| Lineup | Akron | PG - Daniel Ramsey (fresh) SG - John Allen (fresh) SF - Erik Bradley (fresh) PF - Manuel Devitt (fresh) C - Ralph Vance (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Darius Ball (fresh) SG - Dwayne Larue (fresh) SF - John Strothers (fresh) PF - Eric Ransom (fresh) C - Porter Jones (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Akron | Akron is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a halfcourt press/2-3 zone (0) | |
| 19:31 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom is fouled on the floor by Manuel Devitt - foul #1 on Manuel Devitt, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:23 | Mississippi State | John Strothers knocks in the floater from the free throw line | 0-2 |
| 18:56 | Akron | John Allen is hacked by Dwayne Larue - foul #1 on Dwayne Larue, team foul #1 | 0-2 |
| 18:27 | Akron | John Strothers swats the dunk try by Manuel Devitt | 0-2 |
| 18:25 | Mississippi State | John Strothers grabs the board | 0-2 |
| 18:20 | Mississippi State | Darius Ball buries a floater from the baseline set up by Dwayne Larue | 0-4 |
| 18:03 | Akron | Erik Bradley splits the doubleteam but misses short on a jumper from the left wing | 0-4 |
| 18:01 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Porter Jones | 0-4 |
| 17:54 | Mississippi State | Porter Jones double dribbles | 0-4 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell (PG), Gregory Claassen (SG), James Malloy (SF), Rogelio Russo (PF), Douglas Wallace (C) Darius Ball, Dwayne Larue, John Strothers, Eric Ransom, Porter Jones | |
| 17:34 | Akron | Gregory Claassen is called for the reach on Erik Bradley - foul #1 on Gregory Claassen, team foul #2 | 0-4 |
| 17:18 | Akron | Manuel Devitt can't finish the layup | 0-4 |
| 17:17 | Akron | John Allen misses the tip | 0-4 |
| 17:15 | Akron | John Allen gets the offensive rebound | 0-4 |
| 16:52 | Akron | Erik Bradley is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a shot from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Douglas Wallace - foul #1 on Douglas Wallace, team foul #3 | 0-4 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Darius Ball (PG) Gregory Claassen | |
| 16:52 | Akron | Erik Bradley makes the 1st free throw | 1-4 |
| 16:52 | Akron | Erik Bradley misses the 2nd free throw | 1-4 |
| 16:52 | Mississippi State | Douglas Wallace snags the defensive board | 1-4 |
| 16:38 | Mississippi State | Rogelio Russo connects on the runner from close range on a great pass from James Malloy | 1-6 |
| 16:20 | Akron | John Allen misses long on an open 3pt jumper from the right corner | 1-6 |
| 16:18 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Rogelio Russo | 1-6 |
| 16:12 | Mississippi State | Douglas Wallace misses the dunk attempt | 1-6 |
| 16:10 | Akron | Ralph Vance grabs the board | 1-6 |
| 16:06 | Akron | Erik Bradley lays it in on a nice dish by John Allen and he's fouled by James Malloy - foul #1 on James Malloy, team foul #4 | 3-6 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Strothers (SF), Robert Lima (PF), Porter Jones (C) Darius Ball, Rogelio Russo, Douglas Wallace | |
| 16:06 | Akron | Erik Bradley makes the free throw | 4-6 |
| 15:52 | Mississippi State | John Strothers connects on the fadeaway from the left wing | 4-8 |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Daniel Ramsey (fresh) SG - John Allen (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Erik Bradley (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Manuel Devitt (fresh) C - Ralph Vance (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Wayne Powell (fresh) SG - James Malloy (fresh) 1 ast. SF - John Strothers (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Robert Lima (fresh) C - Porter Jones (fresh) | |
| 15:34 | Akron | Erik Bradley evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 4-8 |
| 15:32 | Mississippi State | Robert Lima gets the rebound | 4-8 |
| 15:14 | Mississippi State | John Allen is called for the reach on Wayne Powell - foul #1 on John Allen, team foul #2 | 4-8 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Darius Ball (PG), Dwayne Larue (SG), Eric Ransom (SF), Rogelio Russo (PF), Douglas Wallace (C) Wayne Powell, James Malloy, John Strothers, Robert Lima, Porter Jones | |
| 15:01 | Mississippi State | Dwayne Larue clanks a 3 from the left corner | 4-8 |
| 15:00 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom misses the tip | 4-8 |
| 14:59 | Akron | Ralph Vance pulls down the rebound | 4-8 |
| 14:38 | Akron | Erik Bradley is whistled for traveling | 4-8 |
| Subs | Akron | Damon Maddox (PG), Louis Gray (C) Daniel Ramsey, Ralph Vance | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell (PG), Gregory Claassen (SG), John Strothers (SF), Robert Lima (PF), Porter Jones (C) Darius Ball, Dwayne Larue, Eric Ransom, Rogelio Russo, Douglas Wallace | |
