| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Burnett (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Charles Mitchell (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Brian Shurtleff (fresh) 1 pts. PF - James Cecere (fresh) 3 reb. C - Mark Arnold (fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fresh) 7 pts. SG - Jeffrey Craig (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Robert Moralez (fresh) 7 pts. PF - Phillip Dean (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - David White (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Robert Moralez inbounds the ball | 26-28 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| 19:44 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell is wide open but clanks a 3 pointer from the right wing | 26-28 |
| 19:42 | Illinois | David White hits the follow up shot | 26-30 |
| 19:28 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell clanks a 3pt jumper from straight away | 26-30 |
| 19:27 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Scott Blackwell | 26-30 |
| 19:21 | Illinois | Robert Moralez loses the ball out of bounds | 26-30 |
| 19:10 | Michigan State | The jumper by Mark Arnold is denied by David White | 26-30 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | David White grabs the board | 26-30 |
| 18:54 | Illinois | Robert Moralez clanks a runner in the lane | 26-30 |
| 18:53 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold snags the defensive board | 26-30 |
| 18:28 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold misses the easy layup but the foul's on Phillip Dean - foul #3 on Phillip Dean, team foul #1 | 26-30 |
| 18:28 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold makes the 1st free throw | 27-30 |
| 18:28 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold makes the 2nd free throw | 28-30 |
| 18:07 | Illinois | David White loses the dribble to James Cecere | 28-30 |
| 18:05 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold loses the ball out of bounds in the backcourt | 28-30 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (PG), Ray Boyd (SG), Jerry Poch (C) David Burnett, Charles Mitchell, Mark Arnold | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 17:45 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses short on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 28-30 |
| 17:44 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff snags the defensive board | 28-30 |
| 17:22 | Michigan State | James Cecere slams it home on a nice dish by Kenneth Swanson | 30-30 |
| 17:00 | Illinois | Robert Moralez hits a 3 from the right corner | 30-33 |
| 16:34 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson is whistled for traveling | 30-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Charles Mitchell (SG), Mark Arnold (C) Kenneth Swanson, Brian Shurtleff, James Cecere | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Compton (SG) Jeffrey Craig | |
| 16:11 | Illinois | Mark Arnold steps in front of the Phillip Dean pass | 30-33 |
| 16:04 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 30-33 |
| 16:02 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd misses the tip | 30-33 |
| 16:01 | Illinois | The rebound goes to David White | 30-33 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Burnett (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Charles Mitchell (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ray Boyd (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. PF - Jerry Poch (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Mark Arnold (fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fairly fresh) 7 pts. SG - Michael Compton (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Moralez (fairly fresh) 10 pts. PF - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. C - David White (tiring) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:32 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the wide open 3 pointer from straight away set up by Michael Compton | 30-36 |
| 15:30 | Michigan State | Michael Compton steals the ball from Charles Mitchell in the backcourt | 30-36 |
| 15:13 | Illinois | Robert Moralez is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a fadeaway in the paint | 30-36 |
| 15:12 | Illinois | Robert Moralez tips it back up and in | 30-38 |
| 15:06 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd double dribbles | 30-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (PG), Brian Shurtleff (SF), James Cecere (PF), Lucas Ziek (C) David Burnett, Ray Boyd, Jerry Poch, Mark Arnold | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mickey Haworth (PG), Jeffrey Craig (SG), Ralph Hylton (SF), Anthony Golden (PF), Joseph Pearce (C) Scott Blackwell, Michael Compton, Robert Moralez, Phillip Dean, David White | |
| 14:42 | Illinois | Anthony Golden misses short on a fadeaway near the basket but the foul's on Charles Mitchell - foul #1 on Charles Mitchell, team foul #1 | 30-38 |
| 14:42 | Illinois | Anthony Golden misses the 1st free throw | 30-38 |
| 14:42 | Illinois | Anthony Golden makes the 2nd free throw | 30-39 |
| 14:38 | Michigan State | Lucas Ziek is fouled in the backcourt by Joseph Pearce - foul #2 on Joseph Pearce, team foul #2 | 30-39 |
| 14:22 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right wing | 30-39 |
