicolas (PF) Adrian Lee, Jim Waid, Kenneth Glade | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 18:14 | Illinois | Randall Backus steals it from Charles Turner | 31-37 |
| 18:10 | Michigan State | Duane Bumpers banks in the layup set up by Randall Backus | 33-37 |
| 18:07 | Illinois | Donald Hadley throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 33-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert (C) George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frank Steiner (PG), Michael Jenson (SG), Reuben Thompson (SF), Ricky Winter (C) Christopher Goncalves, Donald Hadley, Charles Turner, Frederick Dicus | |
| 17:52 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert scores on a turnaround from the right block on a nice dish by Michael Jackson | 35-37 |
| 17:31 | Illinois | Frank Steiner connects on the driving attempt from close range on a nice dish by Michael Jenson and he's hacked by Michael Jackson - foul #2 on Michael Jackson, team foul #3 | 35-39 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade (PF) Robert Gilbert | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frederick Dicus (C) Dusty Beeler | |
| 17:31 | Illinois | Frank Steiner makes the free throw | 35-40 |
| 17:24 | Michigan State | Rusty Nicolas knocks in the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 38-40 |
| 16:57 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson banks in the layup | 38-42 |
| 16:53 | Michigan State | Duane Bumpers comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 38-42 |
| 16:52 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson snags the defensive board | 38-42 |
| 16:46 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus makes the jumper from the right block set up by Frank Steiner | 38-44 |
| 16:30 | Michigan State | Randall Backus is whistled for a carry | 38-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Adrian Lee (SG), Robert Pillar (SF), Robert Gilbert (PF), George Novetsky (C) Randall Backus, Duane Bumpers, Kenneth Glade, Rusty Nicolas | |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves (PG), Donald Hadley (SG), Charles Turner (SF), Dusty Beeler (PF) Frank Steiner, Michael Jenson, Ricky Winter, Frederick Dicus | |
| 16:09 | Illinois | Charles Turner hits the easy wide open finger roll | 38-46 |
| 16:02 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert hits the front of the rim on the floater from the right block but he's hacked by Dusty Beeler - foul #1 on Dusty Beeler, team foul #1 | 38-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vernon Preston (PG) Michael Jackson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frederick Dicus (C) Reuben Thompson | |
| 16:02 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert makes the 1st free throw | 39-46 |
| 16:02 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert misses the 2nd free throw | 39-46 |
| 16:02 | Illinois | Donald Hadley gets the rebound | 39-46 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Vernon Preston (fresh) 5 pts. SG - Adrian Lee (fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SF - Robert Pillar (fresh) PF - Robert Gilbert (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - George Novetsky (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Christopher Goncalves (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Donald Hadley (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Charles Turner (fresh) 13 pts. 3 reb. PF - Dusty Beeler (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Frederick Dicus (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 15:37 | Illinois | Donald Hadley hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from the right side | 39-46 |
| 15:36 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler tips it in | 39-48 |
| 15:24 | Michigan State | Frederick Dicus steals it from Robert Pillar | 39-48 |
| 15:07 | Illinois | Donald Hadley hits a 3 pointer from the left wing set up by Dusty Beeler | 39-51 |
| 14:53 | Michigan State | George Novetsky misses badly on a fadeaway from the left wing | 39-51 |
| 14:52 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus gets the rebound | 39-51 |
| 14:49 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves is called for traveling in the backcourt | 39-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Jackson (PG), Randall Backus (SG), Duane Bumpers (SF), Kenneth Glade (PF) Vernon Preston, Adrian Lee, Robert Pillar, Robert Gilbert | |
| Subs | Illinois | Reuben Thompson (SF), Frank Steiner (PF), Ricky Winter (C) Charles Turner, Dusty Beeler, Frederick Dicus | |
| 14:44 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade connects on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 41-51 |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson comes up short on the runner in the paint but he's fouled by George Novetsky - foul #1 on George Novetsky, team foul #4 | 41-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rusty Nicolas (C) George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Jenson (SG), Charles Turner (SF) Christopher Goncalves, Donald Hadley | |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson misses the 1st free throw | 41-51 |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson misses the 2nd free throw | 41-51 |
