The Spartans did start hot out of the game taking an 11-2 lead less than four minutes into the game. They would extend that lead to 18-8 with 11:31 remaining in the first half. The biggest deficit in the half was 11 points. Illinois managed to make a comeback, though.
With just 34-seconds left in the half, Alan Griffin was able to bring the score back to 35-30. But some controversy with time almost expiring caused the Spartans to get another point. They entered the halftime locker room up 36-30 on the Illini.
The second half was pretty ugly for the Orange and Blue.