| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Scott Astorga (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ray Berry (fresh) PF - Todd Hager (fresh) C - John Gravois (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Thomas Denny (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Jim Spurlock (fresh) 5 pts. 3 stl. SF - Mark Lynch (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Eddie Woods (fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. C - William Smith (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | Ray Berry inbounds the ball | 19-23 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-4) | |
| 19:32 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga is fouled on the floor by Jim Spurlock - foul #1 on Jim Spurlock, team foul #1 | 19-23 |
| 19:07 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga is hacked by Thomas Denny - foul #3 on Thomas Denny, team foul #2 | 19-23 |
| 18:38 | Mississippi State | Todd Hager comes up short on the shot from just outside the lane | 19-23 |
| 18:37 | Illinois | William Smith grabs the defensive rebound | 19-23 |
| 18:12 | Illinois | William Smith can't connect on a jumper from the right wing | 19-23 |
| 18:11 | Mississippi State | Todd Hager grabs the defensive rebound | 19-23 |
| 17:51 | Mississippi State | John Gravois buries a turnaround in the lane and he's fouled by William Smith - foul #1 on William Smith, team foul #3 | 21-23 |
| 17:51 | Mississippi State | John Gravois misses the free throw | 21-23 |
| 17:51 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Thomas Denny | 21-23 |
| 17:31 | Illinois | Jim Spurlock buries a 3 from the left wing | 21-26 |
| 17:15 | Mississippi State | John Gravois can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line but the foul's on William Smith - foul #2 on William Smith, team foul #4 | 21-26 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Scruggs (PG), Gary McNeece (SF), Danny Reynolds (PF) Edward Ward, Ray Berry, Todd Hager | |
| Subs | Illinois | Scott Dollard (C) William Smith | |
| 17:15 | Mississippi State | John Gravois makes the 1st free throw | 22-26 |
| 17:15 | Mississippi State | John Gravois misses the 2nd free throw | 22-26 |
| 17:15 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to Gary McNeece | 22-26 |
| 17:04 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds is whistled for a carry | 22-26 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Delbert Currier (SG) Scott Astorga | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 16:44 | Illinois | Thomas Denny comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 22-26 |
| 16:42 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds snags the defensive board | 22-26 |
| 16:13 | Mississippi State | John Gravois's floater is tipped away by Scott Dollard | 22-26 |
| 16:11 | Illinois | Mark Lynch gets the rebound | 22-26 |
| 16:06 | Illinois | Gary McNeece blocks the short jumper by Mark Lynch | 22-26 |
| 16:04 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to John Gravois | 22-26 |
| 15:46 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece lays it up and in on a great pass from Danny Reynolds | 24-26 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - David Scruggs (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Delbert Currier (fresh) SF - Gary McNeece (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - Danny Reynolds (fresh) 2 reb. C - John Gravois (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Thomas Denny (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. SG - Jim Spurlock (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 3 stl. SF - Mark Lynch (fairly fresh) 1 ast. PF - Eddie Woods (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 stl. C - Scott Dollard (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 15:24 | Illinois | Jim Spurlock is hacked by Delbert Currier - foul #1 on Delbert Currier, team foul #1 | 24-26 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Edward Ward (PG), Scott Astorga (SG), Ray Berry (SF), Todd Hager (PF) David Scruggs, Delbert Currier, Gary McNeece, John Gravois | |
| Subs | Illinois | William Smith (C) Scott Dollard | |
| 15:15 | Illinois | William Smith banks in the layup on a nice dish by Eddie Woods | 24-28 |
| 14:55 | Mississippi State | Ray Berry hits the front of the rim on the floater from the left wing | 24-28 |
| 14:54 | Mississippi State | Todd Hager gets the offensive rebound | 24-28 |
| 14:33 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga hits a 3pt jumper from straight away | 27-28 |
| 14:13 | Illinois | Mark Lynch clanks a driving attempt from close range but he's fouled by Ray Berry - foul #2 on Ray Berry, team foul #2 | 27-28 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Robert Penick (C) Danny Reynolds | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 14:13 | Illinois | Mark Lynch misses the 1st free throw | 27-28 |
| 14:13 | Illinois | Mark Lynch makes the 2nd free throw | 27-29 |
| 13:50 | Mississippi State | Todd Hager misses short on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 27-29 |
| 13:49 | Illinois | William Smith grabs the board | 27-29 |
| 13:34 | Illinois | Thomas Denny connects on the 3 from the left wing | 27-32 |