| 14:20 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Rusty Nicolas | 41-51 |
| 14:05 | Michigan State | Randall Backus is fouled on the floor by Michael Jenson - foul #1 on Michael Jenson, team foul #2 | 41-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dusty Beeler (PF) Ricky Winter | |
| 13:47 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the right side but he's fouled by Dusty Beeler - foul #2 on Dusty Beeler, team foul #3 | 41-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vernon Preston (SG) Duane Bumpers | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 13:47 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade makes the 1st free throw | 42-51 |
| 13:47 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade makes the 2nd free throw | 43-51 |
| 13:25 | Illinois | Charles Turner lays it in on a great pass from Reuben Thompson | 43-53 |
| 13:09 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade knocks in the fadeaway from the free throw line on a nice dish by Michael Jackson | 45-53 |
| 12:46 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler is alone and drills a fadeaway from the left wing | 45-55 |
| 12:28 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade's floater is tipped away by Charles Turner | 45-55 |
| 12:27 | Michigan State | Rusty Nicolas tips it but misses | 45-55 |
| 12:26 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler grabs the defensive rebound | 45-55 |
| 12:01 | Illinois | Charles Turner hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right block but the foul's on Randall Backus - foul #2 on Randall Backus, team foul #5 | 45-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Pillar (PG), Adrian Lee (SG), Jim Waid (SF), Robert Gilbert (PF), George Novetsky (C) Michael Jackson, Vernon Preston, Randall Backus, Kenneth Glade, Rusty Nicolas | |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves (PG), Donald Hadley (SG), Ricky Winter (PF), Frederick Dicus (C) Frank Steiner, Michael Jenson, Dusty Beeler, Reuben Thompson | |
| 12:01 | Illinois | Charles Turner makes the 1st free throw | 45-56 |
| 12:01 | Illinois | Charles Turner makes the 2nd free throw | 45-57 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robert Pillar (fresh) SG - Adrian Lee (fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SF - Jim Waid (fresh) 2 pts. 4 pf. PF - Robert Gilbert (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - George Novetsky (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Christopher Goncalves (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Donald Hadley (fresh) 9 pts. SF - Charles Turner (fairly fresh) 17 pts. 3 reb. PF - Ricky Winter (fresh) C - Frederick Dicus (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. 3 stl. | |
| 11:50 | Michigan State | Ricky Winter swats the short shot by Adrian Lee | 45-57 |
| 11:49 | Illinois | Charles Turner gets the rebound | 45-57 |
| 11:24 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves can't connect on a fadeaway from the left wing | 45-57 |
| 11:22 | Michigan State | Adrian Lee gets the rebound | 45-57 |
| 11:17 | Michigan State | Jim Waid hits a fadeaway jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Robert Pillar | 47-57 |
| 10:49 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves is alone and drills a floater from just outside the lane | 47-59 |
| 10:36 | Michigan State | The jump hook by Robert Pillar is blocked by Frederick Dicus | 47-59 |
| 10:34 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert tips it in | 49-59 |
| 10:14 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus misses long on a turnaround from close range | 49-59 |
| 10:13 | Illinois | Donald Hadley snags the offensive board | 49-59 |
| 09:51 | Illinois | Donald Hadley scores on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 49-62 |
| 09:44 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert loses the ball out of bounds | 49-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randall Backus (PG), Vernon Preston (SG), Duane Bumpers (SF), Kevin Tatham (PF) Robert Pillar, Adrian Lee, Jim Waid, Robert Gilbert | |
| Subs | Illinois | Reuben Thompson (SF), Dusty Beeler (PF) Charles Turner, Ricky Winter | |
| 09:28 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson is fouled on the floor by Kevin Tatham - foul #1 on Kevin Tatham, team foul #6 | 49-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Jackson (PG), Rusty Nicolas (PF) Vernon Preston, Kevin Tatham | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 09:04 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus hits a wide open fadeaway from the right block set up by Donald Hadley | 49-64 |
