| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SG - Donald Melville (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Marshall Bleau (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. C - Frank Harn (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Sargent (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Gregory Davis (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Lowell Moreland (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Randal Boone (fresh) 3 pts. C - Greg Mathews (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Marshall Bleau inbounds the ball | 27-22 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:43 | Michigan State | Donald Melville hits a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 29-22 |
| 19:14 | Illinois | Scott Sargent misses the jumpshot from just outside the lane | 29-22 |
| 19:13 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith gets the rebound | 29-22 |
| 18:52 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith is doubleteamed and throws a bad pass out of bounds | 29-22 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG), Jeffrey Boykins (C) Reginald Smith, Frank Harn | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 18:36 | Illinois | Randal Boone can't connect on a jumper in the paint | 29-22 |
| 18:34 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Donald Melville | 29-22 |
| 18:06 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Boykins's pass is intercepted by Randal Boone | 29-22 |
| 17:50 | Illinois | Randal Boone jams it on a great pass from Gregory Davis | 29-24 |
| 17:25 | Michigan State | Gregory Davis steals it from Lewis Whitley | 29-24 |
| 17:13 | Illinois | Gregory Davis makes the pull-up jumper from the left side on a nice dish by Scott Sargent | 29-26 |
| 16:44 | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 29-26 |
| 16:42 | Michigan State | Donald Melville tips it in | 31-26 |
| 16:32 | Illinois | Randal Boone lays it in on a great pass from Scott Sargent and the foul's on Lewis Whitley - foul #1 on Lewis Whitley, team foul #1 | 31-28 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG), Calvin Saldana (PF), Frank Harn (C) Donald Melville, Lewis Whitley, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred King (SG), Todd Voss (SF), Joseph Cunniff (C) Gregory Davis, Lowell Moreland, Greg Mathews | |
| 16:32 | Illinois | Randal Boone makes the free throw | 31-29 |
| 16:13 | Michigan State | Frank Harn lays it in on a nice dish by Reginald Smith | 33-29 |
| 16:10 | Illinois | Reginald Smith picks off the pass by Scott Sargent in the backcourt | 33-29 |
| 16:09 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith lays it up and in | 35-29 |
| 15:46 | Illinois | Joseph Cunniff can't finish the layup | 35-29 |
| 15:45 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith pulls down the rebound | 35-29 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (fresh) 13 pts. 2 ast. SG - Rocky Esposito (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Marshall Bleau (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Calvin Saldana (fresh) 2 pts. C - Frank Harn (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Sargent (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. SG - Fred King (fresh) SF - Todd Voss (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Randal Boone (fairly fresh) 8 pts. C - Joseph Cunniff (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 15:21 | Michigan State | Marshall Bleau double dribbles | 35-29 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG), Lawrence Bell (SF), Lewis Whitley (PF) Rocky Esposito, Marshall Bleau, Calvin Saldana | |
| Subs | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie (PG), Gregory Davis (SG), Lowell Moreland (SF), Greg Mathews (C) Scott Sargent, Fred King, Todd Voss, Joseph Cunniff | |
| 15:14 | Illinois | Gregory Davis hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right side | 35-29 |
| 15:12 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Lewis Whitley | 35-29 |
| 15:08 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith double dribbles as he's doubleteamed | 35-29 |
| 14:52 | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 35-29 |
| 14:51 | Michigan State | Donald Melville pulls down the rebound | 35-29 |
| 14:46 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith clanks a shot from the left side | 35-29 |
| 14:44 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Greg Mathews | 35-29 |
| 14:26 | Illinois | Lewis Whitley blocks the short jumper by Gregory Davis | 35-29 |
| 14:24 | Michigan State | Frank Harn pulls down the rebound | 35-29 |
| 14:20 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith misses long on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 35-29 |
