| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Nathaniel Phillips (fresh) 17 pts. 1 ast. SG - Wayne Foster (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Nelson Boyer (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. PF - Andrew Bailey (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. C - Robert Fisher (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Mederos (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - David Avitia (fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. SF - George Hill (fresh) 7 pts. PF - Terry Horwitz (fresh) 2 pts. C - Mark Rouse (fresh) 4 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer inbounds the ball | 46-40 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 19:41 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips misses long on a jumper from the right wing | 46-40 |
| 19:39 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos pulls down the rebound | 46-40 |
| 19:23 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos makes the wide open pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 46-42 |
| 19:19 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 46-42 |
| 19:06 | Mississippi State | David Avitia comes up short on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 46-42 |
| 19:05 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz tips it but misses | 46-42 |
| 19:04 | Illinois | Robert Fisher snags the defensive board | 46-42 |
| 18:58 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips hits a wide open floater from the right side | 48-42 |
| 18:40 | Mississippi State | David Avitia shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 48-42 |
| 18:39 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Wayne Foster | 48-42 |
| 18:34 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 48-42 |
| 18:32 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Terry Horwitz | 48-42 |
| 18:26 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos comes up short on the jumper from the right side | 48-42 |
| 18:25 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse grabs the offensive rebound | 48-42 |
| 18:15 | Mississippi State | Nathaniel Phillips steps in front of the Richard Mederos pass | 48-42 |
| 18:12 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips lays it up and in | 50-42 |
| 17:55 | Mississippi State | David Avitia splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 50-42 |
| 17:54 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Andrew Bailey | 50-42 |
| 17:52 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips is whistled for traveling in the backcourt | 50-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Edward Fox (SG), Sam Long (SF), Tomas Wilde (PF) Nathaniel Phillips, Wayne Foster, Nelson Boyer, Andrew Bailey | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans (SF), Brian Jacobs (PF), David White (C) George Hill, Terry Horwitz, Mark Rouse | |
| 17:37 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos is hacked by Austin Coward - foul #3 on Austin Coward, team foul #1 | 50-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips (PG) Austin Coward | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 17:23 | Mississippi State | David White lays it up and in on a nice dish by a doubleteamed David Avitia | 50-44 |
| 17:10 | Illinois | The jumper by Sam Long is denied by Brian Jacobs | 50-44 |
| 17:08 | Illinois | Sam Long tips it back up and in | 52-44 |
| 16:39 | Mississippi State | David White travels with the ball | 52-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Nelson Boyer (SF), Terrance Riccio (C) Sam Long, Robert Fisher | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 16:24 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from straight away | 52-44 |
| 16:23 | Mississippi State | David Avitia gets the rebound | 52-44 |
| 16:16 | Mississippi State | David Avitia misses short on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 52-44 |
| 16:14 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to Richard Mederos | 52-44 |
| 16:01 | Mississippi State | Brian Jacobs can't connect on a shot from the right side | 52-44 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips grabs the board | 52-44 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Nathaniel Phillips (fairly fresh) 21 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Edward Fox (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Nelson Boyer (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. PF - Tomas Wilde (fairly fresh) C - Terrance Riccio (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Mederos (tiring) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - David Avitia (tiring) 12 pts. 3 ast. SF - Daniel Evans (fairly fresh) 4 pts. PF - Brian Jacobs (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - David White (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 15:47 | Illinois | David White is called for the reach on Edward Fox - foul #3 on David White, team foul #1 | 52-44 |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Wayne Foster (SG), Sam Long (PF) Nathaniel Phillips, Edward Fox, Tomas Wilde | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Zane Branch (PG), Frank Pruden (SG), George Hill (SF), Eric Latta (PF) Richard Mederos, David Avitia, Daniel Evans, Brian Jacobs | |
| 15:37 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 52-44 |
| 15:36 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch pulls down the rebound | 52-44 |
