| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - Kenneth Pina (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. PF - George Walcott (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dikembe Agbayani (fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. SG - Mo Ross (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Henry Massey (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Albert Tittle (fresh) 2 pts. C - David Reich (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Henry Massey inbounds the ball | 24-21 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:38 | Illinois | Kenneth Pina steps in front of the David Reich pass | 24-21 |
| 19:16 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald clanks a shot from the left wing but he's fouled by Albert Tittle - foul #3 on Albert Tittle, team foul #1 | 24-21 |
| 19:16 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald makes the 1st free throw | 25-21 |
| 19:16 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald makes the 2nd free throw | 26-21 |
| 18:56 | Illinois | Henry Massey scores on a 3pt attempt from the right wing on a great pass from Albert Tittle | 26-24 |
| 18:28 | Michigan State | George Walcott splits the doubleteam but misses short on a jumpshot from the right wing but he's fouled by David Reich - foul #1 on David Reich, team foul #2 | 26-24 |
| 18:28 | Michigan State | George Walcott misses the 1st free throw | 26-24 |
| 18:28 | Michigan State | George Walcott misses the 2nd free throw | 26-24 |
| 18:28 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Albert Tittle | 26-24 |
| 18:23 | Illinois | Mo Ross clanks a jumper from the right wing | 26-24 |
| 18:22 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen gets the rebound | 26-24 |
| 17:56 | Michigan State | William Webster is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 26-24 |
| 17:54 | Illinois | Albert Tittle grabs the board | 26-24 |
| 17:35 | Illinois | Mo Ross comes up short on the floater from the right wing | 26-24 |
| 17:33 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to George Walcott | 26-24 |
| 17:09 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen is alone and drills a driving attempt from close range | 28-24 |
| 16:56 | Illinois | Kenneth Pina takes the ball from Mo Ross | 28-24 |
| 16:35 | Michigan State | George Walcott buries a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 30-24 |
| 16:24 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani drills a 3 from the right wing on a great pass from Albert Tittle | 30-27 |
| 15:59 | Michigan State | William Webster works out of a doubleteam and scores on a 3 pointer from straight away | 33-27 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - Kenneth Pina (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. 3 pf. PF - George Walcott (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dikembe Agbayani (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. SG - Mo Ross (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SF - Henry Massey (fairly fresh) 5 pts. PF - Albert Tittle (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - David Reich (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:57 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani is called for traveling in the backcourt | 33-27 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Stokes (PG), Keith Lee (SG), Ronald Scholl (SF), Bruce Deacon (PF), Danny Hall (C) William Webster, Randall Archibald, Kenneth Pina, George Walcott, Thomas Allen | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Rochelle (SG), Darrel Groesbeck (SF), Jacob Sharp (PF), Kurt Gardner (C) Mo Ross, Henry Massey, Albert Tittle, David Reich | |
| 15:34 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon is whistled for traveling | 33-27 |
| 15:19 | Illinois | Jacob Sharp throws a bad pass out of bounds | 33-27 |
| 14:57 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon throws a bad pass out of bounds | 33-27 |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Webster (PG) Ronald Scholl | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 14:43 | Illinois | Jacob Sharp scores on a shot in the paint | 33-29 |
| 14:25 | Michigan State | William Webster hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway near the basket but he's fouled by Kurt Gardner - foul #1 on Kurt Gardner, team foul #3 | 33-29 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina (SF) Keith Lee | |
| Subs | Illinois | Albert Tittle (PF), David Reich (C) Jacob Sharp, Kurt Gardner | |
| 14:25 | Michigan State | William Webster misses the 1st free throw | 33-29 |
| 14:25 | Michigan State | William Webster makes the 2nd free throw | 34-29 |
| 14:06 | Illinois | David Reich misses badly on a fadeaway near the basket but he's fouled by Danny Hall - foul #1 on Danny Hall, team foul #1 | 34-29 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mo Ross (PG), Henry Massey (SG) Dikembe Agbayani, James Rochelle | |
| 14:06 | Illinois | David Reich makes the 1st free throw | 34-30 |
| 14:06 | Illinois | David Reich makes the 2nd free throw | 34-31 |
| 13:39 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina misses the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 34-31 |
| 13:38 | Illinois | Albert Tittle snags the defensive board | 34-31 |
| 13:26 | Illinois | Henry Massey misses short on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 34-31 |