| 13:10 | Mississippi State | Thomas Denny is called for the reach on Todd Hager - foul #4 on Thomas Denny, team foul #5 | 27-32 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Scruggs (PG), Jason Osuna (PF), John Gravois (C) Edward Ward, Todd Hager, Robert Penick | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Snyder (SG), Denis Banks (SF), Thomas Wainwright (PF), Scott Dollard (C) Jim Spurlock, Mark Lynch, Eddie Woods, William Smith | |
| 12:49 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 27-32 |
| 12:47 | Illinois | Denis Banks grabs the defensive rebound | 27-32 |
| 12:34 | Illinois | Denis Banks is by himself and knocks in the fadeaway from the left side set up by Thomas Denny | 27-34 |
| 12:05 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga misses long on a 3 from straight away | 27-34 |
| 12:03 | Illinois | Thomas Denny grabs the board | 27-34 |
| 11:48 | Illinois | Ray Berry steals the ball from Steven Snyder | 27-34 |
| 11:44 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga lays it up and in on a great pass from Ray Berry | 29-34 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - David Scruggs (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. SG - Scott Astorga (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ray Berry (fairly fresh) 2 stl. PF - Jason Osuna (fresh) C - John Gravois (fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Thomas Denny (tiring) 6 pts. 1 ast. 4 pf. SG - Steven Snyder (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Denis Banks (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. PF - Thomas Wainwright (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Scott Dollard (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:30 | Illinois | Scott Dollard is hacked by John Gravois - foul #3 on John Gravois, team foul #3 | 29-34 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Delbert Currier (SG), Gary McNeece (SF), Danny Reynolds (PF) Scott Astorga, Ray Berry, Jason Osuna | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy (PG), Jim Spurlock (SG), Mark Lynch (SF), Eddie Woods (PF), William Smith (C) Thomas Denny, Steven Snyder, Denis Banks, Thomas Wainwright, Scott Dollard | |
| 11:17 | Illinois | William Smith is open and buries a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 29-36 |
| 10:52 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 29-36 |
| 10:51 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece tips it home | 31-36 |
| 10:36 | Illinois | William Smith misses short on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 31-36 |
| 10:34 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece snags the defensive board | 31-36 |
| 10:09 | Mississippi State | John Gravois misses long on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 31-36 |
| 10:08 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy snags the defensive board | 31-36 |
| 10:04 | Illinois | Jim Spurlock makes the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line set up by William Smith | 31-38 |
| 09:36 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds is hacked by Jim Spurlock - foul #2 on Jim Spurlock, team foul #6 | 31-38 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Edward Ward (PG), Scott Astorga (SG), Todd Hager (PF) David Scruggs, Delbert Currier, John Gravois | |
| Subs | Illinois | Thomas Denny (PG), Thomas Wainwright (PF) Clarence McCarthy, Eddie Woods | |
| 09:18 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece misses long on a 3pt shot from straight away | 31-38 |
| 09:16 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to Danny Reynolds | 31-38 |
| 08:55 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece scores on a jumpshot from the right wing | 33-38 |
| 08:32 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright is fouled on the floor by Todd Hager - foul #1 on Todd Hager, team foul #4 | 33-38 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ray Berry (SF), Robert Penick (C) Gary McNeece, Danny Reynolds | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Snyder (SG), Denis Banks (SF), Scott Dollard (C) Jim Spurlock, Mark Lynch, William Smith | |
| 08:25 | Illinois | The jump hook by Steven Snyder is blocked by Todd Hager | 33-38 |
| 08:24 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright hits the follow up shot | 33-40 |
| 08:02 | Mississippi State | The jump hook by Robert Penick is blocked by Scott Dollard | 33-40 |
| 08:00 | Illinois | Thomas Wainwright gets the rebound | 33-40 |
| 07:56 | Illinois | Ray Berry takes the ball from Scott Dollard | 33-40 |
| 07:29 | Mississippi State | Ray Berry is denied on a layup by Scott Dollard | 33-40 |
| 07:27 | Mississippi State | Ray Berry grabs the offensive rebound | 33-40 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Scott Astorga (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Ray Berry (fresh) 3 stl. PF - Todd Hager (fresh) 3 reb. 2 blk. C - Robert Penick (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Thomas Denny (tiring) 6 pts. 1 ast. 4 pf. SG - Steven Snyder (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Denis Banks (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. PF - Thomas Wainwright (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. C - Scott Dollard (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 3 blk. | |
| 06:59 | Mississippi State | Robert Penick hits the front of the rim on the turnaround from the left block but he's fouled by Thomas Denny - foul #5 on Thomas Denny, team foul #7 | 33-40 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Scruggs (PG), Delbert Currier (SG), Danny Reynolds (PF) Edward Ward, Scott Astorga, Todd Hager | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy (PG), Jim Spurlock (SG), Mark Lynch (SF), Eddie Woods (PF), William Smith (C) Thomas Denny, Steven Snyder, Denis Banks, Thomas Wainwright, Scott Dollard | |
