| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Paul Knudson (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - James Bacher (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Gene Bell (fresh) 8 pts. PF - Jeffrey Twyman (fresh) C - Mason Littrell (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clarence Maroney (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randy Demps (fresh) 3 ast. SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) PF - James Dailey (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. C - Michael Hullinger (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski inbounds the ball | 28-32 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 19:43 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski misses short on a floater from the right wing | 28-32 |
| 19:41 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Jeffrey Twyman | 28-32 |
| 19:36 | Michigan State | Gene Bell's floater is knocked away by Randy Demps | 28-32 |
| 19:35 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski grabs the defensive rebound | 28-32 |
| 19:17 | Illinois | Randy Demps hits the front of the rim on the shot from just outside the lane | 28-32 |
| 19:15 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Clarence Maroney | 28-32 |
| 18:56 | Illinois | The jump hook by James Dailey is blocked by Jeffrey Twyman | 28-32 |
| 18:55 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman snags the defensive board | 28-32 |
| 18:49 | Michigan State | Marko Mioduszewski steps in front of the Gene Bell pass | 28-32 |
| 18:27 | Illinois | James Dailey misses long on a shot from the right wing | 28-32 |
| 18:25 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Gene Bell | 28-32 |
| 18:16 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell makes the turnaround from close range | 30-32 |
| 17:53 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney hits a jumpshot from the left wing | 30-34 |
| 17:43 | Michigan State | Gene Bell buries a pull-up jumper from the free throw line on a nice dish by Jeffrey Twyman | 32-34 |
| 17:24 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger is open and scores on a fadeaway from the right wing | 32-36 |
| 17:01 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman is whistled for a carry | 32-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (PG), Paul Cain (SF), Steven Shattuck (PF) Clarence Maroney, Marko Mioduszewski, James Dailey | |
| 16:34 | Illinois | Paul Cain misses long on a 3 from the left wing | 32-36 |
| 16:32 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Jeffrey Twyman | 32-36 |
| 16:10 | Michigan State | Gene Bell loses the ball out of bounds | 32-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randy Sharp (SG), John Watson (SF), Frank Patrick (C) James Bacher, Gene Bell, Mason Littrell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Newell (SF) Randy Demps | |
| 15:54 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson misses long on a floater from the left wing | 32-36 |
| 15:53 | Illinois | Paul Cain gets the offensive rebound | 32-36 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Paul Knudson (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randy Sharp (fresh) SF - John Watson (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. PF - Jeffrey Twyman (fairly fresh) 4 reb. C - Frank Patrick (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Sebastian Jackson (fresh) 1 pts. SG - Paul Cain (fresh) SF - Larry Newell (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Steven Shattuck (fresh) 5 pts. 3 blk. C - Michael Hullinger (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 15:24 | Illinois | Larry Newell loses the ball out of bounds | 32-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Bacher (SG), William Callahan (PF) Paul Knudson, Jeffrey Twyman | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (PG), Marko Mioduszewski (SF), James Dailey (PF) Sebastian Jackson, Larry Newell, Michael Hullinger | |
| 15:07 | Michigan State | John Watson knocks in the floater from the right block on a nice dish by Randy Sharp | 34-36 |
| 14:42 | Illinois | Frank Patrick steals it from Paul Cain | 34-36 |
| 14:23 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick clanks a floater in the lane but the foul's on Steven Shattuck - foul #2 on Steven Shattuck, team foul #1 | 34-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Gene Bell (SF) John Watson | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (SG), Michael Hullinger (C) Paul Cain, Steven Shattuck | |
| 14:23 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick makes the 1st free throw | 35-36 |
| 14:23 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick makes the 2nd free throw | 36-36 |
| 13:54 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski double dribbles | 36-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Paul Knudson (PG), Mason Littrell (C) James Bacher, Frank Patrick | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 13:36 | Michigan State | Gene Bell clanks a 3 from the right corner | 36-36 |
| 13:34 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Randy Demps | 36-36 |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Randy Demps misses short on a shot from the left side but he's fouled by Randy Sharp - foul #3 on Randy Sharp, team foul #1 | 36-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Cain (SG), Steven Shattuck (C) Clarence Maroney, Michael Hullinger | |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Randy Demps makes the 1st free throw | 36-37 |
| 13:14 | Illinois | Randy Demps makes the 2nd free throw | 36-38 |
| 12:54 | Michigan State | Gene Bell misses the shot from the left side | 36-38 |
| 12:52 | Illinois | Paul Cain gets the rebound | 36-38 |
| 12:48 | Illinois | Paul Cain makes the 3 pointer from the left corner on a nice dish by Randy Demps | 36-41 |
