| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SG - Lloyd Guillen (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - David White (fresh) PF - Phillip Dean (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. C - Jacob Miller (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Mitchell (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Ray Boyd (fresh) 10 pts. SF - Brian Shurtleff (fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. PF - James Cecere (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Mark Arnold (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff inbounds the ball | 27-35 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:52 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd drills a 3pt shot from straight away set up by Brian Shurtleff | 27-38 |
| 19:23 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the driving attempt near the basket set up by Scott Blackwell | 29-38 |
| 19:21 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff is called for a charge in the backcourt - foul #1 on Brian Shurtleff, team foul #1 | 29-38 |
| 19:07 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell's dunk attempt is rejected by Mark Arnold | 29-38 |
| 19:06 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Mark Arnold | 29-38 |
| 19:03 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd loses the ball out of bounds in the backcourt | 29-38 |
| 18:39 | Illinois | Mark Arnold denies the turnaround by Scott Blackwell | 29-38 |
| 18:38 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Mark Arnold | 29-38 |
| 18:15 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell is by himself and knocks in the 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Mark Arnold | 29-41 |
| 17:51 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell's fadeaway is rejected by Mark Arnold | 29-41 |
| 17:49 | Illinois | Phillip Dean gets the offensive rebound | 29-41 |
| 17:26 | Illinois | Mark Arnold takes the ball from Scott Blackwell | 29-41 |
| 17:09 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd can't finish the layup | 29-41 |
| 17:07 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Charles Mitchell | 29-41 |
| 16:54 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff drills a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Charles Mitchell | 29-43 |
| 16:32 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 29-43 |
| 16:30 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff pulls down the rebound | 29-43 |
| 16:22 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold makes the shot from the left block on a great pass from Charles Mitchell | 29-45 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Phillip Dean misses short on a floater from the right side | 29-45 |
| 15:57 | Illinois | Jacob Miller tips it home | 31-45 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (tiring) 8 pts. 2 ast. SG - Lloyd Guillen (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - David White (tiring) PF - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. C - Jacob Miller (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Mitchell (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 5 ast. SG - Ray Boyd (fairly fresh) 13 pts. SF - Brian Shurtleff (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. PF - James Cecere (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Mark Arnold (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. 4 blk. | |
| 15:37 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff is whistled for a charge - foul #2 on Brian Shurtleff, team foul #2 | 31-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (PG), Harry Timmons (SG), Trevor Finley (SF), Ralph Hylton (PF), Joseph Pearce (C) Scott Blackwell, Lloyd Guillen, David White, Phillip Dean, Jacob Miller | |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Kenneth Swanson (SF), Lucas Ziek (PF), Marcus Lantz (C) Charles Mitchell, Brian Shurtleff, James Cecere, Mark Arnold | |
| 15:08 | Illinois | Harry Timmons misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 31-45 |
| 15:07 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd grabs the defensive rebound | 31-45 |
| 14:39 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd clanks a shot from the right block but the foul's on Jeffrey Craig - foul #2 on Jeffrey Craig, team foul #1 | 31-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jacob Miller (SF), Phillip Dean (PF) Trevor Finley, Ralph Hylton | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 14:39 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd misses the 1st free throw | 31-45 |
| 14:39 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd makes the 2nd free throw | 31-46 |
| 14:22 | Illinois | Harry Timmons drills a 3 pointer from straight away on a nice dish by Jeffrey Craig | 34-46 |
| 14:02 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd is open and buries a 3pt attempt from straight away on a great pass from David Burnett | 34-49 |
