| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - John Mason (fresh) 1 pts. 2 ast. SG - Robert James (fresh) 2 reb. SF - Norman Jenkins (fresh) 10 pts. 3 pf. PF - Fred Carmona (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - David Halls (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Leon Hall (fresh) 8 pts. SG - Scott Blackwell (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Robert Moralez (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Larry Stanley (fresh) 9 pts. C - David White (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins inbounds the ball | 33-30 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| 19:42 | Mississippi State | John Mason misses badly on a 3pt shot from straight away | 33-30 |
| 19:41 | Illinois | Robert Moralez pulls down the rebound | 33-30 |
| 19:18 | Illinois | Leon Hall misses badly on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 33-30 |
| 19:17 | Illinois | Leon Hall tips it home | 33-32 |
| 19:14 | Mississippi State | John Mason is hacked by Scott Blackwell in the backcourt - foul #1 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #1 | 33-32 |
| 19:00 | Mississippi State | Fred Carmona is fouled on the floor by Larry Stanley - foul #1 on Larry Stanley, team foul #2 | 33-32 |
| 18:49 | Mississippi State | John Mason makes the 3 from straight away | 36-32 |
| 18:20 | Illinois | Larry Stanley throws a bad pass out of bounds | 36-32 |
| 17:57 | Mississippi State | David Halls buries a fadeaway in the lane on a great pass from Robert James | 38-32 |
| 17:31 | Illinois | Leon Hall connects on the fadeaway from just outside the lane on a great pass from Scott Blackwell | 38-34 |
| 17:11 | Mississippi State | David Halls misses long on a shot near the basket | 38-34 |
| 17:10 | Illinois | Robert Moralez snags the defensive board | 38-34 |
| 16:53 | Illinois | Leon Hall drills a 3pt attempt from the right corner set up by Robert Moralez | 38-37 |
| 16:41 | Mississippi State | Robert James hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right side but he's fouled by Scott Blackwell - foul #2 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #3 | 38-37 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly (C) David Halls | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steve Schroeder (C) David White | |
| 16:41 | Mississippi State | Robert James makes the 1st free throw | 39-37 |
| 16:41 | Mississippi State | Robert James makes the 2nd free throw | 40-37 |
| 16:18 | Illinois | Steve Schroeder is called for traveling | 40-37 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Michael Hilbert (PF) Fred Carmona | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Girard (PG) Leon Hall | |
| 16:13 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins is hacked by Robert Moralez in the backcourt - foul #2 on Robert Moralez, team foul #4 | 40-37 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Hrabovsky (SG) Scott Blackwell | |
| 15:51 | Mississippi State | Robert James can't finish the layup but he's fouled by Robert Moralez - foul #3 on Robert Moralez, team foul #5 | 40-37 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty (SG) Norman Jenkins | |
| Subs | Illinois | Phillip Dean (SF), Anthony Golden (PF) Robert Moralez, Larry Stanley | |
| 15:51 | Mississippi State | Robert James makes the 1st free throw | 41-37 |
| 15:51 | Mississippi State | Robert James makes the 2nd free throw | 42-37 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - John Mason (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Thomas Petty (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Robert James (tiring) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Michael Hilbert (fresh) C - Bradly Kelly (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Girard (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Hrabovsky (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Phillip Dean (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Anthony Golden (fresh) 3 reb. C - Steve Schroeder (fresh) | |
| 15:34 | Illinois | Michael Girard hits the front of the rim on the jumper from just outside the lane | 42-37 |
| 15:33 | Mississippi State | John Mason grabs the defensive rebound | 42-37 |
| 15:29 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty scores on a floater from the right wing on a great pass from Bradly Kelly | 44-37 |
| 15:04 | Illinois | Phillip Dean misses short on a turnaround from close range but the foul's on Robert James - foul #2 on Robert James, team foul #1 | 44-37 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins (SF), Fred Carmona (PF) Robert James, Michael Hilbert | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Scott Blackwell (SG), David White (C) Michael Girard, Robert Hrabovsky, Steve Schroeder | |
| 15:04 | Illinois | Phillip Dean misses the 1st free throw | 44-37 |
| 15:04 | Illinois | Phillip Dean makes the 2nd free throw | 44-38 |
| 14:47 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty comes up short on the 3 from the left wing | 44-38 |
