| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Jackowski (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Clarence McCarthy (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Andrei Palczewski (fresh) PF - Thomas Wainwright (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Scott Dollard (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (fresh) 1 pts. SG - Harry Gross (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SF - Gary McNeece (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Danny Reynolds (fresh) C - John Gravois (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece inbounds the ball | 25-23 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 19:36 | Mississippi State | John Gravois comes up short on the jumper from the free throw line | 25-23 |
| 19:34 | Illinois | James Jackowski snags the defensive board | 25-23 |
| 19:05 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright banks in the layup on a nice dish by Clarence McCarthy | 27-23 |
| 18:44 | Mississippi State | Harry Gross is hacked by Andrei Palczewski - foul #3 on Andrei Palczewski, team foul #1 | 27-23 |
| 18:17 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds hits the finger roll set up by Harry Gross and the foul's on Thomas Wainwright - foul #3 on Thomas Wainwright, team foul #2 | 27-25 |
| 18:17 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds makes the free throw | 27-26 |
| 18:01 | Illinois | James Jackowski is called for a moving pick - foul #2 on James Jackowski, team foul #3 | 27-26 |
| 17:41 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 27-26 |
| 17:39 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Thomas Wainwright | 27-26 |
| 17:26 | Illinois | James Jackowski drills a 3 pointer from the right corner | 30-26 |
| 17:09 | Mississippi State | John Gravois misses the jumpshot from just outside the lane | 30-26 |
| 17:08 | Mississippi State | John Gravois tips it back up and in | 30-28 |
| 16:44 | Illinois | Andrei Palczewski's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 30-28 |
| Subs | Illinois | Van Miller (SG), Denis Banks (PF), Steven Snyder (C) Clarence McCarthy, Thomas Wainwright, Scott Dollard | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Widener (PF) Danny Reynolds | |
| 16:15 | Mississippi State | John Gravois knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 30-30 |
| 15:51 | Illinois | Denis Banks is whistled for traveling | 30-30 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Aguon (PG), Scott Dollard (C) James Jackowski, Andrei Palczewski | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Aguon (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Van Miller (fresh) SF - Steven Snyder (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - Denis Banks (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Scott Dollard (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (fairly fresh) 1 pts. SG - Harry Gross (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SF - Gary McNeece (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - James Widener (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - John Gravois (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 15:30 | Mississippi State | John Gravois's fadeaway is rejected by Scott Dollard | 30-30 |
| 15:29 | Illinois | Steven Snyder pulls down the rebound | 30-30 |
| 15:20 | Illinois | Denis Banks misses the jumper from just outside the lane | 30-30 |
| 15:18 | Mississippi State | James Widener grabs the defensive rebound | 30-30 |
| 14:57 | Mississippi State | James Widener knocks in the fadeaway in the lane set up by Gary McNeece | 30-32 |
| 14:29 | Illinois | Steven Snyder is whistled for a carry | 30-32 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Jackowski (PG), Clarence McCarthy (SG), Andrei Palczewski (SF), Thomas Wainwright (PF) James Aguon, Van Miller, Denis Banks, Scott Dollard | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds (PF) James Widener | |
| 14:02 | Mississippi State | John Gravois misses short on a floater in the paint but he's hacked by Steven Snyder - foul #1 on Steven Snyder, team foul #4 | 30-32 |
| 14:02 | Mississippi State | John Gravois makes the 1st free throw | 30-33 |
| 14:02 | Mississippi State | John Gravois makes the 2nd free throw | 30-34 |
| 13:48 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy buries a 3 pointer from the right wing set up by James Jackowski | 33-34 |
| 13:28 | Mississippi State | Edward Ward is called for traveling | 33-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | Denis Banks (PF) Steven Snyder | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Jason Osuna (SF) Gary McNeece | |
| 13:04 | Illinois | John Gravois picks off the pass by James Jackowski | 33-34 |
| 12:48 | Mississippi State | John Gravois's floater is tipped away by Thomas Wainwright | 33-34 |
| 12:47 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Thomas Wainwright | 33-34 |
| 12:21 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright connects on the runner from the right block on a great pass from Clarence McCarthy | 35-34 |
