| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Soliz (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - William Nichols (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Boris Pinkowski (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. PF - Brian Wilkinson (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. C - Dennis Murray (fresh) 13 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Sonny Puckett (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Terry Walker (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Vaughn Spinelli (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. PF - Joshua Ruel (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Ralph Johnson (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Kent State | Vaughn Spinelli inbounds the ball | 38-27 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 19:50 | Kent State | Boris Pinkowski is called for the reach on Sonny Puckett - foul #1 on Boris Pinkowski, team foul #1 | 38-27 |
| 19:32 | Kent State | Sonny Puckett banks in the layup set up by Terry Walker | 38-29 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | John Soliz can't connect on a driving attempt from the right block but he's hacked by Terry Walker - foul #1 on Terry Walker, team foul #1 | 38-29 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | John Soliz makes the 1st free throw | 39-29 |
| 19:09 | Illinois | John Soliz makes the 2nd free throw | 40-29 |
| 18:51 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel misses the jumper in the lane | 40-29 |
| 18:49 | Illinois | John Soliz grabs the board | 40-29 |
| 18:22 | Illinois | John Soliz buries a floater in the paint on a great pass from Boris Pinkowski | 42-29 |
| 18:09 | Kent State | Ralph Johnson's fadeaway is rejected by Brian Wilkinson | 42-29 |
| 18:08 | Kent State | Ralph Johnson grabs the offensive board | 42-29 |
| 17:47 | Kent State | Terry Walker is fouled on the floor by William Nichols - foul #3 on William Nichols, team foul #2 | 42-29 |
| 17:36 | Kent State | Sonny Puckett hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right wing | 42-29 |
| 17:35 | Kent State | Terry Walker gets the offensive rebound | 42-29 |
| 17:20 | Kent State | Sonny Puckett is whistled for a carry | 42-29 |
| 16:57 | Illinois | Dennis Murray connects on the jumper from the right block on a great pass from William Nichols and he's hacked by Ralph Johnson - foul #3 on Ralph Johnson, team foul #2 | 44-29 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Kent State | Randy Reynolds (C) Ralph Johnson | |
| 16:57 | Illinois | Dennis Murray misses the free throw | 44-29 |
| 16:57 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel pulls down the rebound | 44-29 |
| 16:42 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel clanks a shot from the free throw line | 44-29 |
| 16:41 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel tips it home | 44-31 |
| 16:15 | Illinois | John Soliz buries a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 46-31 |
| 16:03 | Kent State | Vaughn Spinelli clanks a floater from the left wing | 46-31 |
| 16:02 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Dennis Murray | 46-31 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Soliz (fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SG - William Nichols (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Boris Pinkowski (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. PF - Brian Wilkinson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. C - Dennis Murray (fresh) 15 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Sonny Puckett (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Terry Walker (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Vaughn Spinelli (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. PF - Joshua Ruel (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - Randy Reynolds (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| 15:40 | Illinois | John Soliz is fouled on the floor by Sonny Puckett - foul #2 on Sonny Puckett, team foul #3 | 46-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Ikard (SG), Jamie Bellinger (SF), Michael Baker (PF), David Brister (C) William Nichols, Boris Pinkowski, Brian Wilkinson, Dennis Murray | |
| Subs | Kent State | Gregory Best (PG), Donald Siebert (SG), Stephen Heitz (PF), Ralph Johnson (C) Sonny Puckett, Terry Walker, Vaughn Spinelli, Joshua Ruel | |
| 15:22 | Illinois | Jamie Bellinger is fouled on the floor by Gregory Best - foul #1 on Gregory Best, team foul #4 | 46-31 |