| 14:46 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell snags the defensive board | 44-38 |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses long on a fadeaway from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Thomas Petty - foul #4 on Thomas Petty, team foul #2 | 44-38 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Robert James (SG), David Halls (C) Thomas Petty, Bradly Kelly | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Moralez (SF), Larry Stanley (PF) Phillip Dean, Anthony Golden | |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses the 1st free throw | 44-38 |
| 14:20 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 2nd free throw | 44-39 |
| 14:09 | Mississippi State | Robert Moralez is called for the reach on John Mason - foul #4 on Robert Moralez, team foul #6 | 44-39 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Michael Hilbert (PF) Fred Carmona | |
| Subs | Illinois | Phillip Dean (SF) Robert Moralez | |
| 13:53 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins clanks a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 44-39 |
| 13:51 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Leon Hall | 44-39 |
| 13:30 | Illinois | David Halls steals it from Leon Hall | 44-39 |
| 13:16 | Mississippi State | Phillip Dean steps in front of the Norman Jenkins pass | 44-39 |
| 13:05 | Illinois | Leon Hall clanks a 3 from straight away | 44-39 |
| 13:03 | Illinois | David White tips it home | 44-41 |
| 12:39 | Mississippi State | David Halls connects on the fadeaway from the right block and the foul's on Phillip Dean - foul #3 on Phillip Dean, team foul #7 | 46-41 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Fred Carmona (PF) Michael Hilbert | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Girard (PG), Robert Hrabovsky (SG), Robert Moralez (SF), Anthony Golden (PF), Steve Schroeder (C) Leon Hall, Scott Blackwell, Phillip Dean, Larry Stanley, David White | |
| 12:39 | Mississippi State | David Halls misses the free throw | 46-41 |
| 12:39 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Steve Schroeder | 46-41 |
| 12:15 | Illinois | Robert Moralez drills a driving attempt in the paint set up by Robert Hrabovsky | 46-43 |
| 12:06 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins knocks in the 3 from the left corner | 49-43 |
| 11:39 | Illinois | Robert Moralez is whistled for a carry | 49-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Richard Steib (PF), Bradly Kelly (C) Fred Carmona, David Halls | |
| Subs | Illinois | Larry Stanley (PF), Phillip Dean (C) Anthony Golden, Steve Schroeder | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - John Mason (tiring) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Robert James (tiring) 4 pts. 2 reb. SF - Norman Jenkins (tiring) 13 pts. 3 pf. PF - Richard Steib (fresh) 2 pts. C - Bradly Kelly (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Girard (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Hrabovsky (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Moralez (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. PF - Larry Stanley (fairly fresh) 9 pts. C - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. | |
| 11:17 | Mississippi State | Richard Steib misses short on a jumper from the left wing | 49-43 |
| 11:16 | Illinois | Larry Stanley grabs the defensive rebound | 49-43 |
| 11:14 | Illinois | John Mason steals the ball from Michael Girard in the backcourt | 49-43 |
| 11:00 | Mississippi State | Phillip Dean picks off the pass by Richard Steib | 49-43 |
| 10:44 | Illinois | John Mason steals it from Phillip Dean | 49-43 |
| 10:19 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins clanks a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 49-43 |
| 10:18 | Illinois | Robert Hrabovsky grabs the board | 49-43 |
| 09:49 | Illinois | Norman Jenkins steps in front of the Robert Hrabovsky pass | 49-43 |
| 09:49 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 49-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Fred Carmona (PF), David Halls (C) Richard Steib, Bradly Kelly | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Scott Blackwell (SG), David White (C) Michael Girard, Robert Hrabovsky, Phillip Dean | |
| 09:36 | Mississippi State | Larry Stanley steals it from Norman Jenkins | 49-43 |
| 09:23 | Illinois | Larry Stanley buries a fadeaway from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Scott Blackwell | 49-45 |
| 09:16 | Mississippi State | Scott Blackwell steals it from John Mason | 49-45 |
| 08:53 | Illinois | Robert Moralez buries a fadeaway from the right block on a great pass from Leon Hall | 49-47 |
| 08:36 | Mississippi State | David White steals the ball from David Halls | 49-47 |
| 08:19 | Illinois | Larry Stanley scores on a fadeaway in the lane and he's hacked by Fred Carmona - foul #1 on Fred Carmona, team foul #3 | 49-49 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steve Schroeder (C) David White | |
| 08:19 | Illinois | Larry Stanley misses the free throw | 49-49 |
| 08:19 | Mississippi State | David Halls pulls down the rebound | 49-49 |
| 08:00 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from straight away | 49-49 |