| 11:58 | Mississippi State | John Gravois hits the front of the rim on the runner in the paint | 35-34 |
| 11:57 | Mississippi State | Edward Ward grabs the offensive rebound | 35-34 |
| 11:33 | Mississippi State | Edward Ward's fadeaway is rejected by Denis Banks | 35-34 |
| 11:32 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright snags the defensive board | 35-34 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Jackowski (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Clarence McCarthy (fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. SF - Andrei Palczewski (fairly fresh) 3 pf. PF - Denis Banks (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Thomas Wainwright (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (tiring) 1 pts. SG - Harry Gross (tiring) 5 pts. 3 ast. SF - Jason Osuna (fresh) PF - Danny Reynolds (fairly fresh) 3 pts. C - John Gravois (tiring) 10 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 11:09 | Illinois | Jason Osuna takes the ball from Thomas Wainwright | 35-34 |
| 10:46 | Mississippi State | Harry Gross is whistled for traveling | 35-34 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Aguon (PG), Van Miller (SG), Steven Snyder (SF), Scott Dollard (C) James Jackowski, Clarence McCarthy, Andrei Palczewski, Denis Banks | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga (SG), Gary McNeece (SF), James Widener (PF), Robert Penick (C) Harry Gross, Jason Osuna, Danny Reynolds, John Gravois | |
| 10:20 | Illinois | Scott Dollard misses badly on a floater from the right block | 35-34 |
| 10:18 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga snags the defensive board | 35-34 |
| 10:02 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga misses the fadeaway jumper from the right side but the foul's on Thomas Wainwright - foul #4 on Thomas Wainwright, team foul #5 | 35-34 |
| 10:02 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga misses the 1st free throw | 35-34 |
| 10:02 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga makes the 2nd free throw | 35-35 |
| 09:37 | Illinois | Van Miller is fouled on the floor by Edward Ward - foul #1 on Edward Ward, team foul #1 | 35-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Scruggs (PG) Edward Ward | |
| 09:17 | Illinois | Steven Snyder is whistled for a charge - foul #2 on Steven Snyder, team foul #6 | 35-35 |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy (SG), Denis Banks (PF) Van Miller, Thomas Wainwright | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 08:58 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece knocks in the floater from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Robert Penick | 35-37 |
| 08:33 | Illinois | Scott Dollard is wide open but clanks a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 35-37 |
| 08:32 | Illinois | Steven Snyder snags the offensive board | 35-37 |
| 08:11 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy misses short on a 3 from straight away | 35-37 |
| 08:10 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Steven Snyder | 35-37 |
| 07:43 | Illinois | Scott Dollard misses badly on a pull-up jumper from the left wing but he's hacked by Robert Penick - foul #3 on Robert Penick, team foul #2 | 35-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Jackowski (PG), Andrei Palczewski (SF) James Aguon, Steven Snyder | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Edward Ward (PG), Harry Gross (SG), Danny Reynolds (PF), John Gravois (C) David Scruggs, Scott Astorga, James Widener, Robert Penick | |
| 07:43 | Illinois | Scott Dollard makes the 1st free throw | 36-37 |
| 07:43 | Illinois | Scott Dollard makes the 2nd free throw | 37-37 |
| 07:16 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece knocks in the 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by Edward Ward | 37-40 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Jackowski (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Clarence McCarthy (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. SF - Andrei Palczewski (fresh) 3 pf. PF - Denis Banks (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Scott Dollard (fairly fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (tiring) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Harry Gross (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SF - Gary McNeece (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 4 reb. PF - Danny Reynolds (fresh) 3 pts. C - John Gravois (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 06:54 | Illinois | Andrei Palczewski comes up short on the jumper from just outside the lane | 37-40 |
| 06:53 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds grabs the defensive rebound | 37-40 |
| 06:27 | Mississippi State | Scott Dollard steals the ball from John Gravois | 37-40 |
| 06:07 | Illinois | Denis Banks misses long on a shot from the right side | 37-40 |
| 06:06 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Gary McNeece | 37-40 |
| 06:01 | Mississippi State | Harry Gross misses the shot from the right wing | 37-40 |