| 13:25 | Illinois | Darrel Groesbeck gets the offensive rebound | 34-31 |
| 13:12 | Illinois | Henry Massey can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 34-31 |
| 13:10 | Illinois | David Reich hits the follow up shot | 34-33 |
| 12:50 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 34-33 |
| 12:49 | Illinois | David Reich gets the rebound | 34-33 |
| 12:28 | Illinois | David Reich is denied on a layup by Danny Hall | 34-33 |
| 12:26 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Bruce Deacon | 34-33 |
| 12:23 | Michigan State | Mo Ross picks off the pass by William Webster in the backcourt | 34-33 |
| 12:10 | Illinois | Henry Massey's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 34-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randall Archibald (SG), Keith Lee (SF), George Walcott (PF), Thomas Allen (C) Charles Stokes, Kenneth Pina, Bruce Deacon, Danny Hall | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani (PG), James Rochelle (SG), Jacob Sharp (PF), Kurt Gardner (C) Mo Ross, Henry Massey, Albert Tittle, David Reich | |
| 11:49 | Michigan State | William Webster is doubleteamed and throws a bad pass out of bounds | 34-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Henry Massey (SF) Darrel Groesbeck | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - Keith Lee (fresh) 1 ast. PF - George Walcott (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dikembe Agbayani (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. SG - James Rochelle (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Henry Massey (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Jacob Sharp (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Kurt Gardner (fresh) | |
| 11:34 | Illinois | William Webster picks off the pass by Dikembe Agbayani | 34-33 |
| 11:30 | Michigan State | William Webster misses the lay-in | 34-33 |
| 11:29 | Michigan State | George Walcott can't tip it in | 34-33 |
| 11:28 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen misses the tip | 34-33 |
| 11:26 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen tips it in | 36-33 |
| 11:05 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani misses badly on a floater from the left side | 36-33 |
| 11:04 | Michigan State | Keith Lee grabs the board | 36-33 |
| 10:43 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen is whistled for a charge - foul #2 on Thomas Allen, team foul #2 | 36-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Stokes (PG), Kenneth Pina (SF) William Webster, Keith Lee | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mo Ross (SG), Darrel Groesbeck (SF), Albert Tittle (PF), David Reich (C) James Rochelle, Henry Massey, Jacob Sharp, Kurt Gardner | |
| 10:19 | Illinois | Randall Archibald picks off the pass by Mo Ross | 36-33 |
| 10:16 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald lays it in | 38-33 |
| 09:53 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani clanks a 3pt attempt from straight away | 38-33 |
| 09:52 | Michigan State | George Walcott snags the defensive board | 38-33 |
| 09:33 | Michigan State | Charles Stokes loses the ball out of bounds | 38-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Keith Lee (SG), Bruce Deacon (PF), Danny Hall (C) Randall Archibald, George Walcott, Thomas Allen | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 09:09 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani clanks a 3 pointer from straight away | 38-33 |
| 09:07 | Illinois | Mo Ross grabs the offensive board | 38-33 |
| 09:00 | Illinois | David Reich scores on a driving attempt from the left block on a great pass from Darrel Groesbeck | 38-35 |
| 08:35 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon's fadeaway is rejected by David Reich | 38-35 |
| 08:33 | Illinois | Darrel Groesbeck gets the rebound | 38-35 |
| 08:27 | Illinois | Mo Ross drills a 3 pointer from the left corner on a great pass from Darrel Groesbeck | 38-38 |
| 07:59 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon comes up short on the fadeaway from the left wing | 38-38 |
| 07:57 | Michigan State | Charles Stokes hits the follow up shot | 40-38 |
| 07:41 | Illinois | Albert Tittle is whistled for a carry | 40-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Webster (PG), Randall Archibald (SG), George Walcott (PF), Thomas Allen (C) Charles Stokes, Kenneth Pina, Bruce Deacon, Danny Hall | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Rochelle (SG), Henry Massey (SF), Jacob Sharp (PF), Kurt Gardner (C) Mo Ross, Darrel Groesbeck, Albert Tittle, David Reich | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fresh) 13 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SF - Keith Lee (fresh) 1 ast. PF - George Walcott (fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dikembe Agbayani (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. SG - James Rochelle (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Henry Massey (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Jacob Sharp (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Kurt Gardner (fresh) | |
| 07:12 | Michigan State | Dikembe Agbayani steps in front of the George Walcott pass as he passes out of a doubleteam | 40-38 |
| 06:56 | Illinois | Henry Massey misses long on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 40-38 |