| 15:00 | Illinois | Michael Baker hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt from the right block but he's fouled by Gregory Best - foul #2 on Gregory Best, team foul #5 | 46-31 |
| 15:00 | Illinois | Michael Baker makes the 1st free throw | 47-31 |
| 15:00 | Illinois | Michael Baker makes the 2nd free throw | 48-31 |
| 14:34 | Kent State | Stephen Heitz misses the easy layup | 48-31 |
| 14:33 | Kent State | Randy Reynolds grabs the offensive board | 48-31 |
| 14:21 | Kent State | Stephen Heitz scores on a jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Donald Siebert | 48-33 |
| 13:58 | Illinois | John Soliz scores on a runner in the lane set up by Thomas Ikard | 50-33 |
| 13:38 | Kent State | The jump hook by Gregory Best is blocked by David Brister | 50-33 |
| 13:36 | Illinois | Jamie Bellinger pulls down the rebound | 50-33 |
| 13:24 | Illinois | David Brister blows the dunk but the foul's on Donald Siebert - foul #1 on Donald Siebert, team foul #6 | 50-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | William Nichols (SG), Boris Pinkowski (SF), Brian Wilkinson (PF) John Soliz, Jamie Bellinger, Michael Baker | |
| Subs | Kent State | Sonny Puckett (PG), Terry Walker (SG), Vaughn Spinelli (SF), Joshua Ruel (PF), Lee Callahan (C) Gregory Best, Donald Siebert, Randy Reynolds, Stephen Heitz, Ralph Johnson | |
| 13:24 | Illinois | David Brister misses the 1st free throw | 50-33 |
| 13:24 | Illinois | David Brister misses the 2nd free throw | 50-33 |
| 13:24 | Kent State | Lee Callahan snags the defensive board | 50-33 |
| 13:04 | Kent State | Sonny Puckett misses short on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 50-33 |
| 13:03 | Illinois | Boris Pinkowski pulls down the rebound | 50-33 |
| 12:44 | Illinois | William Nichols is fouled on the floor by Terry Walker - foul #2 on Terry Walker, team foul #7 | 50-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dennis Murray (C) David Brister | |
| Subs | Kent State | | |
| 12:44 | Illinois | William Nichols misses the 1st free throw | 50-33 |
| 12:44 | Kent State | Vaughn Spinelli snags the defensive board | 50-33 |
| 12:24 | Kent State | Vaughn Spinelli knocks in the 3pt jumper from the left corner on a nice dish by Terry Walker | 50-36 |
| 12:00 | Illinois | Brian Wilkinson drills a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line on a great pass from William Nichols and the foul's on Joshua Ruel - foul #3 on Joshua Ruel, team foul #8 | 52-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Soliz (PG) Thomas Ikard | |
| Subs | Kent State | Ralph Johnson (C) Lee Callahan | |
| 12:00 | Illinois | Brian Wilkinson makes the free throw | 53-36 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Soliz (fresh) 13 pts. 2 ast. SG - William Nichols (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Boris Pinkowski (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. PF - Brian Wilkinson (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. C - Dennis Murray (fresh) 15 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Sonny Puckett (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Terry Walker (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Vaughn Spinelli (fresh) 11 pts. 3 reb. PF - Joshua Ruel (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. C - Ralph Johnson (fresh) 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 11:45 | Kent State | Vaughn Spinelli hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Terry Walker | 53-38 |
| 11:17 | Illinois | Brian Wilkinson misses long on a jump hook in the lane | 53-38 |
| 11:15 | Illinois | William Nichols pulls down the offensive rebound | 53-38 |
| 10:50 | Illinois | Ralph Johnson is called for the reach on John Soliz - foul #4 on Ralph Johnson, team foul #9 | 53-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Baker (PF) Boris Pinkowski | |
| Subs | Kent State | Randy Reynolds (C) Ralph Johnson | |
| 10:50 | Illinois | John Soliz makes the 1st free throw | 54-38 |
| 10:50 | Illinois | John Soliz misses the 2nd free throw | 54-38 |
| 10:50 | Kent State | Randy Reynolds grabs the board | 54-38 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 10:35 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel misses the turnaround in the lane but he's fouled by John Soliz - foul #1 on John Soliz, team foul #3 | 54-38 |
| 10:35 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel misses the 1st free throw | 54-38 |
| 10:35 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel makes the 2nd free throw | 54-39 |
| 10:11 | Illinois | Brian Wilkinson misses long on a driving attempt from the left block | 54-39 |
