| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Frank Foss (fresh) 1 pts. 2 ast. SG - James Dean (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. SF - William Bennett (fresh) 8 pts. PF - James Krout (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. C - George Vangilder (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Western Illinois | PG - Dikembe Orji (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Glenn Tejada (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Gerald Lucey (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Bret Wimmer (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. C - Ernest Doyle (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | William Bennett inbounds the ball | 38-30 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Western Illinois | Western Illinois is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:40 | Mississippi State | James Krout buries a 3pt attempt from straight away | 41-30 |
| 19:23 | Western Illinois | Glenn Tejada comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 41-30 |
| 19:22 | Mississippi State | William Bennett pulls down the rebound | 41-30 |
| 19:06 | Mississippi State | William Bennett misses long on a floater from the baseline | 41-30 |
| 19:05 | Mississippi State | James Krout misses the tip | 41-30 |
| 19:03 | Western Illinois | Ernest Doyle snags the defensive board | 41-30 |
| 18:49 | Western Illinois | Bret Wimmer misses short on a 3 from the right wing | 41-30 |
| 18:47 | Mississippi State | James Dean grabs the defensive rebound | 41-30 |
| 18:34 | Mississippi State | Frank Foss drills a shot from the right side on a nice dish by James Dean | 43-30 |
| 18:10 | Western Illinois | Gerald Lucey misses the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 43-30 |
| 18:08 | Mississippi State | Frank Foss pulls down the rebound | 43-30 |
| 18:03 | Mississippi State | Gerald Lucey steps in front of the William Bennett pass | 43-30 |
| 17:59 | Western Illinois | Gerald Lucey lays it up and in | 43-32 |
| 17:40 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder misses the lay-in | 43-32 |
| 17:39 | Western Illinois | Ernest Doyle grabs the defensive rebound | 43-32 |
| 17:31 | Western Illinois | Dikembe Orji comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 43-32 |
| 17:29 | Mississippi State | William Bennett grabs the board | 43-32 |
| 17:15 | Mississippi State | James Krout loses the ball out of bounds | 43-32 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi (PG), Ronald Panella (SG), Dan Pittman (SF), Dave Iser (PF) Frank Foss, James Dean, William Bennett, George Vangilder | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Samuel Collins (PG), Samuel Lee (SG), Michael Becker (SF), Charles Towry (PF), John Hauer (C) Dikembe Orji, Glenn Tejada, Gerald Lucey, Bret Wimmer, Ernest Doyle | |
| 17:06 | Western Illinois | Michael Becker can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 43-32 |
| 17:04 | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella pulls down the rebound | 43-32 |
| 16:53 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman hits a shot from the left wing | 45-32 |
| 16:31 | Western Illinois | John Hauer buries a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 45-35 |
| 16:16 | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi misses short on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 45-35 |
| 16:15 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry snags the defensive board | 45-35 |
| 15:59 | Western Illinois | Samuel Collins makes the floater from just outside the lane | 45-37 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Maximo Bianchi (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. SG - Ronald Panella (fresh) 2 reb. SF - Dan Pittman (fresh) 8 pts. PF - Dave Iser (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - James Krout (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Western Illinois | PG - Samuel Collins (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Samuel Lee (fresh) SF - Michael Becker (fresh) PF - Charles Towry (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - John Hauer (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 15:41 | Mississippi State | James Krout hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 45-37 |
| 15:40 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman tips it in | 47-37 |
| 15:14 | Western Illinois | Michael Becker can't connect on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 47-37 |
| 15:13 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry pulls down the offensive rebound | 47-37 |
| 14:57 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry misses the lay-in but the foul's on Maximo Bianchi - foul #1 on Maximo Bianchi, team foul #1 | 47-37 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Frank Foss (PG), James Dean (SG), William Bennett (SF), George Vangilder (C) Maximo Bianchi, Ronald Panella, Dan Pittman, Dave Iser | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Dikembe Orji (PG), Glenn Tejada (SG), Antoine Lancaster (SF), Ernest Doyle (C) Samuel Collins, Samuel Lee, Michael Becker, John Hauer | |
| 14:57 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry misses the 1st free throw | 47-37 |
| 14:57 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry makes the 2nd free throw | 47-38 |
| 14:42 | Mississippi State | Frank Foss is hacked by Ernest Doyle - foul #1 on Ernest Doyle, team foul #1 | 47-38 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Bret Wimmer (PF) Charles Towry | |
| 14:35 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder scores on a fadeaway from the left block on a great pass from James Dean | 49-38 |
| 14:22 | Western Illinois | Antoine Lancaster's fadeaway is rejected by George Vangilder | 49-38 |
| 14:20 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to William Bennett | 49-38 |
| 14:10 | Mississippi State | William Bennett misses long on a floater from close range | 49-38 |
| 14:09 | Western Illinois | Glenn Tejada snags the defensive board | 49-38 |
| 13:50 | Western Illinois | Bret Wimmer buries a 3 from the left corner | 49-41 |
| 13:42 | Mississippi State | William Bennett is called for a charge - foul #3 on William Bennett, team foul #2 | 49-41 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi (SG) James Dean | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | | |
| 13:22 | Western Illinois | Bret Wimmer can't connect on a 3 from the left corner | 49-41 |
| 13:21 | Mississippi State | William Bennett gets the rebound | 49-41 |
| 13:12 | Mississippi State | William Bennett blows the layup but he's fouled by Antoine Lancaster - foul #4 on Antoine Lancaster, team foul #2 | 49-41 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman (SF) James Krout | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Gerald Lucey (SF) Antoine Lancaster | |
| 13:12 | Mississippi State | William Bennett makes the 1st free throw | 50-41 |
| 13:12 | Mississippi State | William Bennett makes the 2nd free throw | 51-41 |
| 12:59 | Western Illinois | Gerald Lucey clanks a jumpshot from the left side | 51-41 |
