| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Sargent (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Douglas McKerlie (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Baltzell (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - Vernon Wertz (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - Greg Mathews (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Rex Longstreet (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SF - Vaughn Hawkins (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 4 reb. C - Frank Harn (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins inbounds the ball | 30-23 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:34 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 30-23 |
| 19:32 | Michigan State | Frank Harn tips it back up and in | 30-25 |
| 19:14 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz buries a 3 from the right wing set up by Scott Sargent | 33-25 |
| 19:00 | Michigan State | Frank Harn comes up short on the driving attempt from the right block | 33-25 |
| 18:58 | Illinois | Greg Mathews grabs the board | 33-25 |
| 18:42 | Illinois | Scott Sargent misses the fadeaway from the left wing but he's hacked by Frank Harn - foul #2 on Frank Harn, team foul #1 | 33-25 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Earl Brown (SG), Jeffrey Boykins (PF) Rex Longstreet, Lewis Whitley | |
| 18:42 | Illinois | Scott Sargent misses the 1st free throw | 33-25 |
| 18:42 | Illinois | Scott Sargent makes the 2nd free throw | 34-25 |
| 18:18 | Michigan State | Scott Sargent steals it from Vaughn Hawkins | 34-25 |
| 18:14 | Illinois | Scott Sargent is hacked by Reginald Smith in the backcourt - foul #1 on Reginald Smith, team foul #2 | 34-25 |
| 17:46 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell drills a jumper in the lane on a nice dish by Scott Sargent | 36-25 |
| 17:29 | Michigan State | Earl Brown connects on the 3pt shot from the right wing on a nice dish by Jeffrey Boykins | 36-28 |
| 17:15 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell hits a driving attempt from close range | 38-28 |
| 16:56 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Boykins drills a shot from the free throw line | 38-30 |
| 16:52 | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie misses short on a shot from the right side | 38-30 |
| 16:50 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Frank Harn | 38-30 |
| 16:21 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith clanks a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 38-30 |
| 16:20 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz gets the rebound | 38-30 |
| 16:08 | Illinois | Reginald Smith steps in front of the Vernon Wertz pass | 38-30 |
| 15:44 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith is whistled for traveling | 38-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randolph Shelton (PG), Gregory Davis (SF), Lowell Moreland (PF), Joseph Cunniff (C) Scott Sargent, Robert Baltzell, Vernon Wertz, Greg Mathews | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet (SG), Lewis Whitley (PF), Samuel Axford (C) Reginald Smith, Jeffrey Boykins, Frank Harn | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randolph Shelton (fresh) SG - Douglas McKerlie (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Gregory Davis (fresh) PF - Lowell Moreland (fresh) C - Joseph Cunniff (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Earl Brown (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Rex Longstreet (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SF - Vaughn Hawkins (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 4 reb. C - Samuel Axford (fresh) 3 pf. | |
| 15:31 | Illinois | Randolph Shelton's pass is intercepted by Earl Brown | 38-30 |
| 15:05 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet hits a fadeaway jumper from the left side on a great pass from Earl Brown | 38-32 |
| 14:36 | Illinois | Gregory Davis scores on a fadeaway near the basket | 40-32 |
| 14:22 | Michigan State | Earl Brown loses the ball out of bounds | 40-32 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Sargent (PG), Robert Baltzell (SF), Vernon Wertz (PF) Randolph Shelton, Gregory Davis, Lowell Moreland | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG), Frank Harn (C) Vaughn Hawkins, Lewis Whitley | |
| 14:01 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz clanks a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 40-32 |
| 13:59 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Douglas McKerlie | 40-32 |
| 13:47 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell buries a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 43-32 |
| 13:30 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford misses the lay-in but the foul's on Vernon Wertz - foul #1 on Vernon Wertz, team foul #1 | 43-32 |
| Subs | Illinois | Greg Mathews (C) Joseph Cunniff | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins (SF), Lewis Whitley (PF) Earl Brown, Frank Harn | |
| 13:30 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford makes the 1st free throw | 43-33 |
| 13:30 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford misses the 2nd free throw | 43-33 |
| 13:30 | Illinois | Greg Mathews pulls down the rebound | 43-33 |
| 13:07 | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie is whistled for a carry | 43-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | Douglas Evans (SG) Douglas McKerlie | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Earl Brown (PG) Reginald Smith | |
| 12:40 | Michigan State | Earl Brown knocks in the turnaround from the left block and the foul's on Scott Sargent - foul #1 on Scott Sargent, team foul #2 | 43-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG), Frank Harn (C) Vaughn Hawkins, Lewis Whitley | |
| 12:40 | Michigan State | Earl Brown makes the free throw | 43-36 |
| 12:22 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell misses the lay-in | 43-36 |
| 12:20 | Illinois | Greg Mathews tips it but misses | 43-36 |
| 12:18 | Michigan State | Frank Harn grabs the board | 43-36 |
| 11:49 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet scores on a jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Reginald Smith | 43-38 |
| 11:31 | Illinois | Scott Sargent's fadeaway is rejected by Samuel Axford | 43-38 |