| 13:47 | Illinois | Jacob Miller clanks a jumper in the lane but the foul's on Kenneth Swanson - foul #2 on Kenneth Swanson, team foul #3 | 34-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG) Jeffrey Craig | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG), Brian Shurtleff (SF), Wilbur Griffin (PF), Mark Arnold (C) David Burnett, Ray Boyd, Lucas Ziek, Marcus Lantz | |
| 13:47 | Illinois | Jacob Miller makes the 1st free throw | 35-49 |
| 13:47 | Illinois | Jacob Miller makes the 2nd free throw | 36-49 |
| 13:31 | Michigan State | Jacob Miller steps in front of the Kenneth Swanson pass | 36-49 |
| 13:16 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell's fadeaway is rejected by Mark Arnold | 36-49 |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce grabs the offensive board | 36-49 |
| 12:57 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell throws it down and he's fouled by Charles Mitchell - foul #3 on Charles Mitchell, team foul #4 | 38-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen (SG), David White (SF), Ralph Hylton (PF) Harry Timmons, Jacob Miller, Phillip Dean | |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Cecere (PF) Mark Arnold | |
| 12:57 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses the free throw | 38-49 |
| 12:57 | Michigan State | Wilbur Griffin pulls down the rebound | 38-49 |
| 12:38 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell misses the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 38-49 |
| 12:36 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce gets the rebound | 38-49 |
| 12:07 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 38-49 |
| 12:06 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce gets the offensive rebound | 38-49 |
| 11:43 | Illinois | Kenneth Swanson takes the ball from Scott Blackwell | 38-49 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (tiring) 10 pts. 2 ast. SG - Lloyd Guillen (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - David White (fairly fresh) PF - Ralph Hylton (fresh) 2 reb. C - Joseph Pearce (fairly fresh) 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Mitchell (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 5 ast. 3 pf. SG - Kenneth Swanson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SF - Brian Shurtleff (tiring) 12 pts. 3 reb. PF - James Cecere (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Wilbur Griffin (fairly fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 11:23 | Michigan State | James Cecere loses the dribble to David White | 38-49 |
| 11:20 | Illinois | David White can't finish the layup | 38-49 |
| 11:19 | Michigan State | James Cecere grabs the defensive rebound | 38-49 |
| 11:13 | Michigan State | Scott Blackwell steals it from Brian Shurtleff | 38-49 |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton misses badly on a floater from close range but he's hacked by Brian Shurtleff - foul #3 on Brian Shurtleff, team foul #5 | 38-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (PG), Harry Timmons (SG), Phillip Dean (PF), Jacob Miller (C) Scott Blackwell, Lloyd Guillen, David White, Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Ray Boyd (SG), Lucas Ziek (C) Charles Mitchell, Kenneth Swanson, Wilbur Griffin | |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton makes the 1st free throw | 39-49 |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton makes the 2nd free throw | 40-49 |
| 10:34 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd misses the 3pt shot from straight away | 40-49 |
| 10:32 | Illinois | Phillip Dean snags the defensive board | 40-49 |
| 10:12 | Illinois | Harry Timmons connects on the pull-up jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Jeffrey Craig | 42-49 |
| 09:51 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 42-49 |
| 09:50 | Illinois | Harry Timmons gets the rebound | 42-49 |
| 09:27 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton's fadeaway is rejected by James Cecere | 42-49 |
| 09:25 | Illinois | Harry Timmons tips it in | 44-49 |
| 09:07 | Michigan State | Lucas Ziek's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 44-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Pearce (C) Ralph Hylton | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (SF), Marcus Lantz (PF), Mark Arnold (C) Brian Shurtleff, James Cecere, Lucas Ziek | |
| 08:39 | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig is called for traveling | 44-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen (SG), David White (SF) Harry Timmons, Jacob Miller | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG), Wilbur Griffin (PF) David Burnett, Marcus Lantz | |
| 08:37 | Michigan State | David White steps in front of the Charles Mitchell pass in the backcourt | 44-49 |
| 08:36 | Illinois | David White lays it in | 46-49 |
| 08:17 | Michigan State | Phillip Dean takes the ball from Ray Boyd | 46-49 |
| 08:04 | Illinois | David White drills a shot in the lane and he's fouled by Wilbur Griffin - foul #2 on Wilbur Griffin, team foul #6 | 48-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ralph Hylton (PF) Phillip Dean | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 08:04 | Illinois | David White makes the free throw | 49-49 |
