| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Jerry Hobby (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Clarence Anderson (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Gerald Frew (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Willard Drayton (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Dikembe Abke (fresh) 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Baker (fresh) 8 pts. SG - Timothy Parks (fresh) 4 ast. SF - Shannon Sanders (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - John Job (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. C - James Woodley (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Shannon Sanders inbounds the ball | 25-21 |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 19:35 | Illinois | Brian Baker loses the ball out of bounds | 25-21 |
| 19:06 | Penn State | Dikembe Abke can't connect on a jumpshot from the left side | 25-21 |
| 19:05 | Penn State | Dikembe Abke tips it back up and in | 27-21 |
| 18:36 | Illinois | James Woodley is hacked by Dikembe Abke - foul #2 on Dikembe Abke, team foul #1 | 27-21 |
| 18:09 | Illinois | James Woodley makes the jumper near the basket set up by Shannon Sanders | 27-23 |
| 17:40 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson misses long on a jumpshot from the left wing but the foul's on Timothy Parks - foul #2 on Timothy Parks, team foul #1 | 27-23 |
| 17:40 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson makes the 1st free throw | 28-23 |
| 17:40 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson misses the 2nd free throw | 28-23 |
| 17:40 | Illinois | John Job pulls down the rebound | 28-23 |
| 17:18 | Illinois | Willard Drayton denies the turnaround by James Woodley | 28-23 |
| 17:17 | Illinois | Timothy Parks tips it but misses | 28-23 |
| 17:16 | Illinois | Shannon Sanders can't tip it in | 28-23 |
| 17:14 | Penn State | Dikembe Abke gets the rebound | 28-23 |
| 16:57 | Penn State | Jerry Hobby loses the dribble to Shannon Sanders | 28-23 |
| 16:53 | Illinois | Timothy Parks hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Shannon Sanders | 28-25 |
| 16:24 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson misses the layup against the doubleteam | 28-25 |
| 16:22 | Illinois | John Job gets the rebound | 28-25 |
| 15:57 | Illinois | Timothy Parks hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 28-25 |
| 15:55 | Illinois | Shannon Sanders tips it home | 28-27 |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Jerry Hobby (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Clarence Anderson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Gerald Frew (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Willard Drayton (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Dikembe Abke (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Baker (fresh) 8 pts. SG - Timothy Parks (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. SF - Shannon Sanders (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. PF - John Job (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 7 reb. C - James Woodley (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:37 | Penn State | The jumper by Gerald Frew is denied by John Job | 28-27 |
| 15:36 | Penn State | Willard Drayton gets the offensive rebound | 28-27 |
| 15:29 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson loses the ball out of bounds | 28-27 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Toney (SG), Blaine Hackworth (SF), George Hohl (PF), Jerry Behne (C) Timothy Parks, Shannon Sanders, John Job, James Woodley | |
| 15:27 | Illinois | Brian Baker travels in the backcourt | 28-27 |
| 15:05 | Penn State | Willard Drayton is whistled for a carry | 28-27 |
| 14:42 | Illinois | Clarence Anderson is called for the reach on Andrew Toney - foul #3 on Clarence Anderson, team foul #2 | 28-27 |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Jerry Behne hits a runner from the baseline on a great pass from Brian Baker | 28-29 |
| 14:16 | Penn State | Jerry Hobby hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left corner | 28-29 |
| 14:14 | Illinois | George Hohl snags the defensive board | 28-29 |
| 14:08 | Illinois | Andrew Toney hits a 3pt jumper from straight away set up by Brian Baker | 28-32 |
| 13:44 | Penn State | Gerald Frew loses the ball out of bounds | 28-32 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Timothy Parks (SG), John Job (PF) Brian Baker, George Hohl | |
| 13:22 | Illinois | Andrew Toney is hacked by Jerry Hobby - foul #2 on Jerry Hobby, team foul #3 | 28-32 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Woodley (C) Jerry Behne | |
| 12:54 | Illinois | Willard Drayton swats the layup by John Job | 28-32 |
| 12:53 | Penn State | Willard Drayton gets the rebound | 28-32 |
| 12:28 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 28-32 |
| 12:26 | Illinois | Andrew Toney grabs the defensive rebound | 28-32 |
| 12:00 | Illinois | Blaine Hackworth is hacked by Dikembe Abke - foul #3 on Dikembe Abke, team foul #4 | 28-32 |
| Subs | Penn State | Carl Umana (SF), John Husman (PF) Gerald Frew, Dikembe Abke | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Baker (PG), Shannon Sanders (SF), George Hohl (PF) Andrew Toney, Blaine Hackworth, John Job | |