| 12:57 | Western Illinois | Ernest Doyle tips it back up and in | 51-43 |
| 12:42 | Mississippi State | William Bennett banks in the layup set up by George Vangilder | 53-43 |
| 12:37 | Western Illinois | Dikembe Orji is called for the offensive foul in the backcourt - foul #2 on Dikembe Orji, team foul #3 | 53-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella (SG), Dave Iser (PF) Frank Foss, Dan Pittman | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Samuel Collins (SG), Samuel Lee (SF), Charles Towry (C) Glenn Tejada, Bret Wimmer, Ernest Doyle | |
| 12:29 | Mississippi State | William Bennett knocks in the jump hook near the basket | 55-43 |
| 12:09 | Western Illinois | Dave Iser denies the turnaround by Charles Towry | 55-43 |
| 12:07 | Mississippi State | William Bennett pulls down the rebound | 55-43 |
| 12:02 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser makes the shot from the left wing | 57-43 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Maximo Bianchi (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. SG - Ronald Panella (fresh) 2 reb. SF - William Bennett (fairly fresh) 14 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. PF - Dave Iser (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - George Vangilder (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Western Illinois | PG - Dikembe Orji (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Samuel Collins (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Samuel Lee (fresh) PF - Gerald Lucey (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Charles Towry (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 11:40 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry is called for a backcourt violation | 57-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Green (PG), James Dean (SG), Dan Pittman (SF) Maximo Bianchi, Ronald Panella, William Bennett | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Glenn Tejada (SG), Bret Wimmer (PF) Dikembe Orji, Samuel Lee | |
| 11:25 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser misses the fadeaway from the right block but he's hacked by Charles Towry - foul #3 on Charles Towry, team foul #4 | 57-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Frank Foss (PG) James Green | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Ernest Doyle (C) Charles Towry | |
| 11:25 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser makes the 1st free throw | 58-43 |
| 11:25 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser makes the 2nd free throw | 59-43 |
| 11:13 | Western Illinois | Glenn Tejada misses short on a runner near the basket | 59-43 |
| 11:11 | Mississippi State | James Dean pulls down the rebound | 59-43 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Western Illinois | Western Illinois is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 11:07 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman throws a bad pass out of bounds | 59-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Krout (PF) Dave Iser | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | | |
| 10:52 | Western Illinois | Samuel Collins hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 59-43 |
| 10:50 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder grabs the defensive rebound | 59-43 |
| 10:37 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 59-43 |
| 10:35 | Western Illinois | The rebound goes to Glenn Tejada | 59-43 |
| 10:15 | Western Illinois | Bret Wimmer can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 59-43 |
| 10:14 | Mississippi State | James Dean gets the rebound | 59-43 |
| 09:54 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder can't connect on a fadeaway from the baseline but the foul's on Glenn Tejada - foul #1 on Glenn Tejada, team foul #5 | 59-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi (PG), Ronald Panella (SG), William Bennett (SF) Frank Foss, James Dean, Dan Pittman | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Dikembe Orji (PG), Samuel Lee (SG), Michael Becker (SF), Charles Towry (PF), John Hauer (C) Samuel Collins, Glenn Tejada, Gerald Lucey, Bret Wimmer, Ernest Doyle | |
| 09:54 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder misses the 1st free throw | 59-43 |
| 09:54 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder misses the 2nd free throw | 59-43 |
| 09:54 | Western Illinois | The rebound goes to Charles Towry | 59-43 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Western Illinois | Western Illinois is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 09:38 | Western Illinois | John Hauer is fouled on the floor by George Vangilder - foul #2 on George Vangilder, team foul #3 | 59-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Dave Iser (PF) James Krout | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | | |
| 09:26 | Western Illinois | John Hauer is whistled for a carry | 59-43 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Western Illinois | Western Illinois is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 09:05 | Mississippi State | William Bennett misses badly on a shot from just outside the lane | 59-43 |
| 09:04 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder tips it home | 61-43 |
| 08:45 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry misses badly on a jump hook from the baseline | 61-43 |
| 08:43 | Mississippi State | William Bennett grabs the board | 61-43 |
| 08:21 | Mississippi State | Samuel Lee is called for the reach on Ronald Panella - foul #1 on Samuel Lee, team foul #6 | 61-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Frank Foss (PG), James Krout (PF), James Dean (C) Ronald Panella, Dave Iser, George Vangilder | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Glenn Tejada (SG), Ernest Doyle (C) Michael Becker, John Hauer | |
| 08:06 | Mississippi State | William Bennett is fouled on the floor by Dikembe Orji - foul #3 on Dikembe Orji, team foul #7 | 61-43 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Samuel Collins (PG), Bret Wimmer (PF) Dikembe Orji, Charles Towry | |
| 08:06 | Mississippi State | William Bennett makes the 1st free throw | 62-43 |
| 08:06 | Mississippi State | William Bennett misses the 2nd free throw | 62-43 |
| 08:06 | Western Illinois | Bret Wimmer pulls down the rebound | 62-43 |
| 07:54 | Western Illinois | Samuel Lee can't connect on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 62-43 |
| 07:52 | Western Illinois | Ernest Doyle grabs the offensive board | 62-43 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Frank Foss (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Maximo Bianchi (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. SF - William Bennett (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 7 reb. 3 pf. PF - James Krout (fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. C - James Dean (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Western Illinois | PG - Samuel Collins (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Glenn Tejada (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Samuel Lee (fresh) PF - Bret Wimmer (fresh) 11 pts. 5 reