| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bradley Hunter (fresh) 8 pts. SG - Keith Park (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - Vincent Bridges (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. PF - Floyd Gattis (fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. C - Anthony Birnbaum (fresh) 10 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Don Walker (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Stuart Laurel (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Allen Carr (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Gregory Eckhardt (fresh) 2 pts. C - Ronald Lester (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges inbounds the ball | 37-31 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and a 2-3 zone (+1) | |
| 19:31 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum makes the jumper from the baseline on a great pass from Keith Park | 39-31 |
| 19:17 | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel is fouled on the floor by Keith Park - foul #1 on Keith Park, team foul #1 | 39-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Redrick (PG), Rigoberto Romano (SG), Angel Romano (SF), Manuel Litchford (PF), Stanley Hulme (C) Don Walker, Stuart Laurel, Allen Carr, Gregory Eckhardt, Ronald Lester | |
| 19:04 | Michigan State | Stanley Hulme can't connect on a shot from the right block | 39-31 |
| 19:02 | Illinois | Keith Park grabs the defensive rebound | 39-31 |
| 18:45 | Illinois | Floyd Gattis misses short on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 39-31 |
| 18:43 | Michigan State | Rigoberto Romano grabs the defensive rebound | 39-31 |
| 18:38 | Michigan State | Rigoberto Romano comes up short on the jumper from the free throw line but he's fouled by Vincent Bridges - foul #4 on Vincent Bridges, team foul #2 | 39-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Keeler (SF) Vincent Bridges | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt (PF), Jack Duffy (C) Manuel Litchford, Stanley Hulme | |
| 18:38 | Michigan State | Rigoberto Romano makes the 1st free throw | 39-32 |
| 18:38 | Michigan State | Rigoberto Romano makes the 2nd free throw | 39-33 |
| 18:17 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter buries a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 42-33 |
| 18:04 | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt comes up short on the floater from the right side but he's fouled by Bradley Hunter - foul #1 on Bradley Hunter, team foul #3 | 42-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Don Walker (PG), Stuart Laurel (SG), Ronald Lester (C) Rigoberto Romano, Robert Redrick, Jack Duffy | |
| 18:04 | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt makes the 1st free throw | 42-34 |
| 18:04 | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt misses the 2nd free throw | 42-34 |
| 18:04 | Illinois | Keith Park pulls down the rebound | 42-34 |
| 17:40 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter misses badly on a 3 from straight away | 42-34 |
| 17:39 | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt grabs the board | 42-34 |
| 17:34 | Michigan State | Angel Romano evades the doubleteam and hits a runner in the paint on a nice dish by Stuart Laurel | 42-36 |
| 17:09 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum's fadeaway is rejected by Stuart Laurel | 42-36 |
| 17:07 | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel pulls down the rebound | 42-36 |
| 17:02 | Michigan State | Angel Romano is whistled for traveling | 42-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | David Heffron (PG) Bradley Hunter | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Redrick (SG), Allen Carr (SF), Jack Duffy (C) Stuart Laurel, Gregory Eckhardt, Ronald Lester | |
| 16:41 | Illinois | James Keeler scores on a jumper from the left block | 44-36 |
| 16:25 | Michigan State | Don Walker misses short on a runner from the right block but the foul's on Keith Park - foul #2 on Keith Park, team foul #4 | 44-36 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lewis Basham (PF), Larry Delatorre (C) Floyd Gattis, Anthony Birnbaum | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel (SG), Manuel Litchford (PF), Ronald Lester (C) Robert Redrick, Angel Romano, Jack Duffy | |
| 16:25 | Michigan State | Don Walker misses the 1st free throw | 44-36 |
| 16:25 | Michigan State | Don Walker makes the 2nd free throw | 44-37 |
| 16:05 | Illinois | The jump hook by Lewis Basham is blocked by Manuel Litchford | 44-37 |
| 16:03 | Illinois | Larry Delatorre snags the offensive board | 44-37 |
| 15:51 | Illinois | David Heffron misses badly on a shot from just outside the lane | 44-37 |
| 15:49 | Illinois | James Keeler grabs the offensive board | 44-37 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - David Heffron (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - Keith Park (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. SF - James Keeler (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. PF - Lewis Basham (fresh) 2 pts. C - Larry Delatorre (fresh) 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Don Walker (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Stuart Laurel (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - Allen Carr (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Manuel Litchford (fresh) 3 pts. 2 blk. C - Ronald Lester (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 15:25 | Illinois | James Keeler is whistled for traveling | 44-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Bradley Hunter (PG), Anthony Birnbaum (C) Keith Park, Larry Delatorre | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Redrick (PG), Rigoberto Romano (SG), Angel Romano (SF), Stanley Hulme (C) Don Walker, Stuart Laurel, Allen Carr, Ronald Lester | |
| 14:56 | Michigan State | Rigoberto Romano misses the 3 from the right wing | 44-37 |
| 14:54 | Illinois | James Keeler snags the defensive board | 44-37 |
| 14:27 | Illinois | Lewis Basham is whistled for a carry | 44-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Floyd Gattis (PF) Lewis Basham | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Don Walker (PG), Stuart Laurel (SG), Gregory Eckhardt (PF), Ronald Lester (C) Robert Redrick, Rigoberto Romano, Manuel Litchford, Stanley Hulme | |
| 14:05 | Michigan State | Don Walker can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the right wing | 44-37 |
| 14:03 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Bradley Hunter | 44-37 |
| 13:43 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter comes up short on the 3pt shot from straight away | 44-37 |
| 13:41 | Illinois | Floyd Gattis snags the offensive board | 44-37 |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 44-37 |
| 13:13 | Illinois | David Heffron pulls down the offensive rebound | 44-37 |
| 12:56 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter is fouled on the floor by Don Walker - foul #2 on Don Walker, team foul #1 | 44-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Park (SG), Vincent Bridges (SF), Larry Delatorre (C) David Heffron, James Keeler, Anthony Birnbaum | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Redrick (PG), Allen Carr (SF), Manuel Litchford (PF), Jack Duffy (C) Don Walker, Angel Romano, Gregory Eckhardt, Ronald Lester | |
| 12:38 | Illinois | Larry Delatorre loses the ball out of bounds | 44-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Don Walker (PG) Stuart Laurel | |
| 12:12 | Michigan State | Allen Carr connects on the fadeaway in the lane on a great pass from Manuel Litchford | 44-39 |
| 11:55 | Illinois | Keith Park's pass is intercepted by Manuel Litchford | 44-39 |
| 11:34 | Michigan State | Don Walker can't connect on a jumper from the free throw line | 44-39 |
| 11:33 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter grabs the defensive rebound | 44-39 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bradley Hunter (fairly fresh) 11 pts. SG - Keith Park (fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. SF - Vincent Bridges (fresh) 2 pts. 4 pf. PF - Floyd Gattis (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. C - Larry Delatorre (fresh) 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Don Walker (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Redrick (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Allen Carr (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Manuel Litchford (fresh) 3 pts. 2 blk. C - Jack Duffy (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 11:10 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges clanks a floater from the right block | 44-39 |
| 11:08 | Michigan State | Manuel Litchford grabs the board | 44-39 |
| 11:02 | Michigan State | The jump hook by Manuel Litchford is blocked by Vincent Bridges | 44-39 |
| 11:01 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Keith Park | 44-39 |
| 10:38 | Illinois | Manuel Litchford takes the ball from Vincent Bridges | 44-39 |
| 10:22 | Michigan State | Manuel Litchford slams it home on a nice dish by Robert Redrick | 44-41 |
| 10:02 | Illinois | Floyd Gattis misses short on a jump hook near the basket | 44-41 |
| 10:00 | Michigan State | Jack Duffy grabs the defensive rebound | 44-41 |
| 09:53 | Michigan State | Don Walker connects on the turnaround from the baseline on a nice dish by Robert Redrick | 44-43 |
| 09:39 | Illinois | Keith Park misses the 3pt shot from the right corner | 44-43 |
| 09:37 | Illinois | Floyd Gattis tips it home | 46-43 |
| 09:15 | Michigan State | Vincent Bridges picks off the pass by Don Walker | 46-43 |
| 08:54 | Illinois | Keith Park is hacked by Allen Carr - foul #3 on Allen Carr, team foul #2 | 46-43 |
| Subs | Illinois | David Heffron (PG), James Keeler (SG), Lewis Basham (PF), Anthony Birnbaum (C) Bradley Hunter, Keith Park, Floyd Gattis, Larry Delatorre | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rigoberto Romano (PG), Stuart Laurel (SG), Angel Romano (SF), Gregory Eckhardt (PF), Ronald Lester (C) Don Walker, Robert Redrick, Allen Carr, Manuel Litchford, Jack Duffy | |