| 14:21 | Illinois | Mickey Haworth pulls down the rebound | 30-39 |
| 14:03 | Illinois | Anthony Golden clanks a runner from the baseline | 30-39 |
| 14:01 | Michigan State | James Cecere grabs the defensive rebound | 30-39 |
| 13:47 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff clanks a 3pt jumper from straight away | 30-39 |
| 13:45 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce grabs the board | 30-39 |
| 13:23 | Illinois | Anthony Golden can't connect on a fadeaway from the left wing | 30-39 |
| 13:22 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Lucas Ziek | 30-39 |
| 13:04 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff hits a 3pt shot from the left wing | 33-39 |
| 12:41 | Illinois | Anthony Golden's pass is intercepted by Kenneth Swanson | 33-39 |
| 12:25 | Michigan State | Anthony Golden is called for the reach on Brian Shurtleff - foul #1 on Anthony Golden, team foul #3 | 33-39 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Ray Boyd (SF), Jerry Poch (PF), Mark Arnold (C) Kenneth Swanson, Brian Shurtleff, James Cecere, Lucas Ziek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Michael Compton (SG), Robert Moralez (SF), Phillip Dean (PF), David White (C) Mickey Haworth, Jeffrey Craig, Ralph Hylton, Anthony Golden, Joseph Pearce | |
| 12:01 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd misses badly on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 33-39 |
| 11:59 | Illinois | Michael Compton snags the defensive board | 33-39 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Burnett (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Charles Mitchell (tiring) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ray Boyd (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. PF - Jerry Poch (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Mark Arnold (fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fairly fresh) 10 pts. SG - Michael Compton (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - Robert Moralez (fresh) 12 pts. 2 reb. PF - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. C - David White (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 11:37 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses badly on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 33-39 |
| 11:35 | Illinois | Phillip Dean tips it but misses | 33-39 |
| 11:34 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold grabs the board | 33-39 |
| 11:29 | Michigan State | David Burnett hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 33-39 |
| 11:27 | Illinois | Michael Compton grabs the board | 33-39 |
| 11:03 | Illinois | Robert Moralez banks in the layup and he's fouled by Ray Boyd - foul #1 on Ray Boyd, team foul #2 | 33-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff (SF), James Cecere (PF) Charles Mitchell, Jerry Poch | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Golden (C) David White | |
| 11:03 | Illinois | Robert Moralez makes the free throw | 33-42 |
| 10:55 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold clanks a floater from the right wing | 33-42 |
| 10:53 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell grabs the board | 33-42 |
| 10:50 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell is called for a charge in the backcourt - foul #2 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #4 | 33-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (SF) Brian Shurtleff | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mickey Haworth (PG) Michael Compton | |
| 10:34 | Michigan State | James Cecere misses the dunk attempt but he's fouled by Phillip Dean - foul #4 on Phillip Dean, team foul #5 | 33-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff (SF) Ray Boyd | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (SG), Joseph Pearce (C) Scott Blackwell, Phillip Dean | |
| 10:34 | Michigan State | James Cecere misses the 1st free throw | 33-42 |
| 10:34 | Michigan State | James Cecere misses the 2nd free throw | 33-42 |
| 10:34 | Illinois | Anthony Golden grabs the board | 33-42 |
| 10:14 | Illinois | Robert Moralez evades the doubleteam and hits a runner near the basket on a great pass from Mickey Haworth | 33-44 |
| 09:47 | Michigan State | James Cecere knocks in the driving attempt in the lane set up by Mark Arnold | 35-44 |
| 09:19 | Illinois | James Cecere swats the shot by Robert Moralez | 35-44 |
| 09:18 | Michigan State | David Burnett snags the defensive board | 35-44 |
| 09:13 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson lays it up and in | 37-44 |
| 08:52 | Illinois | Brian Shurtleff steps in front of the Robert Moralez pass | 37-44 |
| 08:50 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson is called for a charge in the backcourt - foul #2 on Kenneth Swanson, team foul #3 | 37-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (SG), Ray Boyd (SF), Jerry Poch (PF), Lucas Ziek (C) Kenneth Swanson, Brian Shurtleff, James Cecere, Mark Arnold | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Michael Compton (SG), Ralph Hylton (SF), Phillip Dean (PF), David White (C) Mickey Haworth, Jeffrey Craig, Robert Moralez, Anthony Golden, Joseph Pearce | |
| 08:28 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell can't connect on a 3 pointer from straight away | 37-44 |
| 08:27 | Illinois | Phillip Dean tips it back up and in | 37-46 |