| 07:59 | Mississippi State | Fred Carmona tips it home | 51-49 |
| 07:34 | Illinois | Larry Stanley steps out of bounds on the baseline | 51-49 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty (SG), Michael Hilbert (PF), Bradly Kelly (C) Robert James, Fred Carmona, David Halls | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Girard (PG), Van Schreffler (SG), Phillip Dean (SF), Anthony Golden (PF) Leon Hall, Scott Blackwell, Robert Moralez, Larry Stanley | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - John Mason (tired) 4 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Thomas Petty (fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. 4 pf. SF - Norman Jenkins (tired) 13 pts. 2 stl. 3 pf. PF - Michael Hilbert (fresh) C - Bradly Kelly (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Girard (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Van Schreffler (fresh) SF - Phillip Dean (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. 3 pf. PF - Anthony Golden (fresh) 3 reb. C - Steve Schroeder (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 07:23 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly's layup is rejected by Phillip Dean | 51-49 |
| 07:22 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly grabs the offensive rebound | 51-49 |
| 07:04 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins clanks a 3pt attempt from straight away | 51-49 |
| 07:02 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty can't tip it in | 51-49 |
| 07:01 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Phillip Dean | 51-49 |
| 06:41 | Illinois | Phillip Dean comes up short on the jumper near the basket | 51-49 |
| 06:39 | Illinois | Steve Schroeder gets the offensive rebound | 51-49 |
| 06:23 | Illinois | Michael Girard comes up short on the shot from the left side | 51-49 |
| 06:22 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly grabs the board | 51-49 |
| 06:16 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty can't connect on a jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Van Schreffler - foul #1 on Van Schreffler, team foul #8 | 51-49 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Fred Carmona (PF), David Halls (C) Michael Hilbert, Bradly Kelly | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Scott Blackwell (SG), David White (C) Michael Girard, Van Schreffler, Steve Schroeder | |
| 06:16 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty misses the 1st free throw | 51-49 |
| 06:16 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty misses the 2nd free throw | 51-49 |
| 06:16 | Illinois | Anthony Golden grabs the defensive rebound | 51-49 |
| 06:00 | Illinois | Phillip Dean lays it in on a nice dish by Leon Hall | 51-51 |
| 05:40 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins's 3 pointer is rejected by Leon Hall | 51-51 |
| 05:38 | Illinois | Phillip Dean pulls down the rebound | 51-51 |
| 05:12 | Illinois | Leon Hall misses badly on a runner from close range but he's fouled by John Mason - foul #3 on John Mason, team foul #4 | 51-51 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Michael Hilbert (PF) Fred Carmona | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Moralez (SF) Phillip Dean | |
| 05:12 | Illinois | Leon Hall makes the 1st free throw | 51-52 |
| 05:12 | Illinois | Leon Hall makes the 2nd free throw | 51-53 |
| 04:50 | Mississippi State | John Mason misses the floater from the right side | 51-53 |
| 04:48 | Illinois | Robert Moralez grabs the defensive rebound | 51-53 |
| 04:31 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell is hacked by John Mason - foul #4 on John Mason, team foul #5 | 51-53 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Robert James (SF), Bradly Kelly (C) Norman Jenkins, David Halls | |
| Subs | Illinois | Michael Girard (PG), Robert Hrabovsky (SG), Larry Stanley (PF) Leon Hall, Scott Blackwell, Anthony Golden | |
| 04:14 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses long on a fadeaway from the baseline but the foul's on Robert James - foul #3 on Robert James, team foul #6 | 51-53 |
| 04:14 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses the 1st free throw | 51-53 |
| 04:14 | Illinois | Robert Moralez makes the 2nd free throw | 51-54 |
| 03:57 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 51-54 |
| 03:55 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly tips it in | 53-54 |
| 03:35 | Illinois | Robert Moralez lays it in | 53-56 |
| 03:33 | Mississippi State | David White steals it from John Mason in the backcourt | 53-56 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - John Mason (very tired) 4 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. 4 pf. SG - Thomas Petty (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. 4 pf. SF - Robert James (tired) 4 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. PF - Michael Hilbert (fairly fresh) C - Bradly Kelly (fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Michael Girard (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Hrabovsky (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Robert Moralez (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. 4 pf. PF - Larry Stanley (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. C - David White (tiring) 3 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. | |