| 08:39 | Illinois | David Heffron's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 46-43 |
| 08:23 | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel makes the jumper from the left side and he's hacked by James Keeler - foul #1 on James Keeler, team foul #5 | 46-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Keith Park (SG) Vincent Bridges | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 08:23 | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel misses the free throw | 46-45 |
| 08:23 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum pulls down the rebound | 46-45 |
| 07:58 | Illinois | David Heffron is hacked by Gregory Eckhardt - foul #3 on Gregory Eckhardt, team foul #3 | 46-45 |
| 07:43 | Illinois | Keith Park drills a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 49-45 |
| 07:23 | Michigan State | Angel Romano shoots over the doubleteam and knocks in the jumpshot from the left side on a great pass from Rigoberto Romano | 49-47 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - David Heffron (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - Keith Park (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SF - James Keeler (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. PF - Lewis Basham (fresh) 2 pts. C - Anthony Birnbaum (fresh) 12 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Rigoberto Romano (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Stuart Laurel (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SF - Angel Romano (fresh) 17 pts. 2 blk. PF - Gregory Eckhardt (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Ronald Lester (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 06:55 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum is denied on a layup by Rigoberto Romano | 49-47 |
| 06:53 | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt grabs the defensive rebound | 49-47 |
| 06:47 | Michigan State | The pull-up jumper by Rigoberto Romano is blocked by Lewis Basham | 49-47 |
| 06:46 | Michigan State | Angel Romano tips it back up and in | 49-49 |
| 06:19 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line but the foul's on Ronald Lester - foul #1 on Ronald Lester, team foul #4 | 49-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Vincent Bridges (SF) Keith Park | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Don Walker (PG), Manuel Litchford (PF) Rigoberto Romano, Gregory Eckhardt | |
| 06:19 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum misses the 1st free throw | 49-49 |
| 06:19 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum misses the 2nd free throw | 49-49 |
| 06:19 | Michigan State | Manuel Litchford gets the rebound | 49-49 |
| 06:09 | Michigan State | Angel Romano tries to split the doubleteam and is called for the offensive foul - foul #1 on Angel Romano, team foul #5 | 49-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Delatorre (PF) Lewis Basham | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 05:51 | Illinois | James Keeler misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 49-49 |
| 05:49 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum grabs the offensive board | 49-49 |
| 05:27 | Illinois | James Keeler is whistled for a carry | 49-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Floyd Gattis (PF) Larry Delatorre | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt (PF) Manuel Litchford | |
| 05:00 | Michigan State | Angel Romano hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from just outside the lane | 49-49 |
| 04:59 | Illinois | Floyd Gattis snags the defensive board | 49-49 |
| 04:34 | Illinois | James Keeler dunks the ball on a nice dish by Floyd Gattis | 51-49 |
| 04:13 | Michigan State | Anthony Birnbaum steals the ball from Gregory Eckhardt | 51-49 |
| 03:45 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges drills a turnaround from the right block on a great pass from James Keeler | 53-49 |
| 03:32 | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt misses the easy dunk attempt | 53-49 |
| 03:31 | Michigan State | Angel Romano misses the tip | 53-49 |
| 03:30 | Michigan State | Gregory Eckhardt hits the follow up shot | 53-51 |
| 03:30 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 53-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Bradley Hunter (PG), Keith Park (SG) David Heffron, James Keeler | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Redrick (PG), Rigoberto Romano (SG), Allen Carr (SF), Stanley Hulme (C) Don Walker, Stuart Laurel, Gregory Eckhardt, Ronald Lester | |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Angel Romano steps in front of the Vincent Bridges pass | 53-51 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bradley Hunter (fresh) 11 pts. SG - Keith Park (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SF - Vincent Bridges (fresh) 4 pts. 2 blk. 4 pf. PF - Floyd Gattis (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Anthony Birnbaum (fresh) 12 pts. 8 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robert Redrick (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Rigoberto Romano (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - Allen Carr (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. PF - Angel Romano (fresh) 19 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. C - Stanley Hulme (fresh) | |