| 14:13 | Mississippi State | John Strothers is called for a charge - foul #1 on John Strothers, team foul #5 | 4-8 |
| Subs | Akron | Michael Jones (C) Manuel Devitt | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Darius Ball (PG), Dwayne Larue (SG), Rogelio Russo (PF), Douglas Wallace (C) Wayne Powell, Gregory Claassen, Robert Lima, Porter Jones | |
| 13:49 | Akron | Erik Bradley hits a 3pt shot from straight away on a nice dish by Damon Maddox | 7-8 |
| 13:22 | Mississippi State | Rogelio Russo clanks a jumpshot from the left side but the foul's on Louis Gray - foul #1 on Louis Gray, team foul #3 | 7-8 |
| Subs | Akron | Daniel Ramsey (PG) John Allen | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell (PG), James Malloy (SG), Eric Ransom (SF), Porter Jones (C) Darius Ball, Dwayne Larue, John Strothers, Douglas Wallace | |
| 13:22 | Mississippi State | Rogelio Russo misses the 1st free throw | 7-8 |
| 13:22 | Mississippi State | Rogelio Russo makes the 2nd free throw | 7-9 |
| 12:58 | Akron | Louis Gray is denied on a layup by Porter Jones | 7-9 |
| 12:56 | Akron | Michael Jones grabs the offensive rebound | 7-9 |
| 12:42 | Akron | Erik Bradley shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt shot from the right wing | 7-9 |
| 12:41 | Mississippi State | James Malloy grabs the board | 7-9 |
| 12:36 | Mississippi State | Rogelio Russo double dribbles | 7-9 |
| Subs | Akron | John Allen (SG), Manuel Devitt (PF), Ralph Vance (C) Damon Maddox, Louis Gray, Michael Jones | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Darius Ball (PG), Dwayne Larue (SG), John Strothers (SF), Robert Lima (PF) Wayne Powell, James Malloy, Eric Ransom, Rogelio Russo | |
| 12:11 | Akron | Manuel Devitt is by himself and knocks in the jumper from the left block | 9-9 |
| 12:05 | Mississippi State | Darius Ball double dribbles | 9-9 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Gregory Claassen (SG), James Malloy (SF), Douglas Wallace (C) Dwayne Larue, John Strothers, Porter Jones | |
| 11:36 | Akron | Manuel Devitt buries a runner from close range on a nice dish by John Allen and the foul's on Robert Lima - foul #1 on Robert Lima, team foul #6 | 11-9 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell (PG), Dwayne Larue (SG), John Strothers (SF), Eric Ransom (PF), Porter Jones (C) Darius Ball, Gregory Claassen, James Malloy, Robert Lima, Douglas Wallace | |
| 11:36 | Akron | Manuel Devitt makes the free throw | 12-9 |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Daniel Ramsey (fresh) SG - John Allen (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Erik Bradley (fairly fresh) 7 pts. PF - Manuel Devitt (fresh) 5 pts. C - Ralph Vance (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Wayne Powell (fresh) SG - Dwayne Larue (fresh) 1 ast. SF - John Strothers (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Eric Ransom (fresh) C - Porter Jones (fresh) | |
| 11:20 | Mississippi State | Dwayne Larue's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 12-9 |
| Subs | Akron | Damon Maddox (PG) Daniel Ramsey | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Darius Ball (PG), James Malloy (SG), Robert Lima (C) Wayne Powell, Dwayne Larue, Porter Jones | |
| 10:52 | Akron | Erik Bradley clanks a 3pt shot from the right corner | 12-9 |
| 10:51 | Akron | Manuel Devitt snags the offensive board | 12-9 |
| 10:31 | Akron | Robert Lima steals the ball from John Allen | 12-9 |
| 10:15 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom misses long on a jumpshot from the right side but he's hacked by Manuel Devitt - foul #2 on Manuel Devitt, team foul #4 | 12-9 |
| Subs | Akron | Daniel Ramsey (PG), Louis Gray (PF), Michael Jones (C) John Allen, Manuel Devitt, Ralph Vance | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell (PG), Dwayne Larue (SG), Rogelio Russo (PF), Porter Jones (C) Darius Ball, James Malloy, John Strothers, Robert Lima | |
| 10:15 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom makes the 1st free throw | 12-10 |
| 10:15 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom makes the 2nd free throw | 12-11 |
| 09:55 | Akron | Louis Gray misses long on a pull-up jumper from the right side but he's fouled by Dwayne Larue - foul #2 on Dwayne Larue, team foul #7 | 12-11 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Gregory Claassen (SG), John Strothers (SF), Robert Lima (PF) Dwayne Larue, Eric Ransom, Rogelio Russo | |
| 09:55 | Akron | Louis Gray makes the 1st free throw | 13-11 |
| 09:55 | Akron | Louis Gray makes the 2nd free throw | 14-11 |