| 06:00 | Illinois | Andrei Palczewski grabs the board | 37-40 |
| 05:31 | Illinois | Harry Gross steals the ball from Scott Dollard | 37-40 |
| 05:03 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece can't connect on a 3 from the left corner | 37-40 |
| 05:01 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy snags the defensive board | 37-40 |
| 04:39 | Illinois | Denis Banks blows the layup | 37-40 |
| 04:37 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds pulls down the rebound | 37-40 |
| 04:19 | Mississippi State | Edward Ward makes the floater from just outside the lane set up by Harry Gross | 37-42 |
| 03:50 | Illinois | Denis Banks connects on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 39-42 |
| 03:33 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece misses short on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 39-42 |
| 03:31 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Andrei Palczewski | 39-42 |
| 03:11 | Illinois | Andrei Palczewski is hacked by Gary McNeece - foul #3 on Gary McNeece, team foul #3 | 39-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Aguon (PG), Van Miller (SG), Steven Snyder (SF), Thomas Wainwright (PF) James Jackowski, Clarence McCarthy, Andrei Palczewski, Denis Banks | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Scruggs (PG), Scott Astorga (SG), Jason Osuna (SF), James Widener (PF), Robert Penick (C) Edward Ward, Harry Gross, Gary McNeece, Danny Reynolds, John Gravois | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Aguon (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Van Miller (fresh) SF - Steven Snyder (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. PF - Thomas Wainwright (fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. 4 pf. C - Scott Dollard (tiring) 4 pts. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - David Scruggs (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Scott Astorga (fresh) 1 pts. SF - Jason Osuna (fresh) PF - James Widener (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. C - Robert Penick (fresh) 3 pf. | |
| 02:57 | Illinois | James Aguon misses the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 39-42 |
| 02:55 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright grabs the offensive rebound | 39-42 |
| 02:55 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 39-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | James Jackowski (PG), Andrei Palczewski (SF) James Aguon, Scott Dollard | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 02:32 | Illinois | Scott Astorga knocks away the 3 by Steven Snyder | 39-42 |
| 02:31 | Mississippi State | James Widener snags the defensive board | 39-42 |
| 02:31 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 39-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Harry Gross (SG), Danny Reynolds (PF), John Gravois (C) Scott Astorga, James Widener, Robert Penick | |
| 02:13 | Mississippi State | David Scruggs buries a pull-up jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Jason Osuna | 39-44 |
| 02:13 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 39-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy (SG), Scott Dollard (C) Van Miller, Steven Snyder | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Edward Ward (PG), Gary McNeece (SF) David Scruggs, Jason Osuna | |
| 01:53 | Illinois | Edward Ward is called for the reach on Clarence McCarthy - foul #2 on Edward Ward, team foul #4 | 39-44 |
| 01:36 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy knocks in the 3 from straight away on a nice dish by Thomas Wainwright | 42-44 |
| 01:14 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 42-44 |
| 01:12 | Illinois | The rebound goes to James Jackowski | 42-44 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | James Jackowski can't connect on a jumpshot from the right side | 42-44 |
| 00:47 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece grabs the defensive rebound | 42-44 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 00:22 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece misses short on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 42-44 |
| 00:20 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy grabs the board | 42-44 |
| 00:10 | Illinois | Scott Dollard misses badly on a shot from the left side | 42-44 |
| 00:09 | Mississippi State | John Gravois snags the defensive board | 42-44 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 00:08 | Mississippi State | John Gravois is hacked by James Jackowski in the backcourt - foul #3 on James Jackowski, team foul #7 | 42-44 |
| 00:08 | Mississippi State | John Gravois misses the 1st free throw | 42-44 |
| 00:08 | Illinois | Scott Dollard pulls down the rebound | 42-44 |
| 00:08 | Illinois | Illinois calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 2 full remaining) | 42-44 |