| 11:29 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford grabs the defensive rebound | 43-38 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Sargent (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Douglas Evans (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Robert Baltzell (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 2 reb. PF - Vernon Wertz (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 5 reb. C - Greg Mathews (fresh) 2 pts. 8 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Rex Longstreet (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. SF - Earl Brown (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. PF - Samuel Axford (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Frank Harn (fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 11:05 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford's pass is intercepted by Greg Mathews | 43-38 |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Greg Mathews is whistled for traveling | 43-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randolph Shelton (PG), Douglas McKerlie (SG), Gregory Davis (SF), Lowell Moreland (PF), Joseph Cunniff (C) Scott Sargent, Douglas Evans, Robert Baltzell, Vernon Wertz, Greg Mathews | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins (SF), Lewis Whitley (PF) Earl Brown, Frank Harn | |
| 10:29 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet hits a 3pt attempt from straight away | 43-41 |
| 10:07 | Illinois | Gregory Davis dunks the ball set up by Randolph Shelton | 45-41 |
| 09:50 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 45-41 |
| 09:49 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley tips it back up and in | 45-43 |
| 09:31 | Illinois | Lewis Whitley blocks the short jumper by Joseph Cunniff | 45-43 |
| 09:30 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford snags the defensive board | 45-43 |
| 09:04 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith connects on the floater from the left side on a great pass from Rex Longstreet | 45-45 |
| 08:39 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left wing but the foul's on Lewis Whitley - foul #3 on Lewis Whitley, team foul #3 | 45-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Sargent (PG), Robert Baltzell (SF), Greg Mathews (C) Randolph Shelton, Gregory Davis, Joseph Cunniff | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Earl Brown (PG), Frank Harn (C) Reginald Smith, Lewis Whitley | |
| 08:39 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland misses the 1st free throw | 45-45 |
| 08:39 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland misses the 2nd free throw | 45-45 |
| 08:39 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland makes the 3rd free throw | 46-45 |
| 08:22 | Michigan State | Greg Mathews is called for the reach on Rex Longstreet - foul #1 on Greg Mathews, team foul #3 | 46-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Vernon Wertz (PF) Lowell Moreland | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 07:59 | Michigan State | Earl Brown clanks a 3 pointer from the right corner | 46-45 |
| 07:57 | Illinois | Greg Mathews gets the rebound | 46-45 |
| 07:44 | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie clanks a 3 from the right wing | 46-45 |
| 07:42 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford gets the rebound | 46-45 |
| 07:13 | Michigan State | Earl Brown knocks in the driving attempt from the left block | 46-47 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Sargent (fresh) 3 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Douglas McKerlie (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Baltzell (fresh) 13 pts. 2 reb. PF - Vernon Wertz (fresh) 8 pts. 5 reb. C - Greg Mathews (fresh) 2 pts. 9 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Earl Brown (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SG - Rex Longstreet (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 3 ast. SF - Vaughn Hawkins (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Samuel Axford (tiring) 1 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. C - Frank Harn (fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 06:52 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell is whistled for a carry | 46-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Douglas Evans (SG) Douglas McKerlie | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG), Lewis Whitley (PF) Rex Longstreet, Frank Harn | |
| 06:26 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith knocks in the runner in the paint on a great pass from Earl Brown and he's hacked by Vernon Wertz - foul #2 on Vernon Wertz, team foul #4 | 46-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Frank Harn (C) Lewis Whitley | |
| 06:26 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith makes the free throw | 46-50 |
| 06:07 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz misses badly on a floater from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Samuel Axford - foul #4 on Samuel Axford, team foul #4 | 46-50 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley (PF) Frank Harn | |
| 06:07 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz makes the 1st free throw | 47-50 |
| 06:07 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz makes the 2nd free throw | 48-50 |
| 05:41 | Michigan State | Scott Sargent picks off the pass by Lewis Whitley | 48-50 |
| 05:24 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell is called for traveling | 48-50 |
| Subs | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie (SG), Joseph Cunniff (C) Douglas Evans, Greg Mathews | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet (SG), Frank Harn (C) Vaughn Hawkins, Lewis Whitley | |
| 04:59 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet drills a 3pt attempt from straight away on a nice dish by Frank Harn | 48-53 |
| 04:44 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz makes the 3pt attempt from the left corner on a nice dish by Scott Sargent | 51-53 |
| 04:15 | Michigan State | Earl Brown scores on a 3pt attempt from the right wing on a great pass from Samuel Axford | 51-56 |
| 03:57 | Illinois | Scott Sargent misses the jumpshot from the left wing | 51-56 |
| 03:55 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz tips it back up and in | 53-56 |
| 03:28 | Michigan State | Earl Brown misses long on a jumpshot from the free throw line but the foul's on Scott Sargent - foul #2 on Scott Sargent, team foul #5 | 53-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randolph Shelton (PG), Gregory Davis (SF), Lowell Moreland (PF), Greg Mathews (C) Scott Sargent, Robert Baltzell, Vernon Wertz, Joseph Cunniff | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins (SF), Lewis Whitley (PF) Reginald Smith, Frank Harn | |