| 08:09 | Michigan State | David Burnett makes the pull-up jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Jerry Poch | 39-46 |
| 07:48 | Illinois | Phillip Dean hits a shot from the right block set up by Michael Compton and he's hacked by Lucas Ziek - foul #4 on Lucas Ziek, team foul #4 | 39-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (PG) David Burnett | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Moralez (SF) Ralph Hylton | |
| 07:48 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the free throw | 39-49 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Kenneth Swanson (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Charles Mitchell (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ray Boyd (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. PF - Jerry Poch (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Lucas Ziek (fresh) 3 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fairly fresh) 10 pts. SG - Michael Compton (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SF - Robert Moralez (fairly fresh) 17 pts. 2 reb. PF - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 6 reb. 4 pf. C - David White (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:30 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd makes the jumper from the left wing set up by Kenneth Swanson and the foul's on Michael Compton - foul #1 on Michael Compton, team foul #6 | 41-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff (SF) Charles Mitchell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mickey Haworth (PG) Michael Compton | |
| 07:30 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd misses the free throw | 41-49 |
| 07:30 | Illinois | David White snags the defensive board | 41-49 |
| 07:01 | Illinois | Jerry Poch steals it from Mickey Haworth | 41-49 |
| 06:47 | Michigan State | Phillip Dean picks off the pass by Lucas Ziek | 41-49 |
| 06:18 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses badly on a runner from the left block | 41-49 |
| 06:16 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff snags the defensive board | 41-49 |
| 05:56 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff is open and scores on a 3 pointer from straight away set up by Ray Boyd | 44-49 |
| 05:43 | Illinois | David White hits the easy wide open finger roll | 44-51 |
| 05:29 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 44-51 |
| 05:28 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Kenneth Swanson | 44-51 |
| 05:21 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd misses short on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 44-51 |
| 05:19 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff gets the offensive rebound | 44-51 |
| 05:01 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson can't connect on an uncontested floater near the basket | 44-51 |
| 04:59 | Illinois | Robert Moralez grabs the defensive rebound | 44-51 |
| 04:30 | Illinois | David White buries a fadeaway from the left wing and he's hacked by Lucas Ziek - foul #5 on Lucas Ziek, team foul #5 | 44-53 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Charles Mitchell (SG), James Cecere (PF), Mark Arnold (C) Kenneth Swanson, Ray Boyd, Jerry Poch, Lucas Ziek | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (PG), Michael Compton (SG), Ralph Hylton (SF), Anthony Golden (PF) Mickey Haworth, Scott Blackwell, Robert Moralez, Phillip Dean | |
| 04:30 | Illinois | David White misses the free throw | 44-53 |
| 04:30 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold grabs the defensive rebound | 44-53 |
| 04:13 | Michigan State | James Cecere can't finish the layup | 44-53 |
| 04:11 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold tips it home | 46-53 |
| 03:49 | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig is hacked by Brian Shurtleff - foul #2 on Brian Shurtleff, team foul #6 | 46-53 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Pearce (C) David White | |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Anthony Golden clanks a fadeaway from the right side but the foul's on James Cecere - foul #1 on James Cecere, team foul #7 | 46-53 |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Anthony Golden makes the 1st free throw | 46-54 |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Anthony Golden makes the 2nd free throw | 46-55 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Burnett (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Charles Mitchell (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Brian Shurtleff (tiring) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - James Cecere (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Mark Arnold (fresh) 14 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jeffrey Craig (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - Michael Compton (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SF - Ralph Hylton (fresh) PF - Anthony Golden (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. C - Joseph Pearce (fresh) | |
| 03:33 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell drills a shot from the right side set up by Brian Shurtleff | 48-55 |
| 03:08 | Illinois | Michael Compton can't connect on a floater from just outside the lane | 48-55 |
| 03:06 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff pulls down the rebound | 48-55 |
