| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Lloyd Guillen (fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SF - David White (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. PF - Phillip Dean (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Jacob Miller (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Gerald Ricco (fresh) 8 pts. 4 ast. SG - Radomil Chudzinski (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Bruce Bennett (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Garry Gearhart (fresh) C - Ashley Peters (fresh) 5 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Penn State | Bruce Bennett inbounds the ball | 27-21 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-5) | |
| 19:41 | Penn State | Bruce Bennett comes up short on the jumper from just outside the lane | 27-21 |
| 19:39 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco pulls down the offensive rebound | 27-21 |
| 19:14 | Penn State | Phillip Dean swats the short shot by Garry Gearhart | 27-21 |
| 19:13 | Illinois | David White grabs the board | 27-21 |
| 18:55 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen misses badly on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 27-21 |
| 18:54 | Illinois | David White misses the tip | 27-21 |
| 18:52 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart grabs the board | 27-21 |
| 18:26 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco misses long on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 27-21 |
| 18:24 | Illinois | Phillip Dean gets the rebound | 27-21 |
| 18:19 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell can't connect on a floater from the left wing | 27-21 |
| 18:17 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart snags the defensive board | 27-21 |
| 18:15 | Penn State | Bruce Bennett is called for the offensive foul in the backcourt - foul #2 on Bruce Bennett, team foul #1 | 27-21 |
| 17:51 | Illinois | Jacob Miller drills a turnaround in the lane | 29-21 |
| 17:22 | Penn State | Ashley Peters is hacked by Scott Blackwell - foul #3 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #1 | 29-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Penn State | Mwai Abdur (SG) Radomil Chudzinski | |
| 16:57 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco misses short on a fadeaway from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Jacob Miller - foul #2 on Jacob Miller, team foul #2 | 29-21 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Penn State | James Chiesa (SF) Garry Gearhart | |
| 16:57 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco makes the 1st free throw | 29-22 |
| 16:57 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco makes the 2nd free throw | 29-23 |
| 16:33 | Illinois | Bruce Bennett steals the ball from Scott Blackwell | 29-23 |
| 16:07 | Penn State | James Chiesa misses the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 29-23 |
| 16:05 | Penn State | Mwai Abdur tips it but misses | 29-23 |
| 16:04 | Penn State | Ashley Peters tips it but misses | 29-23 |
| 16:02 | Penn State | The offensive rebound goes to Mwai Abdur | 29-23 |
| 15:48 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco's floater is knocked away by Phillip Dean | 29-23 |
| 15:47 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Phillip Dean | 29-23 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SG - Lloyd Guillen (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SF - David White (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 4 reb. 3 blk. C - Jacob Miller (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Gerald Ricco (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 4 ast. SG - Mwai Abdur (fresh) SF - James Chiesa (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Bruce Bennett (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - Ashley Peters (fairly fresh) 6 reb. | |
| 15:18 | Illinois | Phillip Dean is called for traveling | 29-23 |
| Subs | Illinois | Harry Timmons (SG), Joseph Pearce (C) Lloyd Guillen, David White | |
| Subs | Penn State | Radomil Chudzinski (SG), Garry Gearhart (PF) James Chiesa, Ashley Peters | |
| 15:05 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 29-23 |
| 15:04 | Illinois | Harry Timmons pulls down the rebound | 29-23 |
| 14:38 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell scores on a 3pt jumper from the left corner on a nice dish by Jacob Miller | 32-23 |
| 14:09 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco loses the dribble to Phillip Dean | 32-23 |
| 13:40 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 32-23 |
| 13:38 | Illinois | Harry Timmons grabs the offensive board | 32-23 |
| 13:21 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 32-23 |
| 13:19 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart pulls down the rebound | 32-23 |
