| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Walter Montez (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Aaron Hooker (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Booker Wyss (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. PF - John Williams (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. C - Jason Basil (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Tyler Gilmore (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - George Jent (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Robert Howe (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. PF - Rick Graham (fresh) 2 pts. 2 blk. C - Tony Fifer (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Robert Howe inbounds the ball | 27-27 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 19:40 | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore connects on the open shot from the left wing on a nice dish by George Jent | 27-29 |
| 19:24 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker misses short on a jumpshot from the right side but the foul's on George Jent - foul #1 on George Jent, team foul #1 | 27-29 |
| 19:24 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker makes the 1st free throw | 28-29 |
| 19:24 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker makes the 2nd free throw | 29-29 |
| 19:02 | Illinois | George Jent misses long on an open 3pt shot from the right corner | 29-29 |
| 19:01 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss grabs the defensive rebound | 29-29 |
| 18:57 | Michigan State | John Williams's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 29-29 |
| 18:35 | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore connects on the fadeaway from the left side set up by George Jent | 29-31 |
| 18:16 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 29-31 |
| 18:14 | Illinois | Tony Fifer pulls down the rebound | 29-31 |
| 17:52 | Illinois | Robert Howe is called for the offensive foul - foul #3 on Robert Howe, team foul #2 | 29-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Richards (SG), Clyde Savell (SF), Leonard McMahon (C) Aaron Hooker, Booker Wyss, Jason Basil | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Iverson (SF) Robert Howe | |
| 17:40 | Michigan State | John Williams misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 29-31 |
| 17:39 | Michigan State | Walter Montez tips it in | 31-31 |
| 17:11 | Illinois | George Jent makes the jump hook in the lane and he's hacked by John Williams - foul #1 on John Williams, team foul #1 | 31-33 |
| 17:11 | Illinois | George Jent makes the free throw | 31-34 |
| 16:55 | Michigan State | Rick Graham is called for the reach on John Williams - foul #2 on Rick Graham, team foul #3 | 31-34 |
| 16:28 | Michigan State | John Williams's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 31-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker (SG) Richard Richards | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 16:26 | Illinois | John Iverson throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 31-34 |
| 16:12 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 31-34 |
| 16:10 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Tony Fifer | 31-34 |
| 16:05 | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on Tyler Gilmore, team foul #4 | 31-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Booker Wyss (SF), Jason Basil (C) Clyde Savell, Leonard McMahon | |
| Subs | Illinois | William McTarnaghan (SF), Thomas Matter (C) Rick Graham, Tony Fifer | |
| 15:49 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 31-34 |
| 15:47 | Michigan State | Walter Montez can't tip it in | 31-34 |
| 15:46 | Michigan State | John Williams grabs the offensive rebound | 31-34 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Walter Montez (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Aaron Hooker (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Booker Wyss (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. PF - John Williams (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - Jason Basil (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Tyler Gilmore (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - George Jent (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - William McTarnaghan (fresh) 1 ast. PF - John Iverson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Thomas Matter (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 15:28 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss drills a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 34-34 |
| 15:03 | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore comes up short on the 3 from the left wing | 34-34 |
| 15:02 | Illinois | Thomas Matter can't tip it in | 34-34 |
| 15:00 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss grabs the board | 34-34 |
| 14:33 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss misses long on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 34-34 |
| 14:31 | Illinois | The rebound goes to John Iverson | 34-34 |
| 14:10 | Illinois | John Iverson misses short on a fadeaway from the right side | 34-34 |
| 14:09 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss grabs the defensive rebound | 34-34 |