| 09:39 | Mississippi State | Porter Jones banks in the layup | 14-13 |
| 09:17 | Akron | Erik Bradley's pass over a doubleteam is off the mark and out of bounds | 14-13 |
| Subs | Akron | John Allen (SG) Damon Maddox | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Darius Ball (PG), James Malloy (SF), Rogelio Russo (PF), Douglas Wallace (C) Gregory Claassen, John Strothers, Robert Lima, Porter Jones | |
| 09:02 | Mississippi State | Daniel Ramsey takes the ball from Rogelio Russo | 14-13 |
| 08:46 | Akron | John Allen misses long on a 3pt shot from straight away | 14-13 |
| 08:45 | Mississippi State | Douglas Wallace snags the defensive board | 14-13 |
| 08:27 | Mississippi State | Rogelio Russo is hacked by John Allen - foul #2 on John Allen, team foul #5 | 14-13 |
| Subs | Akron | Michael Sines (PG), Damon Maddox (SG), Giuseppe Moretti (SF), Ralph Vance (C) Daniel Ramsey, John Allen, Erik Bradley, Michael Jones | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Gregory Claassen (SG), John Strothers (SF), Robert Lima (PF), Porter Jones (C) Wayne Powell, James Malloy, Rogelio Russo, Douglas Wallace | |
| 08:12 | Mississippi State | Giuseppe Moretti is called for the reach on John Strothers - foul #1 on Giuseppe Moretti, team foul #6 | 14-13 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell (SG) Gregory Claassen | |
| 07:58 | Mississippi State | Darius Ball makes the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 14-15 |
| 07:47 | Akron | John Strothers takes the ball from Louis Gray | 14-15 |
| 07:32 | Mississippi State | Darius Ball misses the 3 from the right corner | 14-15 |
| 07:31 | Mississippi State | John Strothers grabs the offensive board | 14-15 |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Michael Sines (fresh) SG - Damon Maddox (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Giuseppe Moretti (fresh) PF - Louis Gray (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Ralph Vance (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Darius Ball (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Wayne Powell (fresh) SF - John Strothers (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Robert Lima (fresh) C - Porter Jones (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:19 | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell drills a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 14-18 |
| 07:01 | Akron | Ralph Vance can't connect on a 3 from the right corner | 14-18 |
| 06:59 | Akron | Louis Gray tips it but misses | 14-18 |
| 06:58 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to John Strothers | 14-18 |
| 06:53 | Mississippi State | Darius Ball misses badly on a floater from the free throw line but he's hacked by Michael Sines - foul #1 on Michael Sines, team foul #7 | 14-18 |
| Subs | Akron | Daniel Ramsey (PG), Erik Bradley (SF), Michael Jones (PF) Michael Sines, Giuseppe Moretti, Louis Gray | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Malloy (SG), Eric Ransom (SF), Rogelio Russo (PF), Douglas Wallace (C) Wayne Powell, John Strothers, Robert Lima, Porter Jones | |
| 06:53 | Mississippi State | Darius Ball misses the 1st free throw | 14-18 |
| 06:53 | Mississippi State | Darius Ball misses the 2nd free throw | 14-18 |
| 06:53 | Akron | The rebound goes to Michael Jones | 14-18 |
| 06:28 | Akron | Douglas Wallace steps in front of the Ralph Vance pass | 14-18 |
| 06:23 | Mississippi State | Rogelio Russo loses the dribble to Daniel Ramsey | 14-18 |
| 05:54 | Akron | Ralph Vance makes the driving attempt from the baseline | 16-18 |
| 05:45 | Mississippi State | James Malloy hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the free throw line | 16-18 |
| 05:44 | Akron | The rebound goes to Michael Jones | 16-18 |
| 05:19 | Akron | Erik Bradley misses the layup against the doubleteam | 16-18 |
| 05:17 | Akron | Daniel Ramsey tips it in | 18-18 |
| 05:07 | Mississippi State | Douglas Wallace buries a jump hook from close range set up by Darius Ball | 18-20 |
| 04:56 | Akron | Douglas Wallace is called for the reach on Daniel Ramsey - foul #2 on Douglas Wallace, team foul #8 | 18-20 |
| Subs | Akron | Giuseppe Moretti (SG), Louis Gray (PF), Thomas Stahl (C) Damon Maddox, Michael Jones, Ralph Vance | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell (PG), Gregory Claassen (SG), John Strothers (SF), Robert Lima (PF), Porter Jones (C) Darius Ball, James Malloy, Eric Ransom, Rogelio Russo, Douglas Wallace | |
| 04:56 | Akron | Daniel Ramsey makes the 1st free throw | 19-20 |
| 04:56 | Akron | Daniel Ramsey makes the 2nd free throw | 20-20 |
| 04:43 | Mississippi State | Erik Bradley is called for the reach on John Strothers - foul #1 on Erik Bradley, team foul #8 | 20-20 |
