| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Steele (fresh) SG - Brian Annunziata (fresh) SF - Brian Fairfield (fresh) PF - Ryan Risher (fresh) C - Monte Denenberg (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Nathaniel Plaisance (fresh) SG - Clyde Northrop (fresh) SF - Peter James (fresh) PF - Daniel Saladino (fresh) C - Johnny Dolphin (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Akron | Akron is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| 19:34 | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a jumper from the right wing | 0-0 |
| 19:32 | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield tips it back up and in | 2-0 |
| 19:19 | Akron | Clyde Northrop misses the easy layup | 2-0 |
| 19:18 | Akron | Peter James grabs the offensive rebound | 2-0 |
| 19:13 | Akron | Clyde Northrop drills a driving attempt from the left block on a nice dish by Nathaniel Plaisance | 2-2 |
| 19:00 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata makes the contested floater from the free throw line on a great pass from Monte Denenberg | 4-2 |
| 18:39 | Akron | Clyde Northrop hits a jumpshot from the right side on a nice dish by Nathaniel Plaisance | 4-4 |
| 18:21 | Mississippi State | Johnny Dolphin is called for the reach on Ryan Risher - foul #1 on Johnny Dolphin, team foul #1 | 4-4 |
| 18:13 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata misses the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 4-4 |
| 18:12 | Akron | The rebound goes to Peter James | 4-4 |
| 17:50 | Akron | Peter James blows the layup but he's hacked by Ryan Risher - foul #1 on Ryan Risher, team foul #1 | 4-4 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Akron | Louis Crooks (PG), Paul Oster (SG), Steven Egan (PF), Dennis Hunter (C) Nathaniel Plaisance, Clyde Northrop, Daniel Saladino, Johnny Dolphin | |
| 17:50 | Akron | Peter James makes the 1st free throw | 4-5 |
| 17:50 | Akron | Peter James makes the 2nd free throw | 4-6 |
| 17:32 | Mississippi State | Ryan Risher double dribbles | 4-6 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Akron | Aaron Best (SF) Peter James | |
| 17:10 | Akron | Louis Crooks's pass is intercepted by Monte Denenberg | 4-6 |
| 16:54 | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg is fouled on the floor by Louis Crooks - foul #1 on Louis Crooks, team foul #2 | 4-6 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger (C) Monte Denenberg | |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| 16:37 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger connects on the open jump hook from the left block on a great pass from Brian Fairfield out of a doubleteam | 6-6 |
| 16:21 | Akron | Louis Crooks hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the left wing but he's fouled by Brian Messinger - foul #1 on Brian Messinger, team foul #2 | 6-6 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Pagel (PG), Johnny Heard (SF), Andrew Alvord (C) Richard Steele, Brian Fairfield, Ryan Risher | |
| Subs | Akron | Richard Crowley (SF), Daniel Saladino (PF), Johnny Dolphin (C) Aaron Best, Steven Egan, Dennis Hunter | |
| 16:21 | Akron | Louis Crooks makes the 1st free throw | 6-7 |
| 16:21 | Akron | Louis Crooks makes the 2nd free throw | 6-8 |
| 16:08 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger misses the easy layup | 6-8 |
| 16:06 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin grabs the board | 6-8 |
| 15:56 | Akron | David Pagel steals it from Johnny Dolphin | 6-8 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - David Pagel (fresh) SG - Brian Annunziata (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SF - Johnny Heard (fresh) PF - Brian Messinger (fresh) 2 pts. C - Andrew Alvord (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Louis Crooks (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Paul Oster (fresh) SF - Richard Crowley (fresh) PF - Daniel Saladino (fresh) C - Johnny Dolphin (fresh) | |
| 15:38 | Mississippi State | David Pagel clanks a 3pt attempt from straight away | 6-8 |
| 15:37 | Akron | The rebound goes to Richard Crowley | 6-8 |
| 15:33 | Akron | Paul Oster connects on the 3 from the left wing | 6-11 |
| 15:17 | Mississippi State | Louis Crooks steps in front of the Brian Annunziata pass as he passes out of a doubleteam | 6-11 |
