| Lineup | Grinnell | PG - James McLilly (fresh) SG - James Harris (fresh) SF - Jimmy Witherspoon (fresh) PF - Gary Benard (fresh) C - Lee Huie (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Nichols (fresh) SG - Victor Haldeman (fresh) SF - Thomas Isbell (fresh) PF - David Dalton (fresh) C - William Harrison (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | William Harrison wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Grinnell | Grinnell is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a fastbreak offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:43 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman knocks in the shot from the left block on a great pass from Brian Nichols | 0-2 |
| 19:30 | Grinnell | Lee Huie clanks a shot from the right wing | 0-2 |
| 19:28 | Illinois | William Harrison grabs the board | 0-2 |
| 19:23 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman hits a floater in the lane | 0-4 |
| 19:02 | Grinnell | Gary Benard hits a jumper from the right block set up by James Harris and the foul's on David Dalton - foul #1 on David Dalton, team foul #1 | 2-4 |
| 19:02 | Grinnell | Gary Benard makes the free throw | 3-4 |
| 18:44 | Illinois | William Harrison misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 3-4 |
| 18:42 | Grinnell | Lee Huie pulls down the rebound | 3-4 |
| 18:24 | Grinnell | Lee Huie drills a 3pt shot from the right corner | 6-4 |
| 18:03 | Illinois | Thomas Isbell clanks a 3 pointer from the right wing | 6-4 |
| 18:01 | Illinois | William Harrison snags the offensive board | 6-4 |
| 17:51 | Illinois | Brian Nichols misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 6-4 |
| 17:49 | Grinnell | Jimmy Witherspoon grabs the board | 6-4 |
| 17:29 | Grinnell | James McLilly is called for a moving pick - foul #1 on James McLilly, team foul #1 | 6-4 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Greg Bobo (C) Lee Huie | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Gossman (SG), Lloyd Augustus (SF), Larry Smith (PF), Edison Gilmer (C) Victor Haldeman, Thomas Isbell, David Dalton, William Harrison | |
| 17:12 | Illinois | Brian Nichols can't connect on a fadeaway from the right side | 6-4 |
| 17:11 | Grinnell | The rebound goes to Greg Bobo | 6-4 |
| 17:05 | Grinnell | Jimmy Witherspoon scores on a fadeaway from the left side | 8-4 |
| 16:51 | Illinois | Gary Benard is called for the reach on Lloyd Augustus - foul #1 on Gary Benard, team foul #2 | 8-4 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Brian Parrott (PG), David Bogen (SG), Joshua Jones (SF), Rudy Keller (C) James McLilly, James Harris, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gary Benard | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate (SG) Brian Nichols | |
| 16:38 | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate makes the 3 pointer from the left corner on a great pass from Bruce Gossman | 8-7 |
| 16:19 | Grinnell | Rudy Keller misses the dunk attempt | 8-7 |
| 16:18 | Illinois | Edison Gilmer grabs the board | 8-7 |
| 16:14 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 8-7 |
| 16:12 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Larry Smith | 8-7 |
| 15:57 | Illinois | Edison Gilmer's pass is intercepted by Brian Parrott | 8-7 |
| 15:54 | Grinnell | Brian Parrott lays it in | 10-7 |
| Lineup | Grinnell | PG - Brian Parrott (fresh) 2 pts. SG - David Bogen (fresh) SF - Joshua Jones (fresh) PF - Greg Bobo (fresh) C - Rudy Keller (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Bruce Gossman (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Jeffrey Tate (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Lloyd Augustus (fresh) PF - Larry Smith (fresh) C - Edison Gilmer (fresh) | |
| 15:26 | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate clanks a 3 pointer from the right wing | 10-7 |
| 15:25 | Grinnell | Rudy Keller grabs the board | 10-7 |
| 15:02 | Grinnell | Jeffrey Tate is called for the reach on Joshua Jones - foul #1 on Jeffrey Tate, team foul #2 | 10-7 |
| Subs | Grinnell | James McLilly (PG), James Harris (SG), Jimmy Witherspoon (SF), Gary Benard (PF), Lee Huie (C) Brian Parrott, David Bogen, Joshua Jones, Greg Bobo, Rudy Keller | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Nichols (PG), Victor Haldeman (SG), Thomas Isbell (SF), David Dalton (PF), William Harrison (C) Bruce Gossman, Jeffrey Tate, Lloyd Augustus, Larry Smith, Edison Gilmer | |