| 15:14 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch buries a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 52-47 |
| 14:52 | Illinois | David White steps in front of the Austin Coward pass | 52-47 |
| 14:44 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch misses long on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 52-47 |
| 14:42 | Illinois | Sam Long pulls down the rebound | 52-47 |
| 14:21 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio lays it in on a great pass from Austin Coward and he's fouled by Eric Latta - foul #3 on Eric Latta, team foul #2 | 54-47 |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Fox (SG), Andrew Bailey (PF) Wayne Foster, Sam Long | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos (PG), David Avitia (SG), Daniel Evans (SF), Terry Horwitz (PF), Mark Rouse (C) Zane Branch, Frank Pruden, George Hill, Eric Latta, David White | |
| 14:21 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio makes the free throw | 55-47 |
| 14:11 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos knocks in the shot from the left wing on a great pass from Terry Horwitz | 55-49 |
| 13:52 | Illinois | Terry Horwitz swats the shot by Edward Fox | 55-49 |
| 13:51 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse snags the defensive board | 55-49 |
| 13:32 | Mississippi State | David Avitia is doubleteamed and called for traveling | 55-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips (PG), Tomas Wilde (PF), Robert Fisher (C) Austin Coward, Andrew Bailey, Terrance Riccio | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Brian Jacobs (PF) Terry Horwitz | |
| 13:21 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde clanks a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line but he's hacked by Brian Jacobs - foul #1 on Brian Jacobs, team foul #3 | 55-49 |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Foster (SG) Edward Fox | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Zane Branch (SG), George Hill (SF) David Avitia, Daniel Evans | |
| 13:21 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde misses the 1st free throw | 55-49 |
| 13:21 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde misses the 2nd free throw | 55-49 |
| 13:21 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Nelson Boyer | 55-49 |
| 13:08 | Illinois | Richard Mederos steals it from Nathaniel Phillips | 55-49 |
| 12:50 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos clanks a jumper from the right wing | 55-49 |
| 12:48 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse grabs the offensive rebound | 55-49 |
| 12:35 | Mississippi State | Wayne Foster picks off the pass by Mark Rouse | 55-49 |
| 12:24 | Illinois | Richard Mederos denies the turnaround by Tomas Wilde | 55-49 |
| 12:23 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde grabs the offensive rebound | 55-49 |
| 12:16 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde scores on a shot in the lane on a nice dish by Nathaniel Phillips | 57-49 |
| 11:53 | Mississippi State | Brian Jacobs drills a fadeaway in the lane | 57-51 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Nathaniel Phillips (fairly fresh) 21 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Wayne Foster (fairly fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Nelson Boyer (tiring) 6 pts. 2 ast. PF - Tomas Wilde (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Robert Fisher (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Mederos (tiring) 9 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Zane Branch (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. SF - George Hill (fairly fresh) 7 pts. PF - Brian Jacobs (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Mark Rouse (tiring) 7 reb. | |
| 11:51 | Illinois | Wayne Foster is hacked by Zane Branch in the backcourt - foul #2 on Zane Branch, team foul #4 | 57-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Edward Fox (SG), Sam Long (SF), Andrew Bailey (PF) Nathaniel Phillips, Wayne Foster, Nelson Boyer, Tomas Wilde | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Avitia (SG), Daniel Evans (SF), Terry Horwitz (PF), David White (C) Richard Mederos, George Hill, Brian Jacobs, Mark Rouse | |
| 11:34 | Illinois | Edward Fox hits the front of the rim on the floater from close range but the foul's on Zane Branch - foul #3 on Zane Branch, team foul #5 | 57-51 |
| 11:34 | Illinois | Edward Fox makes the 1st free throw | 58-51 |
| 11:34 | Illinois | Edward Fox misses the 2nd free throw | 58-51 |
| 11:34 | Mississippi State | David Avitia pulls down the rebound | 58-51 |
| 11:11 | Mississippi State | David White blows the wide open layup | 58-51 |
| 11:10 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz tips it but misses | 58-51 |
| 11:09 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Sam Long | 58-51 |
| 11:06 | Illinois | Austin Coward is hacked by Daniel Evans in the backcourt - foul #2 on Daniel Evans, team foul #6 | 58-51 |
| 10:52 | Illinois | Sam Long scores on a jump hook from the left block on a nice dish by Austin Coward | 60-51 |
| 10:37 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch misses the jumper from just outside the lane but the foul's on Andrew Bailey - foul #2 on Andrew Bailey, team foul #2 | 60-51 |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips (PG) Austin Coward | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Eric Latta (PF), Brian Jacobs (C) Terry Horwitz, David White | |