| 11:33 | Illinois | George Hohl lays it in on a great pass from Timothy Parks | 28-34 |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Jerry Hobby (tiring) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Clarence Anderson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Carl Umana (fresh) PF - John Husman (fresh) C - Willard Drayton (tiring) 4 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Baker (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SG - Timothy Parks (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 5 ast. SF - Shannon Sanders (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. PF - George Hohl (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - James Woodley (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 11:07 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson splits the doubleteam but misses short on a jumper from the free throw line | 28-34 |
| 11:06 | Illinois | George Hohl snags the defensive board | 28-34 |
| 10:41 | Illinois | George Hohl travels with the ball | 28-34 |
| Subs | Penn State | Cecil Lazar (PG), Donald Beam (SG), Gerald Frew (SF), Dikembe Abke (C) Jerry Hobby, Clarence Anderson, Carl Umana, Willard Drayton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Toney (SG), John Job (PF), Jerry Behne (C) Timothy Parks, George Hohl, James Woodley | |
| 10:38 | Penn State | Andrew Toney picks off the pass by Cecil Lazar in the backcourt | 28-34 |
| 10:35 | Illinois | Andrew Toney misses the dunk attempt | 28-34 |
| 10:34 | Penn State | Gerald Frew grabs the board | 28-34 |
| 10:07 | Penn State | Andrew Toney steals the ball from Cecil Lazar | 28-34 |
| 10:04 | Illinois | Andrew Toney misses the easy layup | 28-34 |
| 10:03 | Illinois | Shannon Sanders tips it back up and in | 28-36 |
| 09:49 | Penn State | John Husman misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 28-36 |
| 09:48 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Shannon Sanders | 28-36 |
| 09:26 | Illinois | Brian Baker misses badly on a jumper from the left wing | 28-36 |
| 09:24 | Penn State | Dikembe Abke pulls down the rebound | 28-36 |
| 08:59 | Penn State | John Husman travels with the ball | 28-36 |
| Subs | Penn State | Jerry Hobby (PG), Clarence Anderson (SG), Carl Umana (PF), Willard Drayton (C) Cecil Lazar, Donald Beam, John Husman, Dikembe Abke | |
| Subs | Illinois | Blaine Hackworth (SF), James Woodley (C) Shannon Sanders, Jerry Behne | |
| 08:31 | Illinois | Willard Drayton is called for the reach on James Woodley - foul #2 on Willard Drayton, team foul #5 | 28-36 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Timothy Parks (SG), George Hohl (PF) Andrew Toney, John Job | |
| 08:13 | Illinois | Blaine Hackworth misses the jumpshot from the right wing but he's fouled by Gerald Frew - foul #3 on Gerald Frew, team foul #6 | 28-36 |
| Subs | Penn State | Dikembe Abke (C) Gerald Frew | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 08:13 | Illinois | Blaine Hackworth makes the 1st free throw | 28-37 |
| 08:13 | Illinois | Blaine Hackworth makes the 2nd free throw | 28-38 |
| 07:57 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson drills a 3pt shot from the left wing on a nice dish by Jerry Hobby | 31-38 |
| 07:39 | Illinois | Brian Baker connects on the fadeaway from the free throw line set up by Blaine Hackworth | 31-40 |
| 07:19 | Penn State | James Woodley blocks the jumper by Jerry Hobby | 31-40 |
| 07:17 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Brian Baker | 31-40 |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Jerry Hobby (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SG - Clarence Anderson (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Carl Umana (fresh) PF - Willard Drayton (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. C - Dikembe Abke (tiring) 2 pts. 8 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Baker (fresh) 10 pts. 2 ast. SG - Timothy Parks (fresh) 2 pts. 5 ast. SF - Blaine Hackworth (fresh) 2 pts. PF - George Hohl (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - James Woodley (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 06:49 | Illinois | Timothy Parks misses short on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 31-40 |
| 06:48 | Penn State | Carl Umana gets the rebound | 31-40 |
| 06:27 | Penn State | Jerry Hobby misses the 3pt jumper from straight away | 31-40 |
| 06:26 | Illinois | Blaine Hackworth gets the rebound | 31-40 |
| 06:10 | Illinois | James Woodley is fouled on the floor by Dikembe Abke - foul #4 on Dikembe Abke, team foul #7 | 31-40 |
| Subs | Penn State | Cecil Lazar (PG), Gerald Frew (SF), John Husman (PF) Jerry Hobby, Carl Umana, Willard Drayton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Toney (SG), Shannon Sanders (SF), John Job (PF) Timothy Parks, Blaine Hackworth, George Hohl | |
| 06:10 | Illinois | James Woodley misses the 1st free throw | 31-40 |
| 06:10 | Penn State | The rebound goes to Dikembe Abke | 31-40 |
| 05:41 | Penn State | Cecil Lazar can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 31-40 |
| 05:39 | Penn State | Gerald Frew snags the offensive board | 31-40 |
| 05:14 | Penn State | Andrew Toney is called for the reach on Clarence Anderson - foul #1 on Andrew Toney, team foul #2 | 31-40 |
| Subs | Penn State | Donald Beam (SG) Clarence Anderson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Timothy Parks (SG), Jerry Behne (C) Brian Baker, James Woodley | |
| 04:48 | Penn State | Dikembe Abke connects on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 33-40 |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 04:29 | Illinois | John Job misses short on a turnaround from the baseline but the foul's on John Husman - foul #1 on John Husman, team foul #8 | 33-40 |