| 03:28 | Michigan State | Earl Brown makes the 1st free throw | 53-57 |
| 03:28 | Michigan State | Earl Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 53-58 |
| 03:20 | Illinois | Greg Mathews double dribbles | 53-58 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG) Earl Brown | |
| 02:54 | Michigan State | Gregory Davis picks off the pass by Samuel Axford | 53-58 |
| 02:54 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 53-58 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Sargent (PG), Robert Baltzell (SF), Vernon Wertz (PF) Randolph Shelton, Gregory Davis, Lowell Moreland | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Earl Brown (PG), Frank Harn (C) Reginald Smith, Samuel Axford | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Sargent (fresh) 3 pts. 5 ast. 3 stl. SG - Douglas McKerlie (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Baltzell (fresh) 13 pts. 2 reb. PF - Vernon Wertz (fresh) 15 pts. 6 reb. C - Greg Mathews (fresh) 2 pts. 9 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Earl Brown (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Rex Longstreet (fresh) 18 pts. 3 ast. SF - Vaughn Hawkins (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. C - Frank Harn (fresh) 8 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Rex Longstreet is called for the reach on Douglas McKerlie - foul #1 on Rex Longstreet, team foul #5 | 53-58 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG) Earl Brown | |
| 02:31 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz throws a bad pass out of bounds | 53-58 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Earl Brown (PG), Samuel Axford (C) Reginald Smith, Frank Harn | |
| 02:15 | Michigan State | Earl Brown hits a floater from the free throw line on a nice dish by Rex Longstreet | 53-60 |
| 01:57 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell misses short on a 3 from the left corner | 53-60 |
| 01:56 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz tips it but misses | 53-60 |
| 01:55 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins snags the defensive board | 53-60 |
| 01:33 | Michigan State | Earl Brown hits the front of the rim on the floater from the right wing | 53-60 |
| 01:31 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell grabs the defensive rebound | 53-60 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 01:12 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 53-60 |
| 01:10 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Samuel Axford | 53-60 |
| 00:46 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 53-60 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley pulls down the offensive rebound | 53-60 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and intentionally fouling (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 00:44 | Michigan State | Douglas McKerlie is called for the reach on Lewis Whitley - foul #2 on Douglas McKerlie, team foul #6 | 53-60 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG), Frank Harn (C) Earl Brown, Samuel Axford | |
| 00:41 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet is fouled on the floor by Douglas McKerlie - foul #3 on Douglas McKerlie, team foul #7 | 53-60 |
| 00:41 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet makes the 1st free throw | 53-61 |
| 00:41 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet misses the 2nd free throw | 53-61 |
| 00:41 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Vernon Wertz | 53-61 |
| 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 (+3) | |
| 00:35 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell makes the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 56-61 |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins is hacked by Scott Sargent in the backcourt - foul #3 on Scott Sargent, team foul #8 | 56-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Samuel Axford (PF) Lewis Whitley | |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins misses the 1st free throw | 56-61 |
| 00:32 | Illinois | Greg Mathews pulls down the rebound | 56-61 |
| 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 (-2) | |
| 00:26 | Illinois | Greg Mathews is hacked by Frank Harn - foul #3 on Frank Harn, team foul #6 | 56-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley (PF) Samuel Axford | |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Scott Sargent is called for the offensive foul - foul #4 on Scott Sargent, team foul #9 | 56-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Samuel Axford (PF) Lewis Whitley | |
| 00:21 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith is hacked by Scott Sargent in the backcourt - foul #5 on Scott Sargent, team foul #10 | 56-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randolph Shelton (PG) Scott Sargent | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 00:21 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith makes the 1st free throw | 56-62 |
| 00:21 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith misses the 2nd free throw | 56-62 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Robert Baltzell snags the defensive board | 56-62 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Randolph Shelton connects on the 3 from the left wing on a nice dish by Greg Mathews | 59-62 |
| 00:14 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet is fouled in the backcourt by Douglas McKerlie - foul #4 on Douglas McKerlie, team foul #11 | 59-62 |
| 00:14 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet makes the 1st free throw | 59-63 |
| 00:14 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet makes the 2nd free throw | 59-64 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | Vernon Wertz misses short on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 59-64 |
| 00:06 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Vaughn Hawkins | 59-64 |
| 00:05 | Michigan State | Randolph Shelton is called for the reach on Vaughn Hawkins in the backcourt - foul #1 on Randolph Shelton, team foul #12 | 59-64 |
| 00:05 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins makes the 1st free throw | 59-65 |
| 00:05 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins makes the 2nd free throw | 59-66 |
| 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 (+3) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Randolph Shelton connects on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 62-66 |