| 14:52 | Grinnell | James Harris is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on James Harris, team foul #3 | 10-7 |
| 14:31 | Illinois | William Harrison is fouled on the floor by Lee Huie - foul #1 on Lee Huie, team foul #4 | 10-7 |
| 14:16 | Illinois | James McLilly takes the ball from William Harrison | 10-7 |
| 14:06 | Grinnell | William Harrison steals it from Lee Huie | 10-7 |
| 14:02 | Illinois | Thomas Isbell buries a jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Victor Haldeman | 10-9 |
| 13:40 | Grinnell | Gary Benard comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 10-9 |
| 13:38 | Illinois | William Harrison grabs the defensive rebound | 10-9 |
| 13:33 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman blows the layup but the foul's on James Harris - foul #2 on James Harris, team foul #5 | 10-9 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Brian Parrott (SG) James Harris | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 13:33 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman misses the 1st free throw | 10-9 |
| 13:33 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman makes the 2nd free throw | 10-10 |
| 13:13 | Grinnell | Brian Parrott connects on the jumper from the right block on a nice dish by Gary Benard | 12-10 |
| 12:59 | Illinois | Brian Nichols can't connect on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 12-10 |
| 12:57 | Grinnell | Gary Benard snags the defensive board | 12-10 |
| 12:43 | Grinnell | James McLilly is hacked by Brian Nichols - foul #1 on Brian Nichols, team foul #3 | 12-10 |
| Subs | Grinnell | David Bogen (SG), Joshua Jones (SF), Greg Bobo (PF), Rudy Keller (C) James McLilly, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gary Benard, Lee Huie | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lloyd Augustus (SF), Larry Smith (PF) Thomas Isbell, David Dalton | |
| 12:25 | Grinnell | David Bogen clanks a 3 pointer from the left corner | 12-10 |
| 12:23 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Brian Nichols | 12-10 |
| 12:09 | Illinois | Brian Nichols hits a 3 from the left wing on a great pass from Lloyd Augustus | 12-13 |
| 11:47 | Grinnell | Greg Bobo hits the finger roll on a nice dish by David Bogen | 14-13 |
| Lineup | Grinnell | PG - Brian Parrott (fresh) 4 pts. SG - David Bogen (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Joshua Jones (fresh) PF - Greg Bobo (fresh) 2 pts. C - Rudy Keller (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Nichols (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Victor Haldeman (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Lloyd Augustus (fresh) PF - Larry Smith (fresh) C - William Harrison (fairly fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 11:42 | Illinois | Lloyd Augustus is fouled on the floor by Brian Parrott - foul #1 on Brian Parrott, team foul #6 | 14-13 |
| Subs | Grinnell | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Gossman (PG), Jeffrey Tate (SG), Thomas Isbell (SF), Edison Gilmer (C) Brian Nichols, Victor Haldeman, Larry Smith, William Harrison | |
| 11:28 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman misses short on a floater from the left side | 14-13 |
| 11:26 | Grinnell | Greg Bobo grabs the defensive rebound | 14-13 |
| 10:59 | Grinnell | David Bogen drills a 3pt shot from the left wing | 17-13 |
| 10:37 | Illinois | Joshua Jones picks off the pass by Thomas Isbell | 17-13 |
| 10:24 | Grinnell | Rudy Keller is hacked by Edison Gilmer - foul #1 on Edison Gilmer, team foul #4 | 17-13 |
| Subs | Grinnell | James McLilly (PG), Jimmy Witherspoon (SF), Gary Benard (PF), Lee Huie (C) Brian Parrott, Joshua Jones, Greg Bobo, Rudy Keller | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Nichols (PG), Jerry Harvey (SF), David Dalton (PF) Jeffrey Tate, Thomas Isbell, Lloyd Augustus | |
| 10:13 | Grinnell | James McLilly hits a fadeaway jumper from the left side on a great pass from Jimmy Witherspoon | 19-13 |
| 10:09 | Illinois | Lee Huie is called for the reach on Jerry Harvey - foul #2 on Lee Huie, team foul #7 | 19-13 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Brian Parrott (SG), Ralph Perea (C) David Bogen, Lee Huie | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 10:09 | Illinois | Jerry Harvey misses the 1st free throw | 19-13 |