| 08:54 | Michigan State | Randall Backus's pass is intercepted by Frederick Dicus | 49-64 |
| 08:37 | Illinois | Donald Hadley hits a wide open 3 from the left wing set up by Christopher Goncalves | 49-67 |
| 08:20 | Michigan State | Randall Backus drills a 3pt jumper from the left wing set up by Michael Jackson | 52-67 |
| 08:17 | Illinois | Rusty Nicolas is called for the reach on Reuben Thompson in the backcourt - foul #1 on Rusty Nicolas, team foul #7 | 52-67 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vernon Preston (SG), Kevin Tatham (PF), Kenneth Glade (C) Duane Bumpers, Rusty Nicolas, George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frank Steiner (PG), Michael Jenson (SG) Christopher Goncalves, Donald Hadley | |
| 08:17 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson makes the 1st free throw | 52-68 |
| 08:17 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson makes the 2nd free throw | 52-69 |
| 08:09 | Michigan State | Kevin Tatham is fouled on the floor by Michael Jenson - foul #2 on Michael Jenson, team foul #4 | 52-69 |
| 07:51 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade misses the dunk | 52-69 |
| 07:49 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade pulls down the offensive rebound | 52-69 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Michael Jackson (tiring) 8 pts. 3 ast. SG - Vernon Preston (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Randall Backus (fresh) 3 pts. 4 ast. PF - Kevin Tatham (fresh) 2 pts. C - Kenneth Glade (fresh) 11 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Frank Steiner (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Michael Jenson (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Reuben Thompson (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. PF - Dusty Beeler (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. C - Frederick Dicus (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. 4 stl. | |
| 07:37 | Michigan State | Michael Jenson is called for the reach on Randall Backus - foul #3 on Michael Jenson, team foul #5 | 52-69 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Pillar (SG), Jim Waid (SF), Robert Gilbert (C) Michael Jackson, Randall Backus, Kevin Tatham | |
| Subs | Illinois | Charles Turner (SF) Reuben Thompson | |
| 07:24 | Michigan State | Vernon Preston loses the ball out of bounds | 52-69 |
| 07:02 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus misses badly on a fadeaway from the baseline | 52-69 |
| 07:01 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert grabs the defensive rebound | 52-69 |
| 06:56 | Michigan State | Jim Waid is fouled on the floor by Charles Turner - foul #2 on Charles Turner, team foul #6 | 52-69 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randall Backus (PG), Duane Bumpers (SF), Rusty Nicolas (C) Robert Pillar, Jim Waid, Robert Gilbert | |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves (PG), Ricky Winter (C) Michael Jenson, Frederick Dicus | |
| 06:32 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade misses the floater from the left side | 52-69 |
| 06:30 | Illinois | Dusty Beeler gets the rebound | 52-69 |
| 06:25 | Illinois | Vernon Preston picks off the pass by Charles Turner in the backcourt | 52-69 |
| 06:24 | Michigan State | Randall Backus hits the finger roll set up by Vernon Preston | 54-69 |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves is hacked by Randall Backus in the backcourt - foul #3 on Randall Backus, team foul #8 | 54-69 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Adrian Lee (SG), George Novetsky (C) Vernon Preston, Kenneth Glade | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG), Reuben Thompson (C) Frank Steiner, Charles Turner | |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves makes the 1st free throw | 54-70 |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves makes the 2nd free throw | 54-71 |
| 06:07 | Michigan State | Randall Backus knocks in the 3 from the left wing on a great pass from Rusty Nicolas | 57-71 |
| 05:46 | Illinois | Donald Hadley can't connect on a 3 from the right wing | 57-71 |
| 05:45 | Michigan State | Rusty Nicolas gets the rebound | 57-71 |
| 05:41 | Michigan State | George Novetsky's pass is intercepted by Reuben Thompson | 57-71 |
| 05:25 | Illinois | Ricky Winter buries a driving attempt from the right block | 57-73 |
| 05:03 | Michigan State | Adrian Lee knocks in the 3 pointer from the right wing set up by Randall Backus | 60-73 |
| 05:00 | Illinois | Donald Hadley is whistled for traveling in the backcourt | 60-73 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Jackson (PG), Vernon Preston (SG), Jim Waid (SF), Kevin Tatham (PF), Robert Gilbert (C) Randall Backus, Adrian Lee, Duane Bumpers, Rusty Nicolas, George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frank Steiner (PG), Michael Jenson (SG), Charles Turner (SF), Frederick Dicus (C) Christopher Goncalves, Donald Hadley, Ricky Winter, Dusty Beeler | |