| 10:09 | Kent State | Terry Walker grabs the defensive rebound | 54-39 |
| 10:00 | Kent State | Brian Wilkinson steals the ball from Randy Reynolds | 54-39 |
| 09:31 | Illinois | John Soliz misses badly on a fadeaway from the left wing | 54-39 |
| 09:29 | Kent State | Vaughn Spinelli pulls down the rebound | 54-39 |
| 09:19 | Kent State | Terry Walker misses short on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 54-39 |
| 09:18 | Kent State | Sonny Puckett tips it in | 54-41 |
| 08:57 | Illinois | John Soliz clanks a jumper from close range | 54-41 |
| 08:56 | Kent State | Randy Reynolds gets the rebound | 54-41 |
| 08:34 | Kent State | Brian Wilkinson swats the layup by Vaughn Spinelli | 54-41 |
| 08:32 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel hits the follow up shot | 54-43 |
| 08:03 | Illinois | John Soliz is fouled on the floor by Terry Walker - foul #3 on Terry Walker, team foul #10 | 54-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Ikard (SG), Boris Pinkowski (SF), David Brister (C) William Nichols, Brian Wilkinson, Dennis Murray | |
| Subs | Kent State | Gregory Best (PG), Donald Siebert (SG), Stephen Heitz (PF), Lee Callahan (C) Sonny Puckett, Terry Walker, Vaughn Spinelli, Joshua Ruel | |
| 08:03 | Illinois | John Soliz makes the 1st free throw | 55-43 |
| 08:03 | Illinois | John Soliz misses the 2nd free throw | 55-43 |
| 08:03 | Kent State | Donald Siebert snags the defensive board | 55-43 |
| 07:41 | Kent State | Randy Reynolds knocks in the jump hook from close range | 55-45 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Soliz (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 2 ast. SG - Thomas Ikard (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SF - Boris Pinkowski (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. PF - Michael Baker (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - David Brister (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Gregory Best (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Donald Siebert (fresh) 3 ast. SF - Randy Reynolds (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Stephen Heitz (fresh) 6 pts. C - Lee Callahan (fresh) | |
| 07:14 | Illinois | John Soliz makes the 3pt attempt from the right corner on a nice dish by Boris Pinkowski | 58-45 |
| 06:53 | Kent State | Michael Baker takes the ball from Lee Callahan | 58-45 |
| 06:33 | Illinois | John Soliz misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left wing but the foul's on Lee Callahan - foul #2 on Lee Callahan, team foul #11 | 58-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Dennis Murray (C) Michael Baker | |
| Subs | Kent State | Ralph Johnson (C) Randy Reynolds | |
| 06:33 | Illinois | John Soliz makes the 1st free throw | 59-45 |
| 06:33 | Illinois | John Soliz makes the 2nd free throw | 60-45 |
| 06:33 | Illinois | John Soliz makes the 3rd free throw | 61-45 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 06:24 | Kent State | Ralph Johnson misses the 3 pointer from the left wing | 61-45 |
| 06:22 | Kent State | Lee Callahan pulls down the offensive rebound | 61-45 |
| 06:15 | Kent State | Ralph Johnson knocks in the floater from the right side | 61-47 |
| 05:51 | Illinois | Lee Callahan blocks the short jumper by Dennis Murray | 61-47 |
| 05:49 | Illinois | David Brister tips it but misses | 61-47 |
| 05:48 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to David Brister | 61-47 |
| 05:32 | Illinois | David Brister connects on the floater from close range on a nice dish by John Soliz | 63-47 |
| 05:32 | Kent State | Kent State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 63-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | William Nichols (SG), Brian Wilkinson (PF) John Soliz, David Brister | |
| Subs | Kent State | Sonny Puckett (PG), Terry Walker (SG), Vaughn Spinelli (SF), Joshua Ruel (PF) Gregory Best, Donald Siebert, Stephen Heitz, Lee Callahan | |
| 05:20 | Kent State | Vaughn Spinelli is hacked by Boris Pinkowski - foul #2 on Boris Pinkowski, team foul #4 | 63-47 |
| 05:08 | Kent State | Sonny Puckett scores on a 3pt attempt from the left corner on a great pass from Vaughn Spinelli | 63-50 |
| 04:39 | Illinois | Boris Pinkowski can't throw it down | 63-50 |
| 04:37 | Illinois | Boris Pinkowski hits the follow up shot | 65-50 |
| 04:23 | Kent State | Ralph Johnson comes up short on the shot from the left side | 65-50 |
| 04:22 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel snags the offensive board | 65-50 |