| 10:09 | Grinnell | Gary Benard grabs the board | 19-13 |
| 10:07 | Grinnell | James McLilly is fouled in the backcourt by Brian Nichols - foul #2 on Brian Nichols, team foul #5 | 19-13 |
| Subs | Grinnell | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate (SG) Brian Nichols | |
| 09:54 | Grinnell | Jerry Harvey steps in front of the Ralph Perea pass | 19-13 |
| 09:51 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman lays it up and in on a great pass from Jerry Harvey | 19-15 |
| 09:35 | Grinnell | Ralph Perea blows the layup | 19-15 |
| 09:34 | Grinnell | Gary Benard snags the offensive board | 19-15 |
| 09:23 | Grinnell | Gary Benard misses the dunk attempt | 19-15 |
| 09:21 | Grinnell | Ralph Perea can't tip it in | 19-15 |
| 09:20 | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate gets the rebound | 19-15 |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman misses badly on a shot from the right side but the foul's on Brian Parrott - foul #2 on Brian Parrott, team foul #8 | 19-15 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Joshua Jones (SG) Brian Parrott | |
| Subs | Illinois | Victor Haldeman (SG), Thomas Isbell (SF), William Harrison (C) Jeffrey Tate, Jerry Harvey, Edison Gilmer | |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman makes the 1st free throw | 19-16 |
| 09:15 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman makes the 2nd free throw | 19-17 |
| 08:53 | Grinnell | James McLilly misses long on a jumpshot from the left wing but he's hacked by Victor Haldeman - foul #1 on Victor Haldeman, team foul #6 | 19-17 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Greg Bobo (C) Ralph Perea | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate (PG) Bruce Gossman | |
| 08:53 | Grinnell | James McLilly makes the 1st free throw | 20-17 |
| 08:53 | Grinnell | James McLilly makes the 2nd free throw | 21-17 |
| 08:31 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman loses the dribble to Greg Bobo | 21-17 |
| 08:11 | Grinnell | Jimmy Witherspoon misses badly on a 3pt shot from straight away | 21-17 |
| 08:09 | Grinnell | Gary Benard gets the offensive rebound | 21-17 |
| 07:55 | Grinnell | Jeffrey Tate is called for the reach on James McLilly - foul #2 on Jeffrey Tate, team foul #7 | 21-17 |
| Subs | Grinnell | David Bogen (SG), Rudy Keller (SF), Ralph Perea (C) Joshua Jones, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gary Benard | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jerry Harvey (PG), Lloyd Augustus (SF), Larry Smith (PF) Jeffrey Tate, Thomas Isbell, David Dalton | |
| 07:55 | Grinnell | James McLilly misses the 1st free throw | 21-17 |
| 07:55 | Illinois | Lloyd Augustus grabs the defensive rebound | 21-17 |
| 07:48 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman scores on a 3pt attempt from the right corner on a nice dish by Lloyd Augustus | 21-20 |
| Lineup | Grinnell | PG - James McLilly (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SG - David Bogen (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Rudy Keller (fresh) PF - Greg Bobo (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Ralph Perea (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Jerry Harvey (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Victor Haldeman (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Lloyd Augustus (fresh) PF - Larry Smith (fresh) C - William Harrison (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| 07:27 | Grinnell | Ralph Perea can't connect on a jumpshot from the left side | 21-20 |
| 07:26 | Illinois | Lloyd Augustus snags the defensive board | 21-20 |
| 07:22 | Illinois | Larry Smith is fouled on the floor by Greg Bobo - foul #1 on Greg Bobo, team foul #9 | 21-20 |
| Subs | Grinnell | David Lewis (SF) Greg Bobo | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Gossman (PG) Jerry Harvey | |
| 07:22 | Illinois | Larry Smith makes the 1st free throw | 21-21 |
| 07:22 | Illinois | Larry Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 21-22 |
| 07:02 | Grinnell | Ralph Perea misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 21-22 |
| 07:01 | Grinnell | Rudy Keller tips it in | 23-22 |
| 06:46 | Illinois | Lloyd Augustus lays it up and in on a nice dish by Victor Haldeman | 23-24 |