| 13:55 | Michigan State | Walter Montez misses the lay-in but he's fouled by Tyler Gilmore - foul #2 on Tyler Gilmore, team foul #5 | 34-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Richards (SG), Clyde Savell (SF), Nicholas Nielson (PF), Leonard McMahon (C) Aaron Hooker, Booker Wyss, John Williams, Jason Basil | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Barnes (SG), Robert Howe (SF), Rick Graham (PF), Tony Fifer (C) George Jent, William McTarnaghan, John Iverson, Thomas Matter | |
| 13:55 | Michigan State | Walter Montez makes the 1st free throw | 35-34 |
| 13:55 | Michigan State | Walter Montez misses the 2nd free throw | 35-34 |
| 13:55 | Illinois | Rick Graham snags the defensive board | 35-34 |
| 13:52 | Illinois | Robert Howe is hacked by Clyde Savell in the backcourt - foul #1 on Clyde Savell, team foul #2 | 35-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Lebrun (SG) Walter Montez | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 13:35 | Illinois | Rick Graham misses the jumper from the left wing | 35-34 |
| 13:33 | Michigan State | Leonard McMahon grabs the defensive rebound | 35-34 |
| 13:28 | Michigan State | Rick Graham steals the ball from Nicholas Nielson | 35-34 |
| 13:05 | Illinois | Tony Fifer is hacked by Leonard McMahon - foul #3 on Leonard McMahon, team foul #3 | 35-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | George Jent (SG) Tyler Gilmore | |
| 12:43 | Illinois | Robert Howe is by himself and knocks in the jumper in the paint on a nice dish by George Jent | 35-36 |
| 12:29 | Michigan State | Michael Lebrun makes the 3pt shot from the right wing | 38-36 |
| 12:01 | Illinois | George Jent makes the shot from the left wing on a great pass from Michael Barnes | 38-38 |
| 11:39 | Michigan State | Leonard McMahon comes up short on the fadeaway in the paint but he's fouled by Tony Fifer - foul #2 on Tony Fifer, team foul #6 | 38-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Walter Montez (PG), Aaron Hooker (SG), Robert Bailey (SF), John Williams (PF) Richard Richards, Michael Lebrun, Clyde Savell, Nicholas Nielson | |
| Subs | Illinois | William McTarnaghan (SG), John Iverson (PF), Thomas Matter (C) George Jent, Rick Graham, Tony Fifer | |
| 11:39 | Michigan State | Leonard McMahon misses the 1st free throw | 38-38 |
| 11:39 | Michigan State | Leonard McMahon misses the 2nd free throw | 38-38 |
| 11:39 | Illinois | Thomas Matter gets the rebound | 38-38 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Walter Montez (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Aaron Hooker (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Bailey (fresh) PF - John Williams (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - Leonard McMahon (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Barnes (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - William McTarnaghan (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Robert Howe (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. PF - John Iverson (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Thomas Matter (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:20 | Illinois | Thomas Matter throws it down on a great pass from Michael Barnes and he's hacked by John Williams - foul #2 on John Williams, team foul #4 | 38-40 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Booker Wyss (SF), Jason Basil (C) Robert Bailey, Leonard McMahon | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 11:20 | Illinois | Thomas Matter misses the free throw | 38-40 |
| 11:20 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to John Williams | 38-40 |
| 11:00 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker drills a 3pt shot from the left corner | 41-40 |
| 10:38 | Illinois | William McTarnaghan hits the front of the rim on the floater from the baseline but he's hacked by John Williams - foul #3 on John Williams, team foul #5 | 41-40 |
| 10:38 | Illinois | William McTarnaghan misses the 1st free throw | 41-40 |
| 10:38 | Illinois | William McTarnaghan makes the 2nd free throw | 41-41 |
| 10:15 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker misses short on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 41-41 |
| 10:14 | Illinois | Thomas Matter grabs the defensive rebound | 41-41 |
| 09:51 | Illinois | Michael Barnes misses short on a shot from the right side | 41-41 |
| 09:49 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker pulls down the rebound | 41-41 |
| 09:43 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss misses long on a jumpshot from the left side | 41-41 |
| 09:41 | Illinois | John Iverson snags the defensive board | 41-41 |
| 09:18 | Illinois | William McTarnaghan is fouled on the floor by Walter Montez - foul #3 on Walter Montez, team foul #6 | 41-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Richards (SG), Clyde Savell (SF), Nicholas Nielson (PF), Leonard McMahon (C) Aaron Hooker, Booker Wyss, John Williams, Jason Basil | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore (PG), George Jent (SG), Rick Graham (PF), Tony Fifer (C) William McTarnaghan, Michael Barnes, Robert Howe, Thomas Matter | |
| 08:52 | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore misses badly on the uncontested pull-up jumper from the left side | 41-41 |