| 13:16 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco is fouled in the backcourt by Jacob Miller - foul #3 on Jacob Miller, team foul #3 | 32-23 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (PG), Lloyd Guillen (SG), David White (SF), Ralph Hylton (PF) Scott Blackwell, Harry Timmons, Jacob Miller, Phillip Dean | |
| Subs | Penn State | James Chiesa (PG), William Mistretta (SF), Ashley Peters (C) Gerald Ricco, Mwai Abdur, Bruce Bennett | |
| 12:54 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart comes up short on the jump hook from the left block but he's fouled by Ralph Hylton - foul #1 on Ralph Hylton, team foul #4 | 32-23 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Penn State | Weldon Ruffin (SG) Radomil Chudzinski | |
| 12:54 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart makes the 1st free throw | 32-24 |
| 12:54 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart makes the 2nd free throw | 32-25 |
| 12:29 | Illinois | Joseph Pearce clanks a floater from the right side | 32-25 |
| 12:27 | Penn State | The rebound goes to Ashley Peters | 32-25 |
| 11:59 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart hits a jumper in the lane | 32-27 |
| 11:54 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen hits a floater from the right side set up by David White | 34-27 |
| 11:35 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart buries a shot in the lane | 34-29 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jeffrey Craig (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Lloyd Guillen (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SF - David White (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - Ralph Hylton (fresh) 2 reb. C - Joseph Pearce (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - James Chiesa (fresh) 6 pts. SG - Weldon Ruffin (fresh) SF - William Mistretta (fresh) PF - Garry Gearhart (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - Ashley Peters (fairly fresh) 7 reb. | |
| 11:14 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 34-29 |
| 11:12 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart grabs the defensive rebound | 34-29 |
| 10:44 | Penn State | Ashley Peters scores on a runner in the lane | 34-31 |
| 10:22 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen clanks a driving attempt from close range but he's fouled by William Mistretta - foul #2 on William Mistretta, team foul #2 | 34-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Jacob Miller (SF), Phillip Dean (PF) Jeffrey Craig, David White, Ralph Hylton | |
| Subs | Penn State | Gerald Ricco (PG), Radomil Chudzinski (SG), Mwai Abdur (SF), Bruce Bennett (PF) James Chiesa, Weldon Ruffin, William Mistretta, Garry Gearhart | |
| 10:22 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen misses the 1st free throw | 34-31 |
| 10:22 | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen makes the 2nd free throw | 35-31 |
| 09:53 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco knocks in the floater from the left wing set up by Radomil Chudzinski | 35-33 |
| 09:51 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell's pass is intercepted by Gerald Ricco in the backcourt | 35-33 |
| 09:29 | Penn State | Bruce Bennett throws a bad pass out of bounds | 35-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | Harry Timmons (SG), Ralph Hylton (SF) Lloyd Guillen, Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| 09:00 | Illinois | Phillip Dean buries a jumper from the right side set up by Scott Blackwell | 37-33 |
| 08:32 | Penn State | Mwai Abdur knocks in the jumper from the left wing | 37-35 |
| 08:14 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses the floater from the right side | 37-35 |
| 08:13 | Illinois | Jacob Miller tips it in | 39-35 |
| 08:06 | Penn State | Harry Timmons picks off the pass by Mwai Abdur | 39-35 |
| 08:04 | Illinois | Gerald Ricco is called for the reach on Scott Blackwell in the backcourt - foul #2 on Gerald Ricco, team foul #3 | 39-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (PG), David White (SF) Scott Blackwell, Ralph Hylton | |
| Subs | Penn State | James Chiesa (SF), Garry Gearhart (PF) Mwai Abdur, Ashley Peters | |
| 07:47 | Illinois | David White is called for traveling | 39-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Penn State | Weldon Ruffin (SG) Radomil Chudzinski | |
| 07:26 | Penn State | Bruce Bennett misses long on a 3 from straight away | 39-35 |
| 07:24 | Illinois | Harry Timmons pulls down the rebound | 39-35 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jeffrey Craig (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Harry Timmons (fresh) 2 stl. SF - David White (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. 3 blk. C - Jacob Miller (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Gerald Ricco (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 4 ast. SG - Weldon Ruffin (fresh) SF - James Chiesa (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Garry Gearhart (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. C - Bruce Bennett (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 07:13 | Illinois | Phillip Dean clanks a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 39-35 |