| 06:28 | Grinnell | James McLilly misses short on a shot from the left wing | 23-24 |
| 06:26 | Illinois | William Harrison grabs the board | 23-24 |
| 06:22 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #1 on Bruce Gossman, team foul #8 | 23-24 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Joshua Jones (PG), Jimmy Witherspoon (SF), Gary Benard (PF) James McLilly, David Lewis, Ralph Perea | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jerry Harvey (SG), Thomas Isbell (SF), David Dalton (PF), Edison Gilmer (C) Victor Haldeman, Lloyd Augustus, Larry Smith, William Harrison | |
| 06:16 | Grinnell | Joshua Jones is called for the offensive foul in the backcourt - foul #1 on Joshua Jones, team foul #10 | 23-24 |
| 06:10 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman hits the front of the rim on the shot from close range but the foul's on Gary Benard - foul #2 on Gary Benard, team foul #11 | 23-24 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Greg Bobo (C) Gary Benard | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 06:10 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman makes the 1st free throw | 23-25 |
| 06:10 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman makes the 2nd free throw | 23-26 |
| 05:55 | Grinnell | Edison Gilmer is called for the reach on Jimmy Witherspoon - foul #2 on Edison Gilmer, team foul #9 | 23-26 |
| Subs | Grinnell | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Lloyd Augustus (C) Edison Gilmer | |
| 05:55 | Grinnell | Jimmy Witherspoon makes the 1st free throw | 24-26 |
| 05:55 | Grinnell | Jimmy Witherspoon makes the 2nd free throw | 25-26 |
| 05:37 | Illinois | Lloyd Augustus drills a jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Bruce Gossman | 25-28 |
| 05:12 | Grinnell | Rudy Keller is called for the offensive foul - foul #1 on Rudy Keller, team foul #12 | 25-28 |
| Subs | Grinnell | James McLilly (PG), Ralph Perea (C) David Bogen, Rudy Keller | |
| Subs | Illinois | Victor Haldeman (SG) Bruce Gossman | |
| 04:49 | Illinois | Jerry Harvey clanks a floater from the free throw line | 25-28 |
| 04:47 | Grinnell | Ralph Perea pulls down the rebound | 25-28 |
| 04:41 | Grinnell | Victor Haldeman is called for the reach on Ralph Perea - foul #2 on Victor Haldeman, team foul #10 | 25-28 |
| Subs | Grinnell | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Gossman (SG), Larry Smith (PF), William Harrison (C) Victor Haldeman, David Dalton, Lloyd Augustus | |
| 04:41 | Grinnell | Ralph Perea misses the 1st free throw | 25-28 |
| 04:41 | Grinnell | Ralph Perea makes the 2nd free throw | 26-28 |
| 04:33 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman is hacked by Joshua Jones - foul #2 on Joshua Jones, team foul #13 | 26-28 |
| Subs | Grinnell | David Bogen (SG) Joshua Jones | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:33 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman makes the 1st free throw | 26-29 |
| 04:33 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman misses the 2nd free throw | 26-29 |
| 04:33 | Illinois | William Harrison snags the offensive board | 26-29 |
| 04:19 | Illinois | William Harrison is fouled on the floor by Greg Bobo - foul #2 on Greg Bobo, team foul #14 | 26-29 |
| Subs | Grinnell | David Lewis (SF), Rudy Keller (C) Jimmy Witherspoon, Greg Bobo | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:19 | Illinois | William Harrison makes the 1st free throw | 26-30 |
| 04:19 | Illinois | William Harrison makes the 2nd free throw | 26-31 |
| 04:00 | Grinnell | David Lewis hits a jumper from the left wing on a great pass from James McLilly | 28-31 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Thomas Isbell is fouled on the floor by David Lewis - foul #1 on David Lewis, team foul #15 | 28-31 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Brian Parrott (PG), James Harris (SG), Gary Benard (PF), Lee Huie (C) James McLilly, David Bogen, Ralph Perea, Rudy Keller | |
| Subs | Illinois | Brian Nichols (PG), Victor Haldeman (SG) Jerry Harvey, Bruce Gossman | |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Thomas Isbell makes the 1st free throw | 28-32 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Thomas Isbell misses the 2nd free throw | 28-32 |
| 03:51 | Grinnell | Lee Huie pulls down the rebound | 28-32 |