| 14:19 | Illinois | Gregory Davis snags the defensive board | 35-29 |
| 13:53 | Illinois | Greg Mathews hits the finger roll set up by Lowell Moreland and the foul's on Lewis Whitley - foul #2 on Lewis Whitley, team foul #2 | 35-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG) Donald Melville | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Sargent (PG) Douglas McKerlie | |
| 13:53 | Illinois | Greg Mathews makes the free throw | 35-32 |
| 13:42 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left block | 35-32 |
| 13:40 | Illinois | Gregory Davis grabs the board | 35-32 |
| 13:26 | Illinois | Scott Sargent misses the easy layup | 35-32 |
| 13:25 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith snags the defensive board | 35-32 |
| 13:04 | Michigan State | Frank Harn's layup is rejected by Randal Boone | 35-32 |
| 13:03 | Michigan State | Frank Harn tips it in | 37-32 |
| 12:50 | Illinois | Lawrence Bell steps in front of the Lowell Moreland pass | 37-32 |
| 12:39 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith evades the doubleteam and hits a 3pt jumper from straight away on a great pass from Lawrence Bell | 40-32 |
| 12:33 | Illinois | Greg Mathews's floater is tipped away by Lewis Whitley | 40-32 |
| 12:31 | Illinois | Greg Mathews pulls down the offensive rebound | 40-32 |
| 12:16 | Illinois | Greg Mathews hits the front of the rim on the jumper in the paint | 40-32 |
| 12:15 | Illinois | Gregory Davis hits the follow up shot | 40-34 |
| 11:46 | Michigan State | Lawrence Bell misses the jumper from the free throw line | 40-34 |
| 11:45 | Illinois | Gregory Davis gets the rebound | 40-34 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (fairly fresh) 16 pts. 2 ast. SG - Rocky Esposito (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Lawrence Bell (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. PF - Lewis Whitley (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. C - Frank Harn (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Sargent (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. SG - Gregory Davis (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. SF - Lowell Moreland (fairly fresh) 6 pts. PF - Randal Boone (tiring) 8 pts. C - Greg Mathews (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 11:30 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland is fouled on the floor by Lawrence Bell - foul #4 on Lawrence Bell, team foul #3 | 40-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG), Marshall Bleau (SF), Calvin Saldana (PF), Jeffrey Boykins (C) Rocky Esposito, Lawrence Bell, Lewis Whitley, Frank Harn | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred King (SG), Todd Voss (SF), Norbert McConnico (PF), Joseph Cunniff (C) Gregory Davis, Lowell Moreland, Randal Boone, Greg Mathews | |
| 11:21 | Illinois | Scott Sargent misses long on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 40-34 |
| 11:19 | Michigan State | Donald Melville snags the defensive board | 40-34 |
| 10:59 | Michigan State | Calvin Saldana throws it down set up by Reginald Smith out of the doubleteam | 42-34 |
| 10:47 | Illinois | Joseph Cunniff clanks a turnaround from the right block | 42-34 |
| 10:46 | Illinois | Norbert McConnico tips it back up and in | 42-36 |
| 10:27 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Boykins hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt from the left block | 42-36 |
| 10:25 | Illinois | Joseph Cunniff snags the defensive board | 42-36 |
| 10:10 | Illinois | Marshall Bleau steals the ball from Joseph Cunniff | 42-36 |
| 10:07 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith throws it down on a nice dish by Marshall Bleau | 44-36 |
| 09:52 | Illinois | Scott Sargent hits a shot from the left side on a nice dish by Norbert McConnico and he's fouled by Marshall Bleau - foul #1 on Marshall Bleau, team foul #4 | 44-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG), Lewis Whitley (PF), Frank Harn (C) Donald Melville, Calvin Saldana, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 09:52 | Illinois | Scott Sargent makes the free throw | 44-39 |
| 09:31 | Michigan State | Frank Harn throws a bad pass out of bounds | 44-39 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG) Rocky Esposito | |
| Subs | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie (PG), Gregory Davis (SG), Greg Mathews (C) Scott Sargent, Fred King, Joseph Cunniff | |
| 09:10 | Illinois | Greg Mathews clanks a fadeaway from the free throw line | 44-39 |
| 09:08 | Illinois | Norbert McConnico gets the offensive rebound | 44-39 |
| 09:01 | Illinois | Gregory Davis knocks in the runner from the right block on a nice dish by Todd Voss and he's fouled by Marshall Bleau - foul #2 on Marshall Bleau, team foul #5 | 44-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG) Donald Melville | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lowell Moreland (SF) Todd Voss | |