| Subs | Penn State | Jerry Hobby (PG), Willard Drayton (C) Donald Beam, Dikembe Abke | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:29 | Illinois | John Job makes the 1st free throw | 33-41 |
| 04:29 | Illinois | John Job makes the 2nd free throw | 33-42 |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a motion offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 04:07 | Penn State | Gerald Frew misses short on a driving attempt from the right block | 33-42 |
| 04:06 | Illinois | John Job grabs the defensive rebound | 33-42 |
| 03:47 | Illinois | John Job connects on the jump hook from the right block set up by Timothy Parks | 33-44 |
| 03:28 | Penn State | Willard Drayton connects on the pull-up jumper from the left side on a nice dish by Jerry Hobby | 35-44 |
| 03:09 | Illinois | Jerry Behne comes up short on the fadeaway from the baseline but he's hacked by Jerry Hobby - foul #3 on Jerry Hobby, team foul #9 | 35-44 |
| Subs | Penn State | Clarence Anderson (SG), Carl Umana (PF) Cecil Lazar, John Husman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Baker (PG), Blaine Hackworth (SF) Timothy Parks, Shannon Sanders | |
| 03:09 | Illinois | Jerry Behne misses the 1st free throw | 35-44 |
| 03:09 | Illinois | Jerry Behne misses the 2nd free throw | 35-44 |
| 03:09 | Illinois | Jerry Behne pulls down the offensive rebound | 35-44 |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Jerry Hobby (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. 3 pf. SG - Clarence Anderson (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Gerald Frew (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. PF - Carl Umana (fresh) C - Willard Drayton (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Baker (fresh) 10 pts. 2 ast. SG - Andrew Toney (fresh) 3 pts. 2 stl. SF - Blaine Hackworth (fresh) 2 pts. PF - John Job (fresh) 11 pts. 8 reb. C - Jerry Behne (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 02:57 | Illinois | Jerry Behne knocks in the jumpshot from the left wing on a nice dish by Brian Baker | 35-46 |
| 02:40 | Penn State | Carl Umana misses the dunk but the foul's on John Job - foul #3 on John Job, team foul #3 | 35-46 |
| Subs | Penn State | Cecil Lazar (PG), Dikembe Abke (C) Jerry Hobby, Gerald Frew | |
| Subs | Illinois | Timothy Parks (SG), George Hohl (PF), James Woodley (C) Andrew Toney, John Job, Jerry Behne | |
| 02:40 | Penn State | Carl Umana makes the 1st free throw | 36-46 |
| 02:40 | Penn State | Carl Umana makes the 2nd free throw | 37-46 |
| 02:37 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 37-46 |
| Subs | Penn State | Jerry Hobby (PG), Gerald Frew (SF) Cecil Lazar, Carl Umana | |
| Subs | Illinois | John Job (PF) George Hohl | |
| 02:27 | Illinois | James Woodley misses the easy layup | 37-46 |
| 02:26 | Penn State | The rebound goes to Willard Drayton | 37-46 |
| 02:09 | Penn State | Clarence Anderson comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 37-46 |
| 02:08 | Penn State | Willard Drayton grabs the offensive rebound | 37-46 |
| 01:55 | Penn State | Dikembe Abke misses badly on a fadeaway from the left block but he's fouled by James Woodley - foul #1 on James Woodley, team foul #4 | 37-46 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Shannon Sanders (SF) Blaine Hackworth | |
| 01:55 | Penn State | Dikembe Abke misses the 1st free throw | 37-46 |
| 01:55 | Penn State | Dikembe Abke makes the 2nd free throw | 38-46 |
| 01:29 | Illinois | John Job makes the turnaround in the lane | 38-48 |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a motion offense and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 01:25 | Penn State | Brian Baker picks off the pass by Jerry Hobby in the backcourt | 38-48 |
| 01:24 | Illinois | Shannon Sanders throws it down set up by Brian Baker | 38-50 |
| 01:05 | Penn State | Timothy Parks steals the ball from Gerald Frew | 38-50 |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Brian Baker can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 38-50 |
| 00:35 | Penn State | Willard Drayton grabs the board | 38-50 |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:30 | Penn State | Jerry Hobby buries a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 41-50 |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:29 | Illinois | James Woodley is fouled in the backcourt by Jerry Hobby - foul #4 on Jerry Hobby, team foul #10 | 41-50 |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Toney (PG), George Hohl (PF) Brian Baker, John Job | |
| 00:29 | Illinois | James Woodley misses the 1st free throw | 41-50 |
| 00:29 | Illinois | James Woodley makes the 2nd free throw | 41-51 |
| 00:23 | Penn State | Jerry Hobby connects on the fadeaway from the right wing on a great pass from Dikembe Abke | 43-51 |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 43-51 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Jerry Hobby is called for the reach on George Hohl in the backcourt - foul #5 on Jerry Hobby, team foul #11 | 43-51 |
| Subs | Penn State | Cecil Lazar (PG) Jerry Hobby | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:21 | Illinois | George Hohl makes the 1st free throw | 43-52 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | George Hohl makes the 2nd free throw | 43-53 |
| 00:16 | Penn State | Cecil Lazar comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 43-53 |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Andrew Toney pulls down the rebound | 43-53 |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a 2-3 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Andrew Toney runs out the clock | 43-53 |