| 03:34 | Grinnell | David Lewis misses long on a fadeaway from the left side | 28-32 |
| 03:32 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman grabs the defensive rebound | 28-32 |
| Lineup | Grinnell | PG - Brian Parrott (fresh) 4 pts. SG - James Harris (fresh) 1 ast. SF - David Lewis (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Gary Benard (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. C - Lee Huie (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Brian Nichols (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Victor Haldeman (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SF - Thomas Isbell (fairly fresh) 3 pts. PF - Larry Smith (fresh) 2 pts. C - William Harrison (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 03:27 | Illinois | Victor Haldeman misses the jumper from the free throw line | 28-32 |
| 03:26 | Grinnell | Lee Huie snags the defensive board | 28-32 |
| 03:22 | Grinnell | Brian Parrott misses the driving attempt from the baseline but he's fouled by Victor Haldeman - foul #3 on Victor Haldeman, team foul #11 | 28-32 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Joshua Jones (SF) David Lewis | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate (SG), Lloyd Augustus (SF), Edison Gilmer (C) Victor Haldeman, Thomas Isbell, William Harrison | |
| 03:22 | Grinnell | Brian Parrott makes the 1st free throw | 29-32 |
| 03:22 | Grinnell | Brian Parrott makes the 2nd free throw | 30-32 |
| 03:09 | Illinois | Lee Huie steals the ball from Larry Smith | 30-32 |
| 02:46 | Grinnell | James Harris lays it up and in on a great pass from Gary Benard | 32-32 |
| 02:44 | Illinois | Brian Nichols loses the dribble to Brian Parrott in the backcourt | 32-32 |
| 02:30 | Grinnell | James Harris's floater is tipped away by Lloyd Augustus | 32-32 |
| 02:28 | Illinois | Lloyd Augustus grabs the board | 32-32 |
| 02:23 | Illinois | Lee Huie takes the ball from Larry Smith | 32-32 |
| 02:03 | Grinnell | Joshua Jones drills a fadeaway jumper from the left wing set up by Brian Parrott | 34-32 |
| 01:42 | Illinois | Brian Nichols is called for a charge - foul #3 on Brian Nichols, team foul #12 | 34-32 |
| Subs | Grinnell | Jimmy Witherspoon (SF), Greg Bobo (PF), Rudy Keller (C) Joshua Jones, Gary Benard, Lee Huie | |
| Subs | Illinois | Bruce Gossman (PG), Jerry Harvey (SF), David Dalton (PF), William Harrison (C) Brian Nichols, Lloyd Augustus, Larry Smith, Edison Gilmer | |
| 01:31 | Grinnell | Rudy Keller can't finish the layup | 34-32 |
| 01:30 | Grinnell | Jimmy Witherspoon hits the follow up shot | 36-32 |
| 01:25 | Illinois | The jumper by Bruce Gossman is denied by Greg Bobo | 36-32 |
| 01:23 | Grinnell | Jimmy Witherspoon gets the rebound | 36-32 |
| 01:16 | Grinnell | Rudy Keller travels with the ball | 36-32 |
| Subs | Grinnell | James McLilly (PG), David Bogen (SG) Brian Parrott, James Harris | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 01:14 | Illinois | David Bogen is called for the reach on Bruce Gossman in the backcourt - foul #1 on David Bogen, team foul #16 | 36-32 |
| 01:14 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman makes the 1st free throw | 36-33 |
| 01:14 | Illinois | Bruce Gossman misses the 2nd free throw | 36-33 |
| 01:14 | Grinnell | Rudy Keller grabs the defensive rebound | 36-33 |
| 01:03 | Grinnell | Greg Bobo comes up short on the jumper in the lane but the foul's on David Dalton - foul #2 on David Dalton, team foul #13 | 36-33 |
| Subs | Grinnell | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Isbell (SF) Jerry Harvey | |
| 01:03 | Grinnell | Greg Bobo makes the 1st free throw | 37-33 |
| 01:03 | Grinnell | Greg Bobo misses the 2nd free throw | 37-33 |
| 01:03 | Illinois | David Dalton snags the defensive board | 37-33 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the right side but the foul's on David Bogen - foul #2 on David Bogen, team foul #17 | 37-33 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate misses the 1st free throw | 37-33 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Jeffrey Tate makes the 2nd free throw | 37-34 |
| 00:24 | Grinnell | James McLilly scores on a shot from the right wing set up by David Bogen | 39-34 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Thomas Isbell comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 39-34 |