| 08:50 | Michigan State | Walter Montez grabs the defensive rebound | 41-41 |
| 08:45 | Michigan State | Walter Montez clanks a 3 from the right wing | 41-41 |
| 08:44 | Illinois | Rick Graham grabs the defensive rebound | 41-41 |
| 08:42 | Illinois | Walter Montez takes the ball from John Iverson in the backcourt | 41-41 |
| 08:31 | Michigan State | Clyde Savell throws a bad pass out of bounds | 41-41 |
| 08:07 | Illinois | George Jent blows the layup but he's fouled by Leonard McMahon - foul #4 on Leonard McMahon, team foul #7 | 41-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Lebrun (SG), Johnny Young (PF) Walter Montez, Nicholas Nielson | |
| Subs | Illinois | William McTarnaghan (SF) John Iverson | |
| 08:07 | Illinois | George Jent misses the 1st free throw | 41-41 |
| 08:07 | Illinois | George Jent makes the 2nd free throw | 41-42 |
| 07:52 | Michigan State | Michael Lebrun misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 41-42 |
| 07:51 | Michigan State | Michael Lebrun pulls down the offensive rebound | 41-42 |
| 07:41 | Michigan State | Leonard McMahon misses long on a turnaround from the left block | 41-42 |
| 07:40 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Michael Lebrun | 41-42 |
| 07:26 | Michigan State | Richard Richards hits a runner from the left block | 43-42 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Richard Richards (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Michael Lebrun (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. SF - Clyde Savell (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - Johnny Young (fresh) C - Leonard McMahon (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Tyler Gilmore (tiring) 6 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - George Jent (tiring) 14 pts. 3 ast. SF - William McTarnaghan (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. PF - Rick Graham (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. C - Tony Fifer (tiring) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:05 | Illinois | Rick Graham loses the ball out of bounds | 43-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Walter Montez (PG), Aaron Hooker (SG), John Williams (PF), Jason Basil (C) Richard Richards, Clyde Savell, Johnny Young, Leonard McMahon | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Barnes (PG), Robert Howe (SF), Thomas Matter (C) Tyler Gilmore, George Jent, Tony Fifer | |
| 06:51 | Michigan State | Walter Montez hits a floater from the right side on a great pass from Jason Basil and he's fouled by Michael Barnes - foul #1 on Michael Barnes, team foul #7 | 45-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Booker Wyss (SF) Michael Lebrun | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore (PG), John Iverson (PF) William McTarnaghan, Rick Graham | |
| 06:51 | Michigan State | Walter Montez misses the free throw | 45-42 |
| 06:51 | Illinois | John Iverson grabs the board | 45-42 |
| 06:47 | Illinois | Walter Montez is called for the reach on Tyler Gilmore in the backcourt - foul #4 on Walter Montez, team foul #8 | 45-42 |
| 06:47 | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore misses the 1st free throw | 45-42 |
| 06:47 | Michigan State | John Williams gets the rebound | 45-42 |
| 06:25 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss connects on the fadeaway from the left block and he's fouled by John Iverson - foul #1 on John Iverson, team foul #8 | 47-42 |
| 06:25 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss misses the free throw | 47-42 |
| 06:25 | Illinois | John Iverson pulls down the rebound | 47-42 |
| 06:06 | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore hits a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 47-44 |
| 05:56 | Michigan State | Walter Montez is called for the offensive foul - foul #5 on Walter Montez, team foul #9 | 47-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Richards (SG), Robert Bailey (SF) Walter Montez, Booker Wyss | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 05:28 | Illinois | Richard Richards takes the ball from Thomas Matter | 47-44 |
| 05:06 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker comes up short on the jumpshot from the left wing | 47-44 |
| 05:05 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Richard Richards | 47-44 |
| 04:51 | Michigan State | Robert Bailey misses short on a shot from just outside the lane | 47-44 |
| 04:50 | Illinois | John Iverson grabs the defensive rebound | 47-44 |
| 04:37 | Illinois | Thomas Matter clanks a fadeaway from the right block but the foul's on Aaron Hooker - foul #1 on Aaron Hooker, team foul #10 | 47-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Lebrun (SG), Booker Wyss (SF), Nicholas Nielson (PF), Leonard McMahon (C) Aaron Hooker, Robert Bailey, John Williams, Jason Basil | |
| Subs | Illinois | William McTarnaghan (PG), George Jent (SG), Rick Graham (PF) Tyler Gilmore, Michael Barnes, John Iverson | |
| 04:37 | Illinois | Thomas Matter makes the 1st free throw | 47-45 |
| 04:37 | Illinois | Thomas Matter makes the 2nd free throw | 47-46 |
| 04:16 | Michigan State | Richard Richards misses short on a runner from the right block but he's fouled by Robert Howe - foul #4 on Robert Howe, team foul #9 | 47-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tony Fifer (C) Thomas Matter | |