| 04:17 | Kent State | Sonny Puckett drills a jumper near the basket on a nice dish by Vaughn Spinelli and the foul's on Thomas Ikard - foul #1 on Thomas Ikard, team foul #5 | 65-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | John Soliz (PG) Thomas Ikard | |
| Subs | Kent State | | |
| 04:17 | Kent State | Sonny Puckett makes the free throw | 65-53 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | Brian Wilkinson is hacked by Joshua Ruel - foul #4 on Joshua Ruel, team foul #12 | 65-53 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | Brian Wilkinson misses the 1st free throw | 65-53 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | Brian Wilkinson makes the 2nd free throw | 66-53 |
| 03:41 | Kent State | Dennis Murray is called for the reach on Terry Walker - foul #2 on Dennis Murray, team foul #6 | 66-53 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - John Soliz (fresh) 21 pts. 3 ast. SG - William Nichols (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Boris Pinkowski (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. PF - Brian Wilkinson (fresh) 11 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. 3 pf. C - Dennis Murray (fresh) 15 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Kent State | PG - Sonny Puckett (fresh) 10 pts. 3 ast. SG - Terry Walker (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SF - Vaughn Spinelli (fresh) 13 pts. 4 reb. PF - Joshua Ruel (fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. 4 pf. C - Ralph Johnson (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 4 pf. | |
| 03:28 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel connects on the jump hook from the left block on a nice dish by Vaughn Spinelli | 66-55 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-1) | |
| 02:59 | Illinois | John Soliz is fouled on the floor by Sonny Puckett - foul #3 on Sonny Puckett, team foul #13 | 66-55 |
| 02:59 | Illinois | John Soliz misses the 1st free throw | 66-55 |
| 02:59 | Illinois | John Soliz misses the 2nd free throw | 66-55 |
| 02:59 | Kent State | Joshua Ruel pulls down the rebound | 66-55 |
| 02:45 | Kent State | Vaughn Spinelli can't connect on a shot from just outside the lane | 66-55 |
| 02:43 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Dennis Murray | 66-55 |
| 02:23 | Illinois | Boris Pinkowski travels with the ball | 66-55 |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Baker (PF) Boris Pinkowski | |
| Subs | Kent State | Gregory Best (PG), Donald Siebert (SG), Randy Reynolds (SF), Stephen Heitz (PF), Lee Callahan (C) Sonny Puckett, Terry Walker, Vaughn Spinelli, Joshua Ruel, Ralph Johnson | |
| 02:13 | Kent State | Gregory Best hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right side | 66-55 |
| 02:11 | Illinois | The rebound goes to William Nichols | 66-55 |
| 01:53 | Illinois | John Soliz buries a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line on a great pass from William Nichols | 68-55 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-1) | |
| 01:36 | Kent State | Dennis Murray is called for the reach on Gregory Best - foul #3 on Dennis Murray, team foul #7 | 68-55 |
| Subs | Illinois | Boris Pinkowski (SF) Michael Baker | |
| Subs | Kent State | | |
| 01:36 | Kent State | Gregory Best makes the 1st free throw | 68-56 |
| 01:36 | Kent State | Gregory Best misses the 2nd free throw | 68-56 |
| 01:36 | Illinois | Dennis Murray grabs the defensive rebound | 68-56 |
| 01:09 | Illinois | Lee Callahan is called for the reach on Dennis Murray - foul #3 on Lee Callahan, team foul #14 | 68-56 |
| 01:09 | Illinois | Dennis Murray misses the 1st free throw | 68-56 |
| 01:09 | Illinois | Dennis Murray makes the 2nd free throw | 69-56 |
| 00:50 | Kent State | Lee Callahan misses badly on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 69-56 |
| 00:49 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Brian Wilkinson | 69-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a 2-3 zone (-1) | |
| 00:24 | Illinois | John Soliz misses short on a fadeaway from the left side | 69-56 |
| 00:22 | Illinois | Boris Pinkowski can't tip it in | 69-56 |
| 00:20 | Kent State | Stephen Heitz grabs the board | 69-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Kent State | Kent State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a 2-3 zone (-1) | |
| 00:13 | Kent State | Randy Reynolds hits the front of the rim on the jumper in the lane | 69-56 |
| 00:12 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Brian Wilkinson | 69-56 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | John Soliz runs out the clock | 69-56 |