| 03:03 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff is fouled in the backcourt by Ralph Hylton - foul #2 on Ralph Hylton, team foul #7 | 48-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Eugene Wells (SF) Michael Compton, Ralph Hylton | |
| 03:03 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff makes the 1st free throw | 49-55 |
| 03:03 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff makes the 2nd free throw | 50-55 |
| 02:57 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 50-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Ray Boyd (SF) Brian Shurtleff | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mickey Haworth (PG), Robert Moralez (SF) Scott Blackwell, Eugene Wells | |
| 02:34 | Illinois | Robert Moralez works out of a doubleteam and scores on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 50-57 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 02:08 | Michigan State | Joseph Pearce is called for the reach on Mark Arnold - foul #3 on Joseph Pearce, team foul #8 | 50-57 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (PG) David Burnett | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Compton (SG) Jeffrey Craig | |
| 02:08 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold makes the 1st free throw | 51-57 |
| 02:08 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold misses the 2nd free throw | 51-57 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Anthony Golden snags the defensive board | 51-57 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 51-57 |
| 01:39 | Illinois | Mickey Haworth throws a bad pass out of bounds | 51-57 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Brian Shurtleff (SF) Kenneth Swanson, Ray Boyd | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Jeffrey Craig (SG), Phillip Dean (PF), David White (C) Mickey Haworth, Michael Compton, Anthony Golden, Joseph Pearce | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 01:37 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 51-57 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 01:21 | Illinois | Robert Moralez is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a fadeaway near the basket | 51-57 |
| 01:20 | Michigan State | James Cecere snags the defensive board | 51-57 |
| 01:13 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold misses the jumpshot from the right side | 51-57 |
| 01:11 | Illinois | Robert Moralez snags the defensive board | 51-57 |
| 00:55 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the wide open 3 from straight away on a great pass from Jeffrey Craig | 51-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 00:48 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 3pt shot from the right corner on a great pass from David Burnett | 54-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 00:46 | Illinois | David Burnett is called for the reach on Phillip Dean in the backcourt - foul #1 on David Burnett, team foul #8 | 54-60 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Compton (SG) Jeffrey Craig | |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 1st free throw | 54-61 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Phillip Dean misses the 2nd free throw | 54-61 |
| 00:46 | Michigan State | James Cecere snags the defensive board | 54-61 |
| 00:42 | Michigan State | James Cecere is whistled for a charge - foul #2 on James Cecere, team foul #9 | 54-61 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | David Burnett is called for the reach on Michael Compton in the backcourt - foul #2 on David Burnett, team foul #10 | 54-61 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | Michael Compton makes the 1st free throw | 54-62 |
| 00:40 | Illinois | Michael Compton misses the 2nd free throw | 54-62 |
| 00:40 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to James Cecere | 54-62 |
| 00:38 | Michigan State | Michael Compton is called for the reach on Charles Mitchell in the backcourt - foul #2 on Michael Compton, team foul #9 | 54-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (SG) Michael Compton | |
| 00:38 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 1st free throw | 55-62 |
| 00:38 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 2nd free throw | 56-62 |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell is fouled in the backcourt by David Burnett - foul #3 on David Burnett, team foul #11 | 56-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Compton (SG) Jeffrey Craig | |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 1st free throw | 56-63 |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 2nd free throw | 56-64 |
| 00:31 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 56-64 |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Phillip Dean gets the rebound | 56-64 |
| 00:27 | Illinois | Phillip Dean is fouled in the backcourt by David Burnett - foul #4 on David Burnett, team foul #12 | 56-64 |
| 00:27 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 1st free throw | 56-65 |
| 00:27 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 2nd free throw | 56-66 |
| 00:22 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell double dribbles | 56-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (PG), Ray Boyd (SG), Jerry Poch (PF) David Burnett, Charles Mitchell, James Cecere | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell runs out the clock | 56-66 |