| 15:05 | Akron | The short jumper by Daniel Saladino is denied by Brian Messinger | 6-11 |
| 15:04 | Mississippi State | Andrew Alvord pulls down the rebound | 6-11 |
| 14:48 | Mississippi State | Daniel Saladino is called for the reach on David Pagel - foul #1 on Daniel Saladino, team foul #3 | 6-11 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Richard Steele (PG), Brian Fairfield (SF), Ryan Risher (PF), Monte Denenberg (C) David Pagel, Brian Annunziata, Brian Messinger, Andrew Alvord | |
| Subs | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance (PG), Clyde Northrop (SG), Peter James (SF), Steven Egan (PF), Dennis Hunter (C) Louis Crooks, Paul Oster, Richard Crowley, Daniel Saladino, Johnny Dolphin | |
| 14:33 | Mississippi State | Johnny Heard comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 6-11 |
| 14:32 | Akron | Dennis Hunter grabs the defensive rebound | 6-11 |
| 14:27 | Akron | Clyde Northrop makes the shot from the right side on a great pass from Nathaniel Plaisance | 6-13 |
| 14:04 | Mississippi State | Richard Steele connects on the shot from just outside the lane set up by Brian Fairfield | 8-13 |
| 13:53 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance misses badly on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 8-13 |
| 13:51 | Mississippi State | Richard Steele pulls down the rebound | 8-13 |
| 13:27 | Mississippi State | Richard Steele misses the jumper from just outside the lane | 8-13 |
| 13:26 | Akron | Peter James grabs the board | 8-13 |
| 12:59 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance lays it in and the foul's on Monte Denenberg - foul #1 on Monte Denenberg, team foul #3 | 8-15 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata (SG), David Pagel (SF), Brian Messinger (PF) Johnny Heard, Brian Fairfield, Ryan Risher | |
| Subs | Akron | Paul Oster (SG), Aaron Best (SF), Daniel Saladino (PF), Johnny Dolphin (C) Clyde Northrop, Peter James, Steven Egan, Dennis Hunter | |
| 12:59 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance makes the free throw | 8-16 |
| 12:39 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata scores on a 3 pointer from straight away set up by Richard Steele | 11-16 |
| 12:24 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance misses the floater from the right wing | 11-16 |
| 12:22 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to David Pagel | 11-16 |
| 12:06 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger is whistled for traveling | 11-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield (SF), Andrew Alvord (C) Richard Steele, Monte Denenberg | |
| Subs | Akron | Clyde Northrop (SG) Paul Oster | |
| 11:51 | Akron | David Pagel is called for the reach on Nathaniel Plaisance - foul #1 on David Pagel, team foul #4 | 11-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ryan Risher (PF) Andrew Alvord | |
| Subs | Akron | Peter James (SF) Aaron Best | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - David Pagel (fresh) SG - Brian Annunziata (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Brian Fairfield (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Ryan Risher (fresh) C - Brian Messinger (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Nathaniel Plaisance (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - Clyde Northrop (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Peter James (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. PF - Daniel Saladino (fresh) C - Johnny Dolphin (fresh) | |
| 11:43 | Akron | Clyde Northrop loses the dribble to Brian Messinger | 11-16 |
| 11:18 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger is fouled on the floor by Clyde Northrop - foul #1 on Clyde Northrop, team foul #4 | 11-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Akron | Paul Oster (SG), Aaron Best (SF) Clyde Northrop, Peter James | |
| 11:13 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger misses the jumper from the left side | 11-16 |
| 11:12 | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield grabs the offensive rebound | 11-16 |
| 11:00 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata is bothered by a doubleteam and misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 11-16 |
| 10:59 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance gets the rebound | 11-16 |