| 08:00 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell is fouled in the backcourt by Jeffrey Craig - foul #3 on Jeffrey Craig, team foul #2 | 49-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG) Jeffrey Craig | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 07:45 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold banks in the wide open layup | 49-51 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 2 ast. SG - Lloyd Guillen (tiring) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - David White (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 stl. PF - Ralph Hylton (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Joseph Pearce (tiring) 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Mitchell (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 5 ast. 3 pf. SG - Ray Boyd (tiring) 17 pts. SF - Kenneth Swanson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. PF - Wilbur Griffin (fresh) 3 reb. C - Mark Arnold (fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. 5 blk. | |
| 07:20 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen is hacked by Wilbur Griffin - foul #3 on Wilbur Griffin, team foul #7 | 49-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Trevor Finley (SF), Jacob Miller (C) David White, Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Brian Shurtleff (SF), James Cecere (PF), Lucas Ziek (C) Charles Mitchell, Kenneth Swanson, Wilbur Griffin, Mark Arnold | |
| 07:20 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen makes the 1st free throw | 50-51 |
| 07:20 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen makes the 2nd free throw | 51-51 |
| 07:01 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 51-51 |
| 07:00 | Michigan State | James Cecere grabs the offensive board | 51-51 |
| 06:45 | Michigan State | James Cecere makes the jump hook in the lane set up by David Burnett | 51-53 |
| 06:19 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton makes the shot from the baseline | 53-53 |
| 06:02 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd connects on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Brian Shurtleff | 53-55 |
| 05:39 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the left wing but the foul's on Ray Boyd - foul #2 on Ray Boyd, team foul #8 | 53-55 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (PG), Harry Timmons (SG), David White (SF), Joseph Pearce (C) Scott Blackwell, Lloyd Guillen, Trevor Finley, Jacob Miller | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG), Kenneth Swanson (SG), Wilbur Griffin (PF), Mark Arnold (C) David Burnett, Ray Boyd, James Cecere, Lucas Ziek | |
| 05:39 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton misses the 1st free throw | 53-55 |
| 05:39 | Illinois | Ralph Hylton makes the 2nd free throw | 54-55 |
| 05:28 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold scores on a floater from the left block set up by Charles Mitchell and he's fouled by Ralph Hylton - foul #3 on Ralph Hylton, team foul #3 | 54-57 |
| Subs | Illinois | Phillip Dean (PF) Ralph Hylton | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 05:28 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold makes the free throw | 54-58 |
| 05:02 | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig hits a 3 from the right wing | 57-58 |
| 04:39 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff is hacked by Joseph Pearce - foul #4 on Joseph Pearce, team foul #4 | 57-58 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jacob Miller (SF) David White | |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (SF), James Cecere (PF) Brian Shurtleff, Wilbur Griffin | |
| 04:26 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold misses short on a shot from the free throw line | 57-58 |
| 04:25 | Michigan State | David Burnett tips it but misses | 57-58 |
| 04:23 | Illinois | Harry Timmons grabs the board | 57-58 |
| 04:02 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce is fouled on the floor by Kenneth Swanson - foul #3 on Kenneth Swanson, team foul #9 | 57-58 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Ray Boyd (SG), Marcus Lantz (C) David Burnett, Mark Arnold | |
| 04:02 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce makes the 1st free throw | 58-58 |
| 04:02 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce misses the 2nd free throw | 58-58 |
| 04:02 | Michigan State | Marcus Lantz grabs the board | 58-58 |
| 03:44 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell scores on a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 58-60 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jeffrey Craig (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SG - Harry Timmons (fairly fresh) 7 pts. SF - Jacob Miller (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 5 reb. PF - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 5 reb. C - Joseph Pearce (tiring) 1 pts. 5 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Mitchell (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 6 ast. 3 pf. SG - Ray Boyd (tiring) 19 pts. SF - Kenneth Swanson (tiring) 4 pts. 3 pf. PF - James Cecere (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. C - Marcus Lantz (fresh) | |