| 10:37 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch misses the 1st free throw | 60-51 |
| 10:37 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch makes the 2nd free throw | 60-52 |
| 10:21 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips is wide open but clanks a 3 pointer from straight away | 60-52 |
| 10:20 | Illinois | Sam Long tips it back up and in | 62-52 |
| 10:05 | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans makes the jumpshot from the right wing set up by Zane Branch | 62-54 |
| 09:42 | Illinois | Andrew Bailey connects on the runner in the lane on a great pass from Sam Long | 64-54 |
| 09:19 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch clanks a 3 pointer from straight away | 64-54 |
| 09:18 | Illinois | Robert Fisher snags the defensive board | 64-54 |
| 09:13 | Illinois | Sam Long throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 64-54 |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Wayne Foster (SG), Nelson Boyer (SF), Tomas Wilde (PF), Terrance Riccio (C) Nathaniel Phillips, Edward Fox, Sam Long, Andrew Bailey, Robert Fisher | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos (PG), Frank Pruden (SG), George Hill (SF), Terry Horwitz (PF), David White (C) Zane Branch, David Avitia, Daniel Evans, Eric Latta, Brian Jacobs | |
| 08:54 | Mississippi State | David White misses badly on a fadeaway from the left wing | 64-54 |
| 08:52 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer grabs the board | 64-54 |
| 08:38 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio is fouled on the floor by David White - foul #4 on David White, team foul #7 | 64-54 |
| 08:38 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio misses the 1st free throw | 64-54 |
| 08:38 | Mississippi State | David White snags the defensive board | 64-54 |
| 08:23 | Mississippi State | David White misses short on a fadeaway from the left side but he's fouled by Wayne Foster - foul #1 on Wayne Foster, team foul #3 | 64-54 |
| 08:23 | Mississippi State | David White makes the 1st free throw | 64-55 |
| 08:23 | Mississippi State | David White makes the 2nd free throw | 64-56 |
| 08:02 | Illinois | George Hill blocks the short jumper by Terrance Riccio | 64-56 |
| 08:01 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz grabs the defensive rebound | 64-56 |
| 07:51 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos is fouled on the floor by Austin Coward - foul #4 on Austin Coward, team foul #4 | 64-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Peter Barnes (SG), Brian Jacobs (PF), Mark Rouse (C) Frank Pruden, Terry Horwitz, David White | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Austin Coward (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. 4 pf. SG - Wayne Foster (fairly fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Nelson Boyer (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. PF - Tomas Wilde (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Terrance Riccio (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Mederos (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Peter Barnes (fresh) SF - George Hill (fresh) 7 pts. PF - Brian Jacobs (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Mark Rouse (fresh) 7 reb. | |
| 07:35 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos comes up short on the shot from the right wing but the foul's on Terrance Riccio - foul #1 on Terrance Riccio, team foul #5 | 64-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips (PG), Andrew Bailey (PF) Austin Coward, Tomas Wilde | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 07:35 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos misses the 1st free throw | 64-56 |
| 07:35 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos makes the 2nd free throw | 64-57 |
| 07:24 | Illinois | Andrew Bailey is wide open but clanks a fadeaway from the left side | 64-57 |
| 07:23 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse pulls down the rebound | 64-57 |
| 06:57 | Mississippi State | Brian Jacobs misses badly on a jumper from the left wing but he's hacked by Andrew Bailey - foul #3 on Andrew Bailey, team foul #6 | 64-57 |
| Subs | Illinois | Edward Fox (SG), Robert Fisher (C) Wayne Foster, Terrance Riccio | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Avitia (SG), Daniel Evans (SF), Eric Latta (PF) Richard Mederos, George Hill, Mark Rouse | |
| 06:57 | Mississippi State | Brian Jacobs makes the 1st free throw | 64-58 |
| 06:57 | Mississippi State | Brian Jacobs makes the 2nd free throw | 64-59 |
| 06:40 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer can't connect on a 3 from the left corner | 64-59 |
| 06:39 | Illinois | Andrew Bailey pulls down the offensive rebound | 64-59 |
| 06:23 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer connects on the open 3 pointer from the left corner | 67-59 |
| 06:04 | Mississippi State | Peter Barnes misses long on a 3 from the left corner | 67-59 |
| 06:03 | Illinois | Andrew Bailey grabs the board | 67-59 |
| 05:43 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips is alone and drills a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line set up by Nelson Boyer | 69-59 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 05:34 | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans hits a floater from the left side | 69-61 |