| 10:53 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance double dribbles | 11-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Richard Steele (PG), Johnny Heard (SG) David Pagel, Brian Annunziata | |
| Subs | Akron | Louis Crooks (PG), Clyde Northrop (SG), Peter James (SF) Nathaniel Plaisance, Paul Oster, Aaron Best | |
| 10:38 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger throws a bad pass out of bounds | 11-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg (C) Brian Messinger | |
| Subs | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance (PG) Louis Crooks | |
| 10:19 | Akron | Clyde Northrop misses the jumper from the left wing but the foul's on Johnny Heard - foul #1 on Johnny Heard, team foul #5 | 11-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Akron | Aaron Best (SF) Peter James | |
| 10:19 | Akron | Clyde Northrop makes the 1st free throw | 11-17 |
| 10:19 | Akron | Clyde Northrop makes the 2nd free throw | 11-18 |
| 09:59 | Mississippi State | Ryan Risher loses the dribble to Daniel Saladino | 11-18 |
| 09:50 | Akron | Aaron Best is fouled on the floor by Brian Fairfield - foul #1 on Brian Fairfield, team foul #6 | 11-18 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata (SG), Brian Messinger (PF) Brian Fairfield, Ryan Risher | |
| Subs | Akron | Louis Crooks (PG), Paul Oster (SG), Peter James (SF), Steven Egan (PF), Dennis Hunter (C) Nathaniel Plaisance, Clyde Northrop, Aaron Best, Daniel Saladino, Johnny Dolphin | |
| 09:45 | Akron | Brian Messinger is called for the reach on Peter James - foul #2 on Brian Messinger, team foul #7 | 11-18 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Andrew Alvord (PF) Brian Messinger | |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| 09:45 | Akron | Peter James makes the 1st free throw | 11-19 |
| 09:45 | Akron | Peter James misses the 2nd free throw | 11-19 |
| 09:45 | Mississippi State | Andrew Alvord grabs the defensive rebound | 11-19 |
| 09:16 | Mississippi State | Richard Steele misses the wide open fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 11-19 |
| 09:14 | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg hits the follow up shot | 13-19 |
| 09:01 | Akron | Paul Oster's fadeaway is rejected by Monte Denenberg | 13-19 |
| 09:00 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Monte Denenberg | 13-19 |
| 08:44 | Mississippi State | Richard Steele clanks a floater from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Steven Egan - foul #1 on Steven Egan, team foul #5 | 13-19 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Pagel (SF), Ryan Risher (PF) Johnny Heard, Monte Denenberg | |
| Subs | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance (PG), Clyde Northrop (SG), Aaron Best (SF), Daniel Saladino (PF), Johnny Dolphin (C) Louis Crooks, Paul Oster, Peter James, Steven Egan, Dennis Hunter | |
| 08:44 | Mississippi State | Richard Steele makes the 1st free throw | 14-19 |
| 08:44 | Mississippi State | Richard Steele makes the 2nd free throw | 15-19 |
| 08:25 | Akron | Aaron Best misses long on a jumpshot from just outside the lane but the foul's on Richard Steele - foul #1 on Richard Steele, team foul #8 | 15-19 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield (SF) Richard Steele | |
| Subs | Akron | | |
| 08:25 | Akron | Aaron Best makes the 1st free throw | 15-20 |
| 08:25 | Akron | Aaron Best misses the 2nd free throw | 15-20 |
| 08:25 | Akron | Daniel Saladino grabs the offensive board | 15-20 |
| 08:14 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin comes up short on the shot from close range but he's fouled by Andrew Alvord - foul #1 on Andrew Alvord, team foul #9 | 15-20 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Akron | Peter James (SF) Aaron Best | |
| 08:14 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin makes the 1st free throw | 15-21 |
| 08:14 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin makes the 2nd free throw | 15-22 |
| 08:03 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata misses the 3pt shot from the right wing | 15-22 |
| 08:01 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin gets the rebound | 15-22 |
| 07:49 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin hits the front of the rim on the jumper from just outside the lane | 15-22 |