| 06:54 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald grabs the board | 40-38 |
| 06:30 | Michigan State | George Walcott shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3 pointer from straight away | 40-38 |
| 06:28 | Illinois | James Rochelle snags the defensive board | 40-38 |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Randall Archibald picks off the pass by James Rochelle | 40-38 |
| 05:58 | Michigan State | William Webster evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 40-38 |
| 05:57 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen tips it in | 42-38 |
| 05:42 | Illinois | James Rochelle's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 42-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina (SF), Danny Hall (C) Keith Lee, Thomas Allen | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mo Ross (PG), Darrel Groesbeck (SF), Albert Tittle (PF), David Reich (C) Dikembe Agbayani, James Rochelle, Jacob Sharp, Kurt Gardner | |
| 05:20 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina buries a shot from the right side set up by George Walcott | 44-38 |
| 05:06 | Illinois | Mo Ross buries a 3 from the left wing | 44-41 |
| 04:44 | Michigan State | William Webster comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 44-41 |
| 04:42 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Albert Tittle | 44-41 |
| 04:23 | Illinois | Henry Massey misses short on a 3 from straight away | 44-41 |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Albert Tittle grabs the offensive rebound | 44-41 |
| 04:02 | Illinois | Henry Massey connects on the 3 pointer from straight away on a great pass from Darrel Groesbeck | 44-44 |
| 03:38 | Michigan State | William Webster is fouled on the floor by Mo Ross - foul #1 on Mo Ross, team foul #4 | 44-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Stokes (PG), Keith Lee (SG), Bruce Deacon (PF), Thomas Allen (C) William Webster, Randall Archibald, George Walcott, Danny Hall | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani (PG), James Rochelle (SG), Jacob Sharp (C) Mo Ross, Henry Massey, Albert Tittle | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Stokes (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Keith Lee (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Kenneth Pina (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. 3 pf. PF - Bruce Deacon (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fresh) 6 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dikembe Agbayani (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. SG - James Rochelle (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. SF - Darrel Groesbeck (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. PF - David Reich (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. C - Jacob Sharp (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 03:16 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon misses the jumper from the free throw line | 44-44 |
| 03:15 | Michigan State | Keith Lee pulls down the offensive rebound | 44-44 |
| 03:00 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina makes the fadeaway in the paint on a nice dish by Charles Stokes | 46-44 |
| 03:00 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 46-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Webster (PG) Keith Lee | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mo Ross (PG), Henry Massey (SG), Albert Tittle (PF) Dikembe Agbayani, James Rochelle, Jacob Sharp | |
| 02:44 | Illinois | Kenneth Pina picks off the pass by Henry Massey | 46-44 |
| 02:44 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 46-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randall Archibald (SG), George Walcott (PF) Charles Stokes, Bruce Deacon | |
| Subs | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani (PG) Darrel Groesbeck | |
| 02:32 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen hits the finger roll set up by Kenneth Pina | 48-44 |
| 02:04 | Illinois | David Reich knocks in the fadeaway in the lane set up by Henry Massey and he's hacked by Kenneth Pina - foul #4 on Kenneth Pina, team foul #3 | 48-46 |
| 02:04 | Illinois | David Reich misses the free throw | 48-46 |
| 02:04 | Michigan State | George Walcott grabs the defensive rebound | 48-46 |
| 01:35 | Michigan State | George Walcott shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 48-46 |
| 01:33 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani gets the rebound | 48-46 |
| 01:16 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani connects on the 3pt shot from the left corner set up by David Reich | 48-49 |
| 00:47 | Michigan State | George Walcott works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 48-49 |
| 00:45 | Illinois | Henry Massey grabs the defensive rebound | 48-49 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani drills a jumper in the lane on a great pass from Henry Massey | 48-51 |