| 06:59 | Mississippi State | Robert Penick misses the 1st free throw | 33-40 |
| 06:59 | Mississippi State | Robert Penick makes the 2nd free throw | 34-40 |
| 06:42 | Illinois | Eddie Woods knocks in the fadeaway from the free throw line on a great pass from Jim Spurlock | 34-42 |
| 06:23 | Mississippi State | Ray Berry is fouled on the floor by Mark Lynch - foul #2 on Mark Lynch, team foul #8 | 34-42 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Gravois (C) Robert Penick | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 06:23 | Mississippi State | Ray Berry makes the 1st free throw | 35-42 |
| 06:23 | Mississippi State | Ray Berry makes the 2nd free throw | 36-42 |
| 06:08 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy's fadeaway is rejected by Danny Reynolds | 36-42 |
| 06:07 | Mississippi State | John Gravois snags the defensive board | 36-42 |
| 05:38 | Mississippi State | David Scruggs makes the 3 pointer from the right corner on a great pass from Ray Berry | 39-42 |
| 05:20 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 39-42 |
| 05:19 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds pulls down the rebound | 39-42 |
| 04:53 | Mississippi State | Danny Reynolds misses badly on a fadeaway from close range | 39-42 |
| 04:52 | Illinois | Eddie Woods grabs the board | 39-42 |
| 04:32 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy hits a jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Eddie Woods | 39-44 |
| 04:32 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 39-44 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Edward Ward (PG), Scott Astorga (SG), Todd Hager (PF) David Scruggs, Delbert Currier, Danny Reynolds | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:03 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from straight away | 39-44 |
| 04:02 | Illinois | Eddie Woods snags the defensive board | 39-44 |
| 03:42 | Illinois | Clarence McCarthy's pass is intercepted by Scott Astorga | 39-44 |
| 03:18 | Mississippi State | John Gravois can't connect on a floater from the right side | 39-44 |
| 03:16 | Mississippi State | John Gravois tips it back up and in | 41-44 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Edward Ward (fresh) 4 pts. SG - Scott Astorga (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SF - Ray Berry (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 stl. PF - Todd Hager (fresh) 3 reb. 2 blk. C - John Gravois (fresh) 12 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clarence McCarthy (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Jim Spurlock (tiring) 10 pts. 1 ast. 3 stl. SF - Mark Lynch (tiring) 1 pts. 1 ast. PF - Eddie Woods (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. C - William Smith (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 02:52 | Illinois | Eddie Woods's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 41-44 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece (SF) Ray Berry | |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Snyder (SG), Denis Banks (SF), Scott Dollard (C) Jim Spurlock, Mark Lynch, William Smith | |
| 02:28 | Mississippi State | Gary McNeece misses badly on a 3 from the right wing | 41-44 |
| 02:27 | Illinois | Scott Dollard gets the rebound | 41-44 |
| 02:27 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 41-44 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jim Spurlock (SG), Mark Lynch (SF) Steven Snyder, Denis Banks | |
| 02:04 | Illinois | Todd Hager is called for the reach on Eddie Woods - foul #2 on Todd Hager, team foul #5 | 41-44 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ray Berry (SF) Gary McNeece | |
| Subs | Illinois | William Smith (C) Scott Dollard | |
| 01:59 | Illinois | William Smith can't finish the layup | 41-44 |
| 01:57 | Mississippi State | Todd Hager pulls down the rebound | 41-44 |
| 01:37 | Mississippi State | Edward Ward throws a bad pass out of bounds | 41-44 |
| 01:15 | Illinois | Jim Spurlock is hacked by Edward Ward - foul #2 on Edward Ward, team foul #6 | 41-44 |
| 00:58 | Illinois | William Smith lays it in on a nice dish by Mark Lynch | 41-46 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-4) | |
| 00:44 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga drills a jumpshot from the right wing set up by Todd Hager | 43-46 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 00:19 | Illinois | William Smith drills a shot in the paint on a nice dish by Mark Lynch | 43-48 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 00:12 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga clanks a 3 pointer from the right corner | 43-48 |
| 00:11 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to Edward Ward | 43-48 |
| 00:07 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 43-48 |
| 00:06 | Illinois | Eddie Woods grabs the defensive rebound | 43-48 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Edward Ward is called for the reach on Eddie Woods in the backcourt - foul #3 on Edward Ward, team foul #7 | 43-48 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Eddie Woods makes the 1st free throw | 43-49 |
| 00:03 | Illinois | Eddie Woods makes the 2nd free throw | 43-50 |
| 00:00 | Mississippi State | Scott Astorga misses long on a halfcourt shot | 43-50 |