| 03:30 | Illinois | Harry Timmons misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line but the foul's on Ray Boyd - foul #3 on Ray Boyd, team foul #10 | 58-60 |
| Subs | Illinois | David White (SF) Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Lucas Ziek (C) Marcus Lantz | |
| 03:30 | Illinois | Harry Timmons makes the 1st free throw | 59-60 |
| 03:30 | Illinois | Harry Timmons makes the 2nd free throw | 60-60 |
| 03:11 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd connects on the open 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Charles Mitchell | 60-63 |
| 02:43 | Illinois | Charles Mitchell steals it from Harry Timmons | 60-63 |
| 02:41 | Michigan State | Phillip Dean is called for the reach on James Cecere in the backcourt - foul #3 on Phillip Dean, team foul #5 | 60-63 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG) Jeffrey Craig | |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Brian Shurtleff (SF), Wilbur Griffin (PF), Mark Arnold (C) Charles Mitchell, Kenneth Swanson, James Cecere, Lucas Ziek | |
| 02:23 | Michigan State | Wilbur Griffin misses short on a fadeaway in the lane but he's hacked by Scott Blackwell - foul #3 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #6 | 60-63 |
| Subs | Illinois | Trevor Finley (SF), Ralph Hylton (PF) David White, Phillip Dean | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 02:23 | Michigan State | Wilbur Griffin makes the 1st free throw | 60-64 |
| 02:23 | Michigan State | Wilbur Griffin misses the 2nd free throw | 60-64 |
| 02:23 | Illinois | Jacob Miller grabs the board | 60-64 |
| 02:23 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 60-64 |
| 01:54 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell comes up short on the floater from the free throw line | 60-64 |
| 01:53 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Wilbur Griffin | 60-64 |
| 01:53 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 60-64 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen (SG), David White (SF), Phillip Dean (PF) Harry Timmons, Trevor Finley, Ralph Hylton | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG), James Cecere (PF) David Burnett, Wilbur Griffin | |
| 01:35 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 60-64 |
| 01:34 | Illinois | Jacob Miller snags the defensive board | 60-64 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| 01:16 | Illinois | Mark Arnold steals it from Lloyd Guillen | 60-64 |
| 01:02 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell buries a 3pt shot from the left wing | 60-67 |
| 00:55 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell's floater is tipped away by James Cecere | 60-67 |
| 00:53 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell gets the rebound | 60-67 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:52 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell is fouled in the backcourt by Scott Blackwell - foul #4 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #7 | 60-67 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (SF) Brian Shurtleff | |
| 00:52 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 1st free throw | 60-68 |
| 00:52 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 2nd free throw | 60-69 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:47 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell knocks in the 3 pointer from the right corner | 63-69 |
| 00:46 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd is hacked by Lloyd Guillen in the backcourt - foul #2 on Lloyd Guillen, team foul #8 | 63-69 |
| 00:46 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd makes the 1st free throw | 63-70 |
| 00:46 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd makes the 2nd free throw | 63-71 |
| 00:39 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen misses badly on a 3 from the left wing | 63-71 |
| 00:37 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell grabs the board | 63-71 |
| 00:35 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell is hacked by Scott Blackwell in the backcourt - foul #5 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #9 | 63-71 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (PG) Scott Blackwell | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 00:35 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 1st free throw | 63-72 |
| 00:35 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 2nd free throw | 63-73 |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen misses badly on a jumper from the right side but the foul's on Ray Boyd - foul #4 on Ray Boyd, team foul #11 | 63-73 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Brian Shurtleff (SF), Lucas Ziek (PF), Marcus Lantz (C) Charles Mitchell, Ray Boyd, James Cecere, Mark Arnold | |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen misses the 1st free throw | 63-73 |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen misses the 2nd free throw | 63-73 |
| 00:29 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson grabs the defensive rebound | 63-73 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | David Burnett runs out the clock | 63-73 |