| 07:48 | Akron | The offensive rebound goes to Peter James | 15-22 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - David Pagel (fresh) SG - Brian Annunziata (fairly fresh) 5 pts. SF - Brian Fairfield (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Ryan Risher (fresh) C - Andrew Alvord (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Nathaniel Plaisance (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - Clyde Northrop (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Peter James (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. PF - Daniel Saladino (fairly fresh) C - Johnny Dolphin (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:27 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin double dribbles | 15-22 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Johnny Heard (SG), Monte Denenberg (C) Brian Annunziata, Ryan Risher | |
| Subs | Akron | Paul Oster (SG), Richard Crowley (SF) Clyde Northrop, Peter James | |
| 07:11 | Mississippi State | Nathaniel Plaisance is called for the reach on David Pagel - foul #1 on Nathaniel Plaisance, team foul #6 | 15-22 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ryan Risher (PF) Andrew Alvord | |
| Subs | Akron | Aaron Best (SF) Richard Crowley | |
| 06:50 | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 15-22 |
| 06:49 | Akron | Paul Oster grabs the board | 15-22 |
| 06:32 | Akron | Monte Denenberg takes the ball from Johnny Dolphin | 15-22 |
| 06:15 | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg's pass is intercepted by Johnny Dolphin | 15-22 |
| 05:54 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the right side but he's fouled by Ryan Risher - foul #2 on Ryan Risher, team foul #10 | 15-22 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Richard Steele (PG), Brian Annunziata (SG), Andrew Alvord (PF) David Pagel, Brian Fairfield, Ryan Risher | |
| Subs | Akron | Louis Crooks (PG), Clyde Northrop (SG), Peter James (SF), Steven Egan (PF) Nathaniel Plaisance, Paul Oster, Aaron Best, Daniel Saladino | |
| 05:54 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin makes the 1st free throw | 15-23 |
| 05:54 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin makes the 2nd free throw | 15-24 |
| 05:38 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata hits a 3pt shot from the left corner on a great pass from Andrew Alvord | 18-24 |
| 05:28 | Akron | Peter James comes up short on the shot from the right wing | 18-24 |
| 05:26 | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg grabs the defensive rebound | 18-24 |
| 05:09 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata splits the doubleteam and buries a 3pt jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Monte Denenberg | 21-24 |
| 04:42 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin's floater is tipped away by Monte Denenberg | 21-24 |
| 04:41 | Akron | Peter James pulls down the offensive rebound | 21-24 |
| 04:28 | Akron | Brian Annunziata takes the ball from Steven Egan | 21-24 |
| 04:25 | Mississippi State | Johnny Heard lays it up and in on a great pass from Brian Annunziata | 23-24 |
| 04:07 | Akron | Peter James hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from close range | 23-24 |
| 04:06 | Akron | Louis Crooks grabs the offensive board | 23-24 |
| 03:52 | Akron | Clyde Northrop hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left corner | 23-24 |
| 03:50 | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg pulls down the rebound | 23-24 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Steele (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Brian Annunziata (fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. SF - Johnny Heard (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Andrew Alvord (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Monte Denenberg (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Akron | PG - Louis Crooks (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Clyde Northrop (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Peter James (fresh) 3 pts. 5 reb. PF - Steven Egan (fresh) C - Johnny Dolphin (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 03:45 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata misses short on a 3 pointer from straight away | 23-24 |
| 03:43 | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg tips it back up and in | 25-24 |
| 03:30 | Akron | Johnny Dolphin makes the floater from the baseline set up by Louis Crooks | 25-26 |