| 00:04 | Illinois | Harry Gross is called for the reach on Clarence McCarthy - foul #3 on Harry Gross, team foul #5 | 42-44 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Andrei Palczewski is hacked by John Gravois - foul #2 on John Gravois, team foul #6 | 42-44 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Scott Dollard buries a jumper from the left block | 44-44 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Jackowski (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SG - Clarence McCarthy (fresh) 9 pts. 3 ast. SF - Andrei Palczewski (fresh) 3 reb. 3 pf. PF - Thomas Wainwright (fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. 4 pf. C - Scott Dollard (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (tiring) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Harry Gross (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. 3 pf. SF - Gary McNeece (fresh) 12 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. PF - Danny Reynolds (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. C - John Gravois (fresh) 10 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 05:00 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright wins the tip | 44-44 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 04:33 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright comes up short on the fadeaway in the paint | 44-44 |
| 04:31 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece pulls down the rebound | 44-44 |
| 04:05 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece scores on a jumper from just outside the lane set up by Harry Gross | 44-46 |
| 03:53 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright hits a jumper from the baseline set up by James Jackowski | 46-46 |
| 03:31 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece clanks a 3 from straight away but the foul's on Scott Dollard - foul #3 on Scott Dollard, team foul #8 | 46-46 |
| 03:31 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece makes the 1st free throw | 46-47 |
| 03:31 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece misses the 2nd free throw | 46-47 |
| 03:31 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece makes the 3rd free throw | 46-48 |
| 03:15 | Illinois | Andrei Palczewski misses badly on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 46-48 |
| 03:13 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Edward Ward | 46-48 |
| 03:07 | Mississippi State | Harry Gross can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 46-48 |
| 03:05 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece grabs the offensive board | 46-48 |
| 02:39 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds comes up short on the jumper from the right block | 46-48 |
| 02:38 | Illinois | The rebound goes to James Jackowski | 46-48 |
| 02:19 | Illinois | John Gravois blocks the short jumper by Thomas Wainwright | 46-48 |
| 02:17 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Andrei Palczewski | 46-48 |
| 01:53 | Illinois | James Jackowski misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 46-48 |
| 01:51 | Illinois | James Jackowski snags the offensive board | 46-48 |
| 01:27 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright jams the wide open dunk on a nice dish by James Jackowski and he's hacked by Danny Reynolds - foul #2 on Danny Reynolds, team foul #7 | 48-48 |
| 01:27 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright makes the free throw | 49-48 |
| 01:10 | Mississippi State | John Gravois hits the finger roll on a great pass from Harry Gross | 49-50 |
| 00:52 | Illinois | Andrei Palczewski makes the floater from just outside the lane | 51-50 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - James Jackowski (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SG - Clarence McCarthy (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 ast. SF - Andrei Palczewski (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. PF - Thomas Wainwright (fairly fresh) 14 pts. 6 reb. 4 pf. C - Scott Dollard (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (tired) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Harry Gross (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 6 ast. 3 pf. SF - Gary McNeece (fairly fresh) 16 pts. 8 reb. 3 pf. PF - Danny Reynolds (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. C - John Gravois (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 00:25 | Mississippi State | Edward Ward lays it up and in set up by Harry Gross | 51-52 |
| 00:07 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright misses short on a fadeaway in the paint | 51-52 |
| 00:05 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to John Gravois | 51-52 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 00:02 | Mississippi State | James Jackowski is called for the reach on John Gravois in the backcourt - foul #4 on James Jackowski, team foul #9 | 51-52 |
| 00:02 | Mississippi State | John Gravois makes the 1st free throw | 51-53 |
| 00:02 | Mississippi State | John Gravois makes the 2nd free throw | 51-54 |
| 00:02 | Illinois | Illinois calls a :30 timeout (3 full remaining) | 51-54 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy can't connect on a halfcourt shot | 51-54 |