| 09:01 | Illinois | Gregory Davis makes the free throw | 44-42 |
| 08:41 | Michigan State | Marshall Bleau clanks a driving attempt from close range | 44-42 |
| 08:40 | Illinois | Norbert McConnico grabs the defensive rebound | 44-42 |
| 08:29 | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 44-42 |
| 08:27 | Michigan State | Frank Harn gets the rebound | 44-42 |
| 08:08 | Michigan State | Frank Harn is fouled on the floor by Greg Mathews - foul #1 on Greg Mathews, team foul #1 | 44-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG), Calvin Saldana (PF) Rocky Esposito, Lewis Whitley | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randal Boone (PF) Norbert McConnico | |
| 07:48 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 44-42 |
| 07:46 | Illinois | Randal Boone gets the rebound | 44-42 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (tiring) 18 pts. 3 ast. SG - Donald Melville (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Marshall Bleau (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Calvin Saldana (fresh) 4 pts. C - Frank Harn (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Douglas McKerlie (fresh) SG - Gregory Davis (fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. SF - Lowell Moreland (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Randal Boone (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. C - Greg Mathews (fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 07:27 | Illinois | Greg Mathews buries a floater from close range | 44-44 |
| 07:03 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith makes the contested 3pt attempt from the right wing on a great pass from Marshall Bleau | 47-44 |
| 06:44 | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie scores on a 3 from the left wing set up by Randal Boone | 47-47 |
| 06:27 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith splits the doubleteam and buries a floater from the right side on a nice dish by Donald Melville | 49-47 |
| 06:12 | Illinois | Frank Harn steals the ball from Greg Mathews | 49-47 |
| 05:43 | Michigan State | Calvin Saldana is called for traveling | 49-47 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG), Lawrence Bell (SF), Lewis Whitley (PF), Jeffrey Boykins (C) Donald Melville, Marshall Bleau, Calvin Saldana, Frank Harn | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Sargent (PG), Fred King (SG), Todd Voss (SF), Norbert McConnico (PF), Joseph Cunniff (C) Douglas McKerlie, Gregory Davis, Lowell Moreland, Randal Boone, Greg Mathews | |
| 05:27 | Illinois | Scott Sargent connects on the turnaround from the left block on a great pass from Todd Voss | 49-49 |
| 05:02 | Michigan State | Lawrence Bell is whistled for a charge - foul #5 on Lawrence Bell, team foul #6 | 49-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Marshall Bleau (SF), Frank Harn (C) Lawrence Bell, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:47 | Illinois | Scott Sargent misses short on a runner from the left block but he's hacked by Reginald Smith - foul #1 on Reginald Smith, team foul #7 | 49-49 |
| 04:47 | Illinois | Scott Sargent makes the 1st free throw | 49-50 |
| 04:47 | Illinois | Scott Sargent makes the 2nd free throw | 49-51 |
| 04:28 | Michigan State | Norbert McConnico is called for the reach on Lewis Whitley - foul #2 on Norbert McConnico, team foul #2 | 49-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jeffrey Boykins (C) Frank Harn | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:01 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley clanks a runner in the paint | 49-51 |
| 03:59 | Illinois | Fred King pulls down the rebound | 49-51 |
| 03:40 | Illinois | Joseph Cunniff is fouled on the floor by Jeffrey Boykins - foul #2 on Jeffrey Boykins, team foul #8 | 49-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (PG), Frank Harn (C) Reginald Smith, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| Subs | Illinois | Gregory Davis (SG), Lowell Moreland (SF), Randal Boone (PF) Fred King, Todd Voss, Norbert McConnico | |
| 03:40 | Illinois | Joseph Cunniff makes the 1st free throw | 49-52 |
| 03:40 | Illinois | Joseph Cunniff makes the 2nd free throw | 49-53 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Donald Melville (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Rocky Esposito (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Marshall Bleau (tiring) 2 pts. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. C - Frank Harn (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 7 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Sargent (fresh) 12 pts. 4 ast. SG - Gregory Davis (fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. SF - Lowell Moreland (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Randal Boone (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. C - Joseph Cunniff (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 03:17 | Michigan State | Donald Melville misses long on a driving attempt in the paint but he's fouled by Gregory Davis - foul #2 on Gregory Davis, team foul #3 | 49-53 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG) Rocky Esposito | |