| 03:14 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata splits the doubleteam but misses short on a shot from the left side but he's fouled by Clyde Northrop - foul #2 on Clyde Northrop, team foul #7 | 25-26 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield (SF), Ryan Risher (PF), Brian Messinger (C) Johnny Heard, Andrew Alvord, Monte Denenberg | |
| Subs | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance (PG), Paul Oster (SG), Richard Crowley (SF), Daniel Saladino (PF), Dennis Hunter (C) Louis Crooks, Clyde Northrop, Peter James, Steven Egan, Johnny Dolphin | |
| 03:14 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata makes the 1st free throw | 26-26 |
| 03:14 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata misses the 2nd free throw | 26-26 |
| 03:14 | Akron | Dennis Hunter grabs the defensive rebound | 26-26 |
| 03:00 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance blows the layup | 26-26 |
| 02:58 | Akron | The offensive rebound goes to Nathaniel Plaisance | 26-26 |
| 02:48 | Akron | Daniel Saladino can't finish the layup | 26-26 |
| 02:46 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger grabs the defensive rebound | 26-26 |
| 02:42 | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 26-26 |
| 02:41 | Akron | Daniel Saladino pulls down the rebound | 26-26 |
| 02:25 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 26-26 |
| 02:23 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger snags the defensive board | 26-26 |
| 02:05 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger misses the lay-in | 26-26 |
| 02:04 | Mississippi State | Ryan Risher tips it back up and in | 28-26 |
| 01:56 | Akron | Daniel Saladino banks in the layup set up by Nathaniel Plaisance and the foul's on Brian Annunziata - foul #1 on Brian Annunziata, team foul #11 | 28-28 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Pagel (PG) Richard Steele | |
| Subs | Akron | Clyde Northrop (SG), Aaron Best (SF) Paul Oster, Richard Crowley | |
| 01:56 | Akron | Daniel Saladino makes the free throw | 28-29 |
| 01:43 | Mississippi State | Nathaniel Plaisance is called for the reach on Brian Annunziata - foul #2 on Nathaniel Plaisance, team foul #8 | 28-29 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Akron | Paul Oster (SG), Peter James (SF) Clyde Northrop, Aaron Best | |
| 01:43 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata makes the 1st free throw | 29-29 |
| 01:43 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata makes the 2nd free throw | 30-29 |
| 01:31 | Akron | Dennis Hunter misses the driving attempt from the left block but he's hacked by Ryan Risher - foul #3 on Ryan Risher, team foul #12 | 30-29 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Monte Denenberg (C) Ryan Risher | |
| Subs | Akron | Clyde Northrop (SG), Aaron Best (SF) Paul Oster, Peter James | |
| 01:31 | Akron | Dennis Hunter makes the 1st free throw | 30-30 |
| 01:31 | Akron | Dennis Hunter makes the 2nd free throw | 30-31 |
| 01:12 | Mississippi State | Brian Annunziata splits the doubleteam but misses short on a fadeaway from the left side | 30-31 |
| 01:11 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger tips it home | 32-31 |
| 00:50 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance is hacked by David Pagel - foul #2 on David Pagel, team foul #13 | 32-31 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Johnny Heard (SG), Andrew Alvord (C) Brian Annunziata, Monte Denenberg | |
| Subs | Akron | Paul Oster (SG), Peter James (SF), Johnny Dolphin (C) Clyde Northrop, Aaron Best, Dennis Hunter | |
| 00:50 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance makes the 1st free throw | 32-32 |
| 00:50 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance makes the 2nd free throw | 32-33 |
| 00:36 | Mississippi State | Johnny Heard makes the 3 pointer from the left corner on a great pass from David Pagel | 35-33 |
| 00:17 | Akron | Paul Oster misses long on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 35-33 |
| 00:16 | Mississippi State | Brian Messinger snags the defensive board | 35-33 |
| 00:02 | Mississippi State | Brian Fairfield works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left side | 35-33 |
| 00:00 | Akron | Nathaniel Plaisance gets the rebound | 35-33 |