| 12:30 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson makes the 3pt shot from the left wing | 39-41 |
| 12:06 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski connects on the jumpshot from the right wing | 39-43 |
| 11:49 | Michigan State | Gene Bell can't connect on a jumper from the left wing | 39-43 |
| 11:48 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell tips it home | 41-43 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Paul Knudson (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randy Sharp (fairly fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Gene Bell (fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. PF - William Callahan (fairly fresh) 2 reb. 3 blk. 3 pf. C - Mason Littrell (fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy Demps (fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. SG - Paul Cain (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - James Dailey (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. C - Steven Shattuck (fresh) 5 pts. 3 blk. | |
| 11:22 | Illinois | Paul Cain is hacked by Gene Bell - foul #3 on Gene Bell, team foul #2 | 41-43 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Bacher (SG), Jeffrey Twyman (PF) Randy Sharp, William Callahan | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (PG), Larry Newell (SF), Michael Hullinger (C) Randy Demps, Marko Mioduszewski, Steven Shattuck | |
| 11:05 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney's pass over a doubleteam is off the mark and out of bounds | 41-43 |
| 10:44 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman misses long on a driving attempt from the right block | 41-43 |
| 10:43 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Clarence Maroney | 41-43 |
| 10:14 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger drills a jumpshot from the right wing | 41-45 |
| 09:54 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 41-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randy Sharp (PG), John Watson (SF), Frank Patrick (C) Paul Knudson, Gene Bell, Mason Littrell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (SG), Steven Shattuck (PF) Paul Cain, James Dailey | |
| 09:38 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck misses short on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 41-45 |
| 09:36 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger snags the offensive board | 41-45 |
| 09:09 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney misses short on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 41-45 |
| 09:07 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick grabs the board | 41-45 |
| 08:50 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman hits a turnaround in the paint set up by James Bacher and the foul's on Steven Shattuck - foul #3 on Steven Shattuck, team foul #2 | 43-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (PG), Marko Mioduszewski (SF) Clarence Maroney, Larry Newell | |
| 08:50 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman misses the free throw | 43-45 |
| 08:50 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger pulls down the rebound | 43-45 |
| 08:26 | Illinois | Randy Demps misses short on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 43-45 |
| 08:24 | Michigan State | John Watson grabs the board | 43-45 |
| 08:14 | Michigan State | Michael Hullinger picks off the pass by John Watson | 43-45 |
| 07:57 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski loses the ball out of bounds | 43-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Paul Knudson (PG), Gene Bell (SF), William Callahan (PF), Mason Littrell (C) James Bacher, John Watson, Jeffrey Twyman, Frank Patrick | |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Cain (SF) Steven Shattuck | |
| 07:41 | Michigan State | Gene Bell banks in the layup | 45-45 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Paul Knudson (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randy Sharp (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - Gene Bell (fresh) 12 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. PF - William Callahan (fresh) 2 reb. 3 blk. 3 pf. C - Mason Littrell (fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Sebastian Jackson (fresh) 1 pts. SG - Randy Demps (fresh) 2 pts. 4 ast. SF - Paul Cain (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) 2 pts. C - Michael Hullinger (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 07:20 | Illinois | Paul Cain is called for traveling | 45-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (PG), James Dailey (PF) Sebastian Jackson, Randy Demps | |
| 07:00 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell steps out of bounds on the baseline | 45-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Bacher (SG) Randy Sharp | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 06:35 | Illinois | Paul Cain misses short on a shot from the right wing | 45-45 |
| 06:34 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney snags the offensive board | 45-45 |
| 06:14 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski clanks a runner from the right block but he's fouled by Mason Littrell - foul #1 on Mason Littrell, team foul #3 | 45-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (SG), Steven Shattuck (PF) Paul Cain, James Dailey | |
| 06:14 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski misses the 1st free throw | 45-45 |
| 06:14 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski makes the 2nd free throw | 45-46 |
| 05:55 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson clanks a 3pt attempt from straight away but the foul's on Clarence Maroney - foul #1 on Clarence Maroney, team foul #3 | 45-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Newell (SF) Marko Mioduszewski | |