| Subs | Akron | Michael Sines (PG) Daniel Ramsey | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 04:43 | Mississippi State | John Strothers makes the 1st free throw | 20-21 |
| 04:43 | Mississippi State | John Strothers makes the 2nd free throw | 20-22 |
| 04:15 | Akron | Wayne Powell takes the ball from Louis Gray | 20-22 |
| 04:01 | Mississippi State | Gregory Claassen comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the right side but he's fouled by Giuseppe Moretti - foul #2 on Giuseppe Moretti, team foul #9 | 20-22 |
| Subs | Akron | Curtis Hawkins (SG) Giuseppe Moretti | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 04:01 | Mississippi State | Gregory Claassen makes the 1st free throw | 20-23 |
| 04:01 | Mississippi State | Gregory Claassen makes the 2nd free throw | 20-24 |
| 03:38 | Akron | Louis Gray drills a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 22-24 |
| 03:32 | Mississippi State | Porter Jones throws it down set up by Gregory Claassen and he's hacked by Thomas Stahl - foul #1 on Thomas Stahl, team foul #10 | 22-26 |
| Subs | Akron | Daniel Ramsey (PG), John Allen (SG), Manuel Devitt (PF), Michael Jones (C) Michael Sines, Curtis Hawkins, Louis Gray, Thomas Stahl | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Darius Ball (PG), Dwayne Larue (SG), Eric Ransom (PF) Wayne Powell, Gregory Claassen, Robert Lima | |
| 03:32 | Mississippi State | Porter Jones makes the free throw | 22-27 |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Daniel Ramsey (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. SG - John Allen (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Erik Bradley (fairly fresh) 7 pts. PF - Manuel Devitt (fresh) 5 pts. C - Michael Jones (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Darius Ball (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Dwayne Larue (fresh) 1 ast. SF - John Strothers (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. PF - Eric Ransom (fresh) 2 pts. C - Porter Jones (fresh) 5 pts. | |
| 03:11 | Akron | Erik Bradley can't connect on a 3 from straight away | 22-27 |
| 03:09 | Mississippi State | Dwayne Larue grabs the board | 22-27 |
| 03:05 | Mississippi State | Michael Jones is called for the reach on Porter Jones - foul #1 on Michael Jones, team foul #11 | 22-27 |
| Subs | Akron | Giuseppe Moretti (SF) Erik Bradley | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Malloy (SG), Rogelio Russo (PF) Darius Ball, Eric Ransom | |
| 03:05 | Mississippi State | Porter Jones makes the 1st free throw | 22-28 |
| 03:05 | Mississippi State | Porter Jones makes the 2nd free throw | 22-29 |
| 02:38 | Akron | John Allen drills a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 25-29 |
| 02:18 | Mississippi State | Dwayne Larue drills a fadeaway jumper from the left side on a great pass from Rogelio Russo | 25-31 |
| 01:56 | Akron | John Allen drills a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 28-31 |
| 01:54 | Mississippi State | Dwayne Larue throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 28-31 |
| Subs | Akron | Damon Maddox (PG), Erik Bradley (SF), Ralph Vance (C) Daniel Ramsey, Giuseppe Moretti, Michael Jones | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Wayne Powell (PG), Eric Ransom (SF), Robert Lima (PF), Douglas Wallace (C) James Malloy, John Strothers, Rogelio Russo, Porter Jones | |
| 01:33 | Akron | Erik Bradley comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 28-31 |
| 01:31 | Mississippi State | Douglas Wallace grabs the defensive rebound | 28-31 |
| 01:25 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom comes up short on the driving attempt from the right block but the foul's on Erik Bradley - foul #2 on Erik Bradley, team foul #12 | 28-31 |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Darius Ball (PG) Wayne Powell | |
| 01:25 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom misses the 1st free throw | 28-31 |
| 01:25 | Mississippi State | Eric Ransom makes the 2nd free throw | 28-32 |
| 01:11 | Akron | Damon Maddox drills a 3 from the left wing set up by Erik Bradley out of the doubleteam | 31-32 |
| 00:52 | Mississippi State | Damon Maddox steps in front of the Dwayne Larue pass | 31-32 |
| 00:36 | Akron | Ralph Vance knocks in the jump hook from the baseline on a great pass from Damon Maddox | 33-32 |
| 00:22 | Mississippi State | Darius Ball clanks a jump hook from the left block | 33-32 |
| 00:21 | Akron | Manuel Devitt snags the defensive board | 33-32 |
| 00:01 | Akron | John Allen comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 33-32 |
| 00:00 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Douglas Wallace | 33-32 |