| 07:11 | Illinois | Jacob Miller tips it home | 41-35 |
| 06:50 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart is open and buries a jumper near the basket set up by James Chiesa | 41-37 |
| 06:31 | Illinois | Jacob Miller misses long on a jump hook in the lane | 41-37 |
| 06:30 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart grabs the defensive rebound | 41-37 |
| 06:06 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco clanks a floater from just outside the lane | 41-37 |
| 06:05 | Illinois | David White grabs the defensive rebound | 41-37 |
| 05:45 | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig makes the jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Jacob Miller | 43-37 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 3-2 zone (-5) | |
| 05:36 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco comes up short on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 43-37 |
| 05:35 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Phillip Dean | 43-37 |
| 05:35 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 43-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (PG), Lloyd Guillen (SG) Jeffrey Craig, Harry Timmons | |
| Subs | Penn State | Radomil Chudzinski (SG), Mwai Abdur (SF) Weldon Ruffin, James Chiesa | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 3-2 zone (-4) | |
| 05:16 | Illinois | Radomil Chudzinski is called for the reach on Phillip Dean - foul #3 on Radomil Chudzinski, team foul #4 | 43-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Ralph Hylton (PF) Phillip Dean | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| 04:59 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell scores on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 46-37 |
| 04:43 | Penn State | Radomil Chudzinski buries a floater from the left block | 46-39 |
| 04:15 | Illinois | Jacob Miller clanks a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 46-39 |
| 04:14 | Illinois | David White grabs the offensive rebound | 46-39 |
| 03:57 | Illinois | Garry Gearhart steals it from David White | 46-39 |
| 03:41 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco clanks a runner from close range | 46-39 |
| 03:39 | Illinois | David White grabs the defensive rebound | 46-39 |
| 03:10 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by David White | 48-39 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Scott Blackwell (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SG - Lloyd Guillen (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 3 ast. SF - David White (tiring) 7 pts. 8 reb. PF - Ralph Hylton (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Jacob Miller (tiring) 8 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Penn State | PG - Gerald Ricco (tiring) 12 pts. 4 ast. SG - Radomil Chudzinski (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Mwai Abdur (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Garry Gearhart (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. C - Bruce Bennett (tiring) 5 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 02:57 | Penn State | Bruce Bennett knocks in the 3 from the right wing on a great pass from Gerald Ricco | 48-42 |
| 02:39 | Illinois | Jacob Miller is called for traveling | 48-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | Phillip Dean (PF), Joseph Pearce (C) David White, Jacob Miller | |
| Subs | Penn State | James Chiesa (PG), Weldon Ruffin (SG), William Mistretta (SF), Ashley Peters (C) Gerald Ricco, Radomil Chudzinski, Mwai Abdur, Bruce Bennett | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 3-2 zone (-4) | |
| 02:35 | Penn State | Penn State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 48-42 |
| 02:28 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart misses the turnaround from the left block but he's fouled by Phillip Dean - foul #1 on Phillip Dean, team foul #5 | 48-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Penn State | Gerald Ricco (PG), Radomil Chudzinski (SG), Mwai Abdur (SF) James Chiesa, Weldon Ruffin, William Mistretta | |
| 02:28 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart makes the 1st free throw | 48-43 |
| 02:28 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart makes the 2nd free throw | 48-44 |
| 02:23 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 48-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jacob Miller (SF) Ralph Hylton | |
| Subs | Penn State | Bruce Bennett (SF) Mwai Abdur | |
| 01:59 | Illinois | Phillip Dean is called for traveling | 48-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | David White (SF) Joseph Pearce | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 3-2 zone (-4) | |