| Subs | Illinois | Greg Mathews (C) Joseph Cunniff | |
| 03:17 | Michigan State | Donald Melville makes the 1st free throw | 50-53 |
| 03:17 | Michigan State | Donald Melville misses the 2nd free throw | 50-53 |
| 03:17 | Illinois | Greg Mathews grabs the defensive rebound | 50-53 |
| 02:53 | Illinois | Scott Sargent hits a turnaround from the right block on a nice dish by Randal Boone | 50-55 |
| 02:34 | Michigan State | The short jumper by Marshall Bleau is denied by Lowell Moreland | 50-55 |
| 02:32 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Lowell Moreland | 50-55 |
| 02:10 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland makes the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 50-58 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| 01:54 | Michigan State | Marshall Bleau scores on a floater from the right wing | 52-58 |
| 01:46 | Illinois | Greg Mathews drills a fadeaway from the right wing set up by Scott Sargent | 52-60 |
| 01:42 | Michigan State | Randal Boone blocks the short jumper by Frank Harn | 52-60 |
| 01:40 | Illinois | Greg Mathews snags the defensive board | 52-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 01:38 | Illinois | Greg Mathews is fouled in the backcourt by Reginald Smith - foul #2 on Reginald Smith, team foul #9 | 52-60 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Fred King (SG), Norbert McConnico (PF) Lowell Moreland, Randal Boone | |
| 01:38 | Illinois | Greg Mathews makes the 1st free throw | 52-61 |
| 01:38 | Illinois | Greg Mathews makes the 2nd free throw | 52-62 |
| 01:19 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 52-62 |
| 01:18 | Illinois | Norbert McConnico pulls down the rebound | 52-62 |
| 01:15 | Illinois | Norbert McConnico is hacked by Reginald Smith in the backcourt - foul #3 on Reginald Smith, team foul #10 | 52-62 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Joseph Cunniff (C) Greg Mathews | |
| 01:15 | Illinois | Norbert McConnico makes the 1st free throw | 52-63 |
| 01:15 | Illinois | Norbert McConnico makes the 2nd free throw | 52-64 |
| 00:57 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith splits the doubleteam and buries a 3pt jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Donald Melville | 55-64 |
| 00:57 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 55-64 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:56 | Illinois | Gregory Davis is fouled in the backcourt by Reginald Smith - foul #4 on Reginald Smith, team foul #11 | 55-64 |
| 00:56 | Illinois | Gregory Davis misses the 1st free throw | 55-64 |
| 00:56 | Illinois | Gregory Davis misses the 2nd free throw | 55-64 |
| 00:56 | Michigan State | Frank Harn grabs the board | 55-64 |
| 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 (-1) | |
| 00:49 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith scores on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 58-64 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:25 | Illinois | Scott Sargent is denied on a layup by Lewis Whitley | 58-64 |
| 00:23 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Frank Harn | 58-64 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:18 | Michigan State | Frank Harn is fouled on the floor by Fred King - foul #1 on Fred King, team foul #4 | 58-64 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lowell Moreland (SF), Randal Boone (PF), Greg Mathews (C) Fred King, Norbert McConnico, Joseph Cunniff | |
| 00:15 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 58-64 |
| 00:13 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland grabs the defensive rebound | 58-64 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland is hacked by Donald Melville in the backcourt - foul #1 on Donald Melville, team foul #12 | 58-64 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Douglas McKerlie (PG), Joseph Cunniff (PF) Scott Sargent, Randal Boone | |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland makes the 1st free throw | 58-65 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Lowell Moreland misses the 2nd free throw | 58-65 |
| 00:10 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley gets the rebound | 58-65 |
| 00:04 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 58-65 |
| 00:03 | Michigan State | Frank Harn pulls down the offensive rebound | 58-65 |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3 from straight away | 58-65 |