| 04:49 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson drills a jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Kevin Tatham | 62-73 |
| 04:26 | Illinois | Frank Steiner buries a driving attempt from the right block on a great pass from Reuben Thompson | 62-75 |
| 04:21 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert is whistled for a carry | 62-75 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade (PF) Kevin Tatham | |
| Subs | Illinois | Donald Hadley (SG) Reuben Thompson | |
| 04:18 | Illinois | Donald Hadley loses the dribble to Vernon Preston in the backcourt | 62-75 |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade slams it home on a great pass from Michael Jackson | 64-75 |
| 04:04 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus knocks in the driving attempt from the left block on a great pass from Donald Hadley | 64-77 |
| 03:54 | Michigan State | Vernon Preston misses long on a jumpshot from the free throw line but the foul's on Michael Jenson - foul #4 on Michael Jenson, team foul #7 | 64-77 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randall Backus (SF) Jim Waid | |
| Subs | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves (PG), Dusty Beeler (PF) Michael Jenson, Frank Steiner | |
| 03:54 | Michigan State | Vernon Preston makes the 1st free throw | 65-77 |
| 03:54 | Michigan State | Vernon Preston makes the 2nd free throw | 66-77 |
| 03:25 | Illinois | Charles Turner can't connect on a runner in the paint | 66-77 |
| 03:24 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves can't tip it in | 66-77 |
| 03:23 | Illinois | Frederick Dicus hits the follow up shot | 66-79 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Michael Jackson (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 4 ast. SG - Vernon Preston (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. 3 stl. SF - Randall Backus (fresh) 8 pts. 5 ast. 3 pf. PF - Kenneth Glade (fresh) 13 pts. 2 reb. C - Robert Gilbert (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Christopher Goncalves (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Donald Hadley (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 2 ast. SF - Charles Turner (tiring) 17 pts. 4 reb. PF - Dusty Beeler (tiring) 10 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. C - Frederick Dicus (tiring) 15 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. 4 stl. | |
| 03:07 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade can't connect on a jumper in the paint | 66-79 |
| 03:05 | Illinois | Donald Hadley grabs the board | 66-79 |
| 02:41 | Illinois | Christopher Goncalves throws a bad pass out of bounds | 66-79 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Pillar (PG), Adrian Lee (SG), Jim Waid (SF), Kevin Tatham (PF), George Novetsky (C) Michael Jackson, Vernon Preston, Randall Backus, Kenneth Glade, Robert Gilbert | |
| Subs | Illinois | Reuben Thompson (SF) Charles Turner | |
| 02:38 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 66-79 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Jackson (PG), Rusty Nicolas (PF) Robert Pillar, Kevin Tatham | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frank Steiner (PG), Michael Jenson (SG), Ricky Winter (C) Christopher Goncalves, Donald Hadley, Frederick Dicus | |
| 02:22 | Michigan State | Jim Waid misses short on a jumper from the right side | 66-79 |
| 02:20 | Illinois | Frank Steiner grabs the board | 66-79 |
| 01:57 | Illinois | Reuben Thompson double dribbles | 66-79 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade (PF) Rusty Nicolas | |
| Subs | Illinois | Frederick Dicus (C) Dusty Beeler | |
| 01:44 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade's fadeaway is rejected by Frederick Dicus | 66-79 |
| 01:43 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Frank Steiner | 66-79 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 01:38 | Illinois | Michael Jenson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 66-79 |
| 01:22 | Michigan State | George Novetsky is whistled for traveling | 66-79 |
| 01:07 | Illinois | Frank Steiner misses the dunk | 66-79 |
| 01:06 | Illinois | Ricky Winter hits the follow up shot | 66-81 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade clanks a jump hook from the baseline | 66-81 |
| 00:43 | Illinois | Michael Jenson gets the rebound | 66-81 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| 00:20 | Illinois | Michael Jenson is called for traveling | 66-81 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+5) | |
| 00:13 | Michigan State | Jim Waid comes up short on the fadeaway from the free throw line but he's hacked by Reuben Thompson - foul #1 on Reuben Thompson, team foul #8 | 66-81 |
| 00:13 | Michigan State | Jim Waid misses the 1st free throw | 66-81 |
| 00:13 | Michigan State | Jim Waid makes the 2nd free throw | 67-81 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Frank Steiner runs out the clock | 67-81 |