| 01:39 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco is fouled on the floor by Scott Blackwell - foul #4 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #6 | 48-44 |
| 01:33 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco misses short on a shot from the right side but he's fouled by Scott Blackwell - foul #5 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #7 | 48-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Craig (PG) Scott Blackwell | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| 01:33 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco makes the 1st free throw | 48-45 |
| 01:33 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco misses the 2nd free throw | 48-45 |
| 01:33 | Illinois | Jacob Miller grabs the board | 48-45 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a 3-2 zone (-5) | |
| 01:05 | Illinois | Ashley Peters is called for the reach on Jeffrey Craig - foul #2 on Ashley Peters, team foul #5 | 48-45 |
| 00:44 | Illinois | The short jumper by Phillip Dean is denied by Bruce Bennett | 48-45 |
| 00:43 | Penn State | The rebound goes to Ashley Peters | 48-45 |
| 00:38 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco loses the dribble to David White | 48-45 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-5) | |
| 00:36 | Illinois | Jacob Miller is hacked by Gerald Ricco in the backcourt - foul #3 on Gerald Ricco, team foul #6 | 48-45 |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Jacob Miller is hacked by Ashley Peters - foul #3 on Ashley Peters, team foul #7 | 48-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Harry Timmons (SG) Lloyd Guillen | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Jacob Miller misses the 1st free throw | 48-45 |
| 00:33 | Penn State | Garry Gearhart gets the rebound | 48-45 |
| 00:22 | Penn State | Ashley Peters travels with the ball | 48-45 |
| 00:19 | Illinois | Harry Timmons is fouled in the backcourt by Radomil Chudzinski - foul #4 on Radomil Chudzinski, team foul #8 | 48-45 |
| 00:19 | Illinois | Harry Timmons makes the 1st free throw | 49-45 |
| 00:19 | Illinois | Harry Timmons makes the 2nd free throw | 50-45 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-5) | |
| 00:16 | Penn State | Radomil Chudzinski is hacked by Jacob Miller in the backcourt - foul #4 on Jacob Miller, team foul #8 | 50-45 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen (SG) Harry Timmons | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| 00:16 | Penn State | Radomil Chudzinski makes the 1st free throw | 50-46 |
| 00:16 | Penn State | Radomil Chudzinski makes the 2nd free throw | 50-47 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Gerald Ricco is called for the reach on Phillip Dean in the backcourt - foul #4 on Gerald Ricco, team foul #9 | 50-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Harry Timmons (SG) Lloyd Guillen | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 1st free throw | 51-47 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 2nd free throw | 52-47 |
| 00:12 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco is fouled in the backcourt by Jeffrey Craig - foul #2 on Jeffrey Craig, team foul #9 | 52-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen (SG) Harry Timmons | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| 00:12 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco makes the 1st free throw | 52-48 |
| 00:12 | Penn State | Gerald Ricco makes the 2nd free throw | 52-49 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Phillip Dean is hacked by Radomil Chudzinski in the backcourt - foul #5 on Radomil Chudzinski, team foul #10 | 52-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Harry Timmons (SG) Lloyd Guillen | |
| Subs | Penn State | Mwai Abdur (SG) Radomil Chudzinski | |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 1st free throw | 53-49 |
| 00:09 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 2nd free throw | 54-49 |
| 00:04 | Penn State | Mwai Abdur buries a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 54-52 |
| 00:04 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 1 full remaining) | 54-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | Lloyd Guillen (SG) Harry Timmons | |
| Subs | Penn State | | |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Phillip Dean is fouled in the backcourt by Mwai Abdur - foul #3 on Mwai Abdur, team foul #11 | 54-52 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 1st free throw | 55-52 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 2nd free throw | 56-52 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Penn State | Penn State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-5) | |
| 00:00 | Penn State | Mwai Abdur comes up short on the fullcourt shot | 56-52 |