| 02:59 | Michigan State | Anthony Birnbaum blocks the short jumper by Angel Romano | 53-51 |
| 02:58 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter pulls down the rebound | 53-51 |
| 02:44 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum throws it down and he's fouled by Stanley Hulme - foul #2 on Stanley Hulme, team foul #6 | 55-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Don Walker (PG) Rigoberto Romano | |
| 02:44 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum misses the free throw | 55-51 |
| 02:44 | Michigan State | Angel Romano grabs the defensive rebound | 55-51 |
| 02:23 | Michigan State | Don Walker knocks in the fadeaway from the free throw line | 55-53 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges is fouled on the floor by Angel Romano - foul #2 on Angel Romano, team foul #7 | 55-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Delatorre (C) Anthony Birnbaum | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel (SG), Manuel Litchford (PF), Ronald Lester (C) Robert Redrick, Allen Carr, Stanley Hulme | |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges makes the 1st free throw | 56-53 |
| 02:08 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges misses the 2nd free throw | 56-53 |
| 02:08 | Michigan State | Ronald Lester gets the rebound | 56-53 |
| 01:43 | Michigan State | Manuel Litchford's floater is knocked away by Keith Park | 56-53 |
| 01:41 | Illinois | Larry Delatorre snags the defensive board | 56-53 |
| 01:29 | Illinois | Keith Park is called for a charge - foul #3 on Keith Park, team foul #6 | 56-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum (C) Larry Delatorre | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Allen Carr (SF), Gregory Eckhardt (PF) Angel Romano, Manuel Litchford | |
| 01:18 | Michigan State | Don Walker makes the jumper from the free throw line | 56-55 |
| 01:12 | Illinois | Floyd Gattis misses the driving attempt in the lane | 56-55 |
| 01:11 | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel pulls down the rebound | 56-55 |
| 01:05 | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel connects on the turnaround in the paint | 56-57 |
| 00:50 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter makes the 3 from the right wing on a great pass from Vincent Bridges | 59-57 |
| 00:36 | Michigan State | The jump hook by Gregory Eckhardt is blocked by Floyd Gattis | 59-57 |
| 00:34 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter snags the defensive board | 59-57 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| 00:31 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter is fouled in the backcourt by Don Walker - foul #3 on Don Walker, team foul #8 | 59-57 |
| 00:31 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter makes the 1st free throw | 60-57 |
| 00:31 | Illinois | Bradley Hunter makes the 2nd free throw | 61-57 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| 00:27 | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel misses long on a floater from just outside the lane | 61-57 |
| 00:25 | Michigan State | Allen Carr snags the offensive board | 61-57 |
| 00:23 | Michigan State | Don Walker evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 61-57 |
| 00:21 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges gets the rebound | 61-57 |
| 00:18 | Illinois | Stuart Laurel is called for the reach on Vincent Bridges in the backcourt - foul #2 on Stuart Laurel, team foul #9 | 61-57 |
| 00:18 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges misses the 1st free throw | 61-57 |
| 00:18 | Michigan State | Ronald Lester pulls down the rebound | 61-57 |
| 00:11 | Michigan State | Stuart Laurel connects on the 3pt shot from the left wing on a great pass from Don Walker out of a doubleteam | 61-60 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum is hacked by Don Walker in the backcourt - foul #4 on Don Walker, team foul #10 | 61-60 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum misses the 1st free throw | 61-60 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Anthony Birnbaum makes the 2nd free throw | 62-60 |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 4 full remaining) | 62-60 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and intentionally fouling (+1) | |
| 00:01 | Michigan State | Don Walker evades the doubleteam but misses long on a shot from close range | 62-60 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Vincent Bridges pulls down the rebound | 62-60 |