| 05:55 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson makes the 1st free throw | 46-46 |
| 05:55 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson makes the 2nd free throw | 47-46 |
| 05:55 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson misses the 3rd free throw | 47-46 |
| 05:55 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger grabs the defensive rebound | 47-46 |
| 05:36 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 47-46 |
| 05:34 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck tips it home | 47-48 |
| 05:14 | Michigan State | Michael Hullinger blocks the jumper by Mason Littrell | 47-48 |
| 05:12 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell pulls down the offensive rebound | 47-48 |
| 04:57 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell misses the lay-in | 47-48 |
| 04:55 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger grabs the defensive rebound | 47-48 |
| 04:39 | Illinois | Larry Newell's floater is tipped away by William Callahan | 47-48 |
| 04:38 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Mason Littrell | 47-48 |
| 04:16 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell drills a fadeaway from the right side and the foul's on Randy Demps - foul #1 on Randy Demps, team foul #4 | 49-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randy Sharp (SG), John Watson (SF), Jeffrey Twyman (PF) James Bacher, Gene Bell, William Callahan | |
| Subs | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson (PG), Paul Cain (SF), Marko Mioduszewski (PF), James Dailey (C) Clarence Maroney, Larry Newell, Steven Shattuck, Michael Hullinger | |
| 04:16 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell makes the free throw | 50-48 |
| 03:53 | Illinois | Sebastian Jackson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 50-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Frank Patrick (C) Mason Littrell | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Hullinger (C) Randy Demps | |
| 03:34 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick loses the ball out of bounds | 50-48 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Paul Knudson (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SG - Randy Sharp (fresh) 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - John Watson (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. PF - Jeffrey Twyman (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Frank Patrick (fresh) 6 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Sebastian Jackson (fresh) 1 pts. SG - Paul Cain (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) 3 pts. PF - James Dailey (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. C - Michael Hullinger (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 50-48 |
| 03:05 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski tips it in | 50-50 |
| 02:38 | Michigan State | James Dailey denies the turnaround by Frank Patrick | 50-50 |
| 02:36 | Illinois | The rebound goes to James Dailey | 50-50 |
| 02:36 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 50-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Bacher (SG), Gene Bell (SF), William Callahan (PF), Mason Littrell (C) Randy Sharp, John Watson, Jeffrey Twyman, Frank Patrick | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (PG), Randy Demps (SG), Steven Shattuck (C) Sebastian Jackson, Paul Cain, Michael Hullinger | |
| 02:17 | Illinois | Gene Bell is called for the reach on Marko Mioduszewski - foul #4 on Gene Bell, team foul #4 | 50-50 |
| 02:02 | Illinois | James Dailey misses short on a shot from the free throw line | 50-50 |
| 02:00 | Michigan State | James Bacher snags the defensive board | 50-50 |
| 01:52 | Michigan State | Gene Bell connects on the floater from the free throw line on a nice dish by Paul Knudson and he's fouled by Marko Mioduszewski - foul #3 on Marko Mioduszewski, team foul #5 | 52-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Hullinger (C) Steven Shattuck | |
| 01:52 | Michigan State | Gene Bell misses the free throw | 52-50 |
| 01:52 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell snags the offensive board | 52-50 |
| 01:37 | Michigan State | William Callahan is hacked by Michael Hullinger - foul #2 on Michael Hullinger, team foul #6 | 52-50 |
| 01:29 | Michigan State | Gene Bell's floater is tipped away by James Dailey | 52-50 |
| 01:27 | Illinois | James Dailey gets the rebound | 52-50 |
| 01:01 | Illinois | James Dailey can't connect on a jumper from the left wing | 52-50 |
| 00:59 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney pulls down the offensive rebound | 52-50 |
| 00:42 | Illinois | Randy Demps comes up short on the fadeaway near the basket | 52-50 |
| 00:41 | Illinois | James Dailey tips it home | 52-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 00:19 | Michigan State | Gene Bell buries a shot from the left block on a nice dish by Paul Knudson | 54-52 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney clanks a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 54-52 |
| 00:07 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell grabs the defensive rebound | 54-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:06 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell is hacked by Randy Demps in the backcourt - foul #2 on Randy Demps, team foul #7 | 54-52 |
| 00:06 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell makes the 1st free throw | 55-52 |
| 00:06 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell makes the 2nd free throw | 56-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:01 | Illinois | James Bacher takes the ball from Randy Demps | 56-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+3) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a 3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | James Bacher runs out the clock | 56-52 |