| 05:18 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 69-61 |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Wayne Foster (SG), Sam Long (SF), Tomas Wilde (PF), Terrance Riccio (C) Nathaniel Phillips, Edward Fox, Nelson Boyer, Andrew Bailey, Robert Fisher | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos (PG), Zane Branch (SG), George Hill (SF), Terry Horwitz (PF), David White (C) Peter Barnes, David Avitia, Daniel Evans, Eric Latta, Brian Jacobs | |
| 05:03 | Mississippi State | David White's layup is rejected by Tomas Wilde | 69-61 |
| 05:01 | Illinois | Sam Long gets the rebound | 69-61 |
| 04:56 | Illinois | Wayne Foster is called for traveling | 69-61 |
| 04:40 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch misses short on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 69-61 |
| 04:39 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde grabs the board | 69-61 |
| 04:35 | Illinois | Austin Coward misses the jumper from the left block but the foul's on Terry Horwitz - foul #2 on Terry Horwitz, team foul #8 | 69-61 |
| 04:35 | Illinois | Austin Coward makes the 1st free throw | 70-61 |
| 04:35 | Illinois | Austin Coward makes the 2nd free throw | 71-61 |
| 04:28 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos connects on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Terry Horwitz | 71-63 |
| 04:06 | Illinois | Austin Coward hits a wide open 3pt attempt from the right wing | 74-63 |
| 03:52 | Mississippi State | Tomas Wilde takes the ball from Terry Horwitz | 74-63 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Austin Coward (fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. 4 pf. SG - Wayne Foster (fairly fresh) 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Sam Long (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. PF - Tomas Wilde (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Terrance Riccio (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Mederos (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Zane Branch (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. SF - George Hill (fairly fresh) 7 pts. PF - Terry Horwitz (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - David White (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. 4 pf. | |
| 03:23 | Illinois | Sam Long hits a wide open shot from the left wing on a great pass from Austin Coward | 76-63 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 03:07 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 76-63 |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Sam Long grabs the defensive rebound | 76-63 |
| 02:47 | Illinois | Terry Horwitz steals it from Terrance Riccio | 76-63 |
| 02:47 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 76-63 |
| Subs | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips (PG), Edward Fox (SG), Nelson Boyer (SF), Robert Fisher (C) Austin Coward, Wayne Foster, Sam Long, Terrance Riccio | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Avitia (SG), Daniel Evans (SF), Brian Jacobs (PF), Mark Rouse (C) Zane Branch, George Hill, Terry Horwitz, David White | |
| 02:37 | Mississippi State | David Avitia splits the doubleteam but misses short on a jumpshot from the right wing | 76-63 |
| 02:35 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse tips it but misses | 76-63 |
| 02:33 | Illinois | Edward Fox grabs the defensive rebound | 76-63 |
| 02:10 | Illinois | Robert Fisher misses long on a fadeaway in the paint | 76-63 |
| 02:09 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse gets the rebound | 76-63 |
| 02:04 | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans travels with the ball | 76-63 |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Bailey (PF) Tomas Wilde | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| 01:36 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips misses short on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 76-63 |
| 01:34 | Illinois | Andrew Bailey misses the tip | 76-63 |
| 01:32 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse grabs the defensive rebound | 76-63 |
| 01:27 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the right side | 76-63 |
| 01:26 | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans snags the offensive board | 76-63 |
| 01:21 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #1 on Richard Mederos, team foul #9 | 76-63 |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Foster (SG) Edward Fox | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Hill (SF), Terry Horwitz (PF) Daniel Evans, Brian Jacobs | |
| 01:17 | Illinois | Wayne Foster's pass is intercepted by Richard Mederos in the backcourt | 76-63 |
| 01:16 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos lays it up and in | 76-65 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | Andrew Bailey misses the wide open jump hook from close range | 76-65 |
| 00:59 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz snags the defensive board | 76-65 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| 00:55 | Mississippi State | Nelson Boyer picks off the pass by George Hill | 76-65 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| 00:33 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer hits the front of the rim on the turnaround in the paint | 76-65 |
| 00:32 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse pulls down the rebound | 76-65 |
| 00:28 | Mississippi State | Wayne Foster steps in front of the Terry Horwitz pass | 76-65 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Nathaniel Phillips runs out the clock | 76-65 |