| 03:07 | Illinois | Larry Stanley comes up short on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 53-56 |
| 03:06 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Bradly Kelly | 53-56 |
| 03:01 | Mississippi State | Michael Girard picks off the pass by Michael Hilbert | 53-56 |
| 02:57 | Illinois | Michael Girard banks in the layup | 53-58 |
| 02:57 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 1 full remaining) | 53-58 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins (SF), Fred Carmona (PF), David Halls (C) Robert James, Michael Hilbert, Bradly Kelly | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Scott Blackwell (SG), Steve Schroeder (C) Michael Girard, Robert Hrabovsky, David White | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 02:43 | Mississippi State | Leon Hall picks off the pass by David Halls | 53-58 |
| 02:26 | Illinois | Leon Hall misses the easy layup but he's fouled by John Mason - foul #5 on John Mason, team foul #7 | 53-58 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Robert James (SG) John Mason | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 02:26 | Illinois | Leon Hall makes the 1st free throw | 53-59 |
| 02:26 | Illinois | Leon Hall makes the 2nd free throw | 53-60 |
| 02:24 | Mississippi State | Scott Blackwell steals it from Thomas Petty in the backcourt | 53-60 |
| 02:23 | Illinois | Robert Moralez banks in the layup set up by Scott Blackwell | 53-62 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 02:05 | Mississippi State | Robert James hits the front of the rim on the wide open 3pt attempt from straight away | 53-62 |
| 02:04 | Illinois | Steve Schroeder snags the defensive board | 53-62 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 01:58 | Illinois | David Halls denies the turnaround by Scott Blackwell | 53-62 |
| 01:57 | Illinois | Steve Schroeder snags the offensive board | 53-62 |
| 01:47 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell misses the dunk but the foul's on Robert James - foul #4 on Robert James, team foul #8 | 53-62 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | David White (C) Steve Schroeder | |
| 01:47 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 1st free throw | 53-63 |
| 01:47 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell makes the 2nd free throw | 53-64 |
| 01:38 | Mississippi State | Fred Carmona hits the front of the rim on the jump hook from the baseline | 53-64 |
| 01:36 | Illinois | David White pulls down the rebound | 53-64 |
| 01:08 | Illinois | Scott Blackwell is denied on a layup by Fred Carmona | 53-64 |
| 01:06 | Illinois | Leon Hall tips it back up and in | 53-66 |
| 01:02 | Mississippi State | Scott Blackwell is called for the reach on Thomas Petty in the backcourt - foul #3 on Scott Blackwell, team foul #9 | 53-66 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Michael Hilbert (PF), Bradly Kelly (C) Fred Carmona, David Halls | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 01:02 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty makes the 1st free throw | 54-66 |
| 01:02 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty makes the 2nd free throw | 55-66 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 00:58 | Illinois | Norman Jenkins is called for the reach on Leon Hall - foul #4 on Norman Jenkins, team foul #9 | 55-66 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Hrabovsky (SG), Van Schreffler (SF), Phillip Dean (PF) Scott Blackwell, Robert Moralez, Larry Stanley | |
| 00:58 | Illinois | Leon Hall makes the 1st free throw | 55-67 |
| 00:58 | Illinois | Leon Hall makes the 2nd free throw | 55-68 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 00:52 | Mississippi State | Leon Hall takes the ball from Bradly Kelly | 55-68 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | Robert Hrabovsky can't finish the layup | 55-68 |
| 00:47 | Illinois | Phillip Dean hits the follow up shot | 55-70 |
| 00:45 | Mississippi State | Norman Jenkins loses the dribble to Phillip Dean in the backcourt | 55-70 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+2) | |
| 00:17 | Illinois | David White clanks a shot in the paint | 55-70 |
| 00:16 | Mississippi State | Robert James snags the defensive board | 55-70 |
| 00:14 | Mississippi State | Robert Hrabovsky is called for the reach on Thomas Petty in the backcourt - foul #1 on Robert Hrabovsky, team foul #10 | 55-70 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Blackwell (SG), Robert Moralez (SF), Larry Stanley (PF) Robert Hrabovsky, Van Schreffler, Phillip Dean | |
| 00:14 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty makes the 1st free throw | 56-70 |
| 00:14 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty makes the 2nd free throw | 57-70 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Leon Hall runs out the clock | 57-70 |