| 00:10 | Michigan State | William Webster drills a 3pt attempt from the left wing on a nice dish by Randall Archibald | 51-51 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Illinois calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 3 full remaining) | 51-51 |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani misses long on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 51-51 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | David Reich grabs the offensive rebound | 51-51 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fresh) 16 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Kenneth Pina (fresh) 6 pts. 3 stl. 4 pf. PF - George Walcott (fresh) 4 pts. 7 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dikembe Agbayani (fresh) 10 pts. 4 ast. SG - Mo Ross (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Henry Massey (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. PF - Albert Tittle (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. C - David Reich (fresh) 10 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 05:00 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen wins the tip | 51-51 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| 04:34 | Michigan State | William Webster works out of a doubleteam and scores on a 3 pointer from the right wing set up by Randall Archibald | 54-51 |
| 04:21 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani connects on the runner in the lane on a great pass from Mo Ross | 54-53 |
| 03:52 | Michigan State | Dikembe Agbayani picks off the pass by George Walcott | 54-53 |
| 03:32 | Illinois | David Reich banks in the layup on a great pass from Dikembe Agbayani | 54-55 |
| 03:05 | Michigan State | Dikembe Agbayani is called for the reach on William Webster - foul #1 on Dikembe Agbayani, team foul #5 | 54-55 |
| 02:47 | Michigan State | William Webster hits the front of the rim on the floater from the right wing | 54-55 |
| 02:46 | Illinois | Mo Ross grabs the board | 54-55 |
| 02:35 | Illinois | Mo Ross can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 54-55 |
| 02:33 | Michigan State | George Walcott grabs the defensive rebound | 54-55 |
| 02:31 | Michigan State | William Webster's pass is intercepted by Dikembe Agbayani in the backcourt | 54-55 |
| 02:30 | Illinois | Mo Ross blows the layup | 54-55 |
| 02:28 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen grabs the board | 54-55 |
| 02:08 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina misses the floater from the right side | 54-55 |
| 02:06 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen snags the offensive board | 54-55 |
| 01:45 | Michigan State | William Webster splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3 from straight away | 54-55 |
| 01:43 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina can't tip it in | 54-55 |
| 01:42 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen tips it back up and in | 56-55 |
| 01:30 | Illinois | David Reich misses the lay-in but the foul's on Thomas Allen - foul #3 on Thomas Allen, team foul #4 | 56-55 |
| 01:30 | Illinois | David Reich makes the 1st free throw | 56-56 |
| 01:30 | Illinois | David Reich makes the 2nd free throw | 56-57 |
| 01:04 | Michigan State | Albert Tittle is called for the reach on George Walcott - foul #4 on Albert Tittle, team foul #6 | 56-57 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | George Walcott misses long on a 3pt shot from straight away | 56-57 |
| 00:43 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald can't tip it in | 56-57 |
| 00:42 | Illinois | David Reich grabs the defensive rebound | 56-57 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fairly fresh) 19 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Kenneth Pina (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 stl. 4 pf. PF - George Walcott (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 8 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 9 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Dikembe Agbayani (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 5 ast. 3 stl. SG - Mo Ross (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SF - Henry Massey (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. PF - Albert Tittle (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. 4 pf. C - David Reich (fairly fresh) 14 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani misses short on a shot near the basket but he's fouled by William Webster - foul #1 on William Webster, team foul #5 | 56-57 |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani makes the 1st free throw | 56-58 |
| 00:15 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani makes the 2nd free throw | 56-59 |
| 00:06 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald is hacked by Henry Massey - foul #3 on Henry Massey, team foul #7 | 56-59 |
| 00:06 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald makes the 1st free throw | 57-59 |
| 00:06 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald makes the 2nd free throw | 58-59 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 00:04 | Illinois | William Webster is called for the reach on Dikembe Agbayani in the backcourt - foul #2 on William Webster, team foul #6 | 58-59 |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani is fouled on the floor by William Webster - foul #3 on William Webster, team foul #7 | 58-59 |
| 00:01 | Illinois | Dikembe Agbayani misses the 1st free throw | 58-59 |
| 00:01 | Michigan State | George Walcott grabs the defensive rebound | 58-59 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan 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 (+1) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | George Walcott misses the fullcourt shot | 58-59 |