| 04:16 | Michigan State | Richard Richards misses the 1st free throw | 47-46 |
| 04:16 | Michigan State | Richard Richards misses the 2nd free throw | 47-46 |
| 04:16 | Illinois | Tony Fifer snags the defensive board | 47-46 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | George Jent hits the front of the rim on the wide open 3pt attempt from the right wing | 47-46 |
| 03:57 | Michigan State | Leonard McMahon grabs the board | 47-46 |
| 03:52 | Michigan State | Richard Richards's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 47-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Bailey (PG) Richard Richards | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 03:26 | Illinois | Tony Fifer misses the wide open shot from just outside the lane | 47-46 |
| 03:24 | Michigan State | Leonard McMahon grabs the board | 47-46 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robert Bailey (fresh) SG - Michael Lebrun (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. SF - Booker Wyss (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. 2 stl. PF - Nicholas Nielson (fresh) 2 pts. C - Leonard McMahon (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - William McTarnaghan (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - George Jent (tiring) 14 pts. 3 ast. SF - Robert Howe (tiring) 7 pts. 1 ast. 4 pf. PF - Rick Graham (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. C - Tony Fifer (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 03:09 | Michigan State | Leonard McMahon hits a jump hook from the right block on a nice dish by Michael Lebrun | 49-46 |
| 02:52 | Illinois | Tony Fifer's dunk attempt is rejected by Leonard McMahon | 49-46 |
| 02:50 | Illinois | Robert Howe misses the tip | 49-46 |
| 02:49 | Illinois | William McTarnaghan tips it in | 49-48 |
| 02:49 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 49-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker (PG), Richard Richards (SG), John Williams (PF), Jason Basil (C) Robert Bailey, Michael Lebrun, Nicholas Nielson, Leonard McMahon | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Barnes (PG), John Iverson (SF) George Jent, Robert Howe | |
| 02:33 | Michigan State | Richard Richards can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 49-48 |
| 02:32 | Illinois | John Iverson grabs the board | 49-48 |
| 02:32 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 49-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tyler Gilmore (PG), George Jent (SG) Michael Barnes, William McTarnaghan | |
| 02:07 | Illinois | John Iverson hits a jumpshot from the free throw line on a nice dish by George Jent and he's fouled by Jason Basil - foul #1 on Jason Basil, team foul #11 | 49-50 |
| 02:07 | Illinois | John Iverson makes the free throw | 49-51 |
| 01:45 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 49-51 |
| 01:43 | Michigan State | John Williams misses the tip | 49-51 |
| 01:41 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker grabs the offensive rebound | 49-51 |
| 01:27 | Michigan State | John Williams misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 49-51 |
| 01:25 | Illinois | Tony Fifer gets the rebound | 49-51 |
| 01:23 | Illinois | John Iverson is hacked by Aaron Hooker in the backcourt - foul #2 on Aaron Hooker, team foul #12 | 49-51 |
| 01:23 | Illinois | John Iverson makes the 1st free throw | 49-52 |
| 01:23 | Illinois | John Iverson makes the 2nd free throw | 49-53 |
| 01:11 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker connects on the 3 from straight away set up by John Williams | 52-53 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | George Jent can't connect on a shot from the left wing | 52-53 |
| 00:46 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to John Williams | 52-53 |
| 00:39 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker makes the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane set up by Richard Richards | 54-53 |
| 00:22 | Illinois | George Jent's floater is tipped away by Jason Basil | 54-53 |
| 00:20 | Illinois | John Iverson tips it back up and in | 54-55 |
| 00:13 | Michigan State | Jason Basil throws a bad pass out of bounds | 54-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Howe (SF) John Iverson | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:11 | Illinois | George Jent is fouled in the backcourt by Richard Richards - foul #2 on Richard Richards, team foul #13 | 54-55 |
| 00:11 | Illinois | George Jent makes the 1st free throw | 54-56 |
| 00:11 | Illinois | George Jent makes the 2nd free throw | 54-57 |
| 00:07 | Michigan State | Booker Wyss comes up short on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 54-57 |
| 00:05 | Illinois | Rick Graham pulls down the rebound | 54-57 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Rick Graham is hacked by Aaron Hooker in the backcourt - foul #3 on Aaron Hooker, team foul #14 | 54-57 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Rick Graham makes the 1st free throw | 54-58 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Rick Graham makes the 2nd free throw | 54-59 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Aaron Hooker misses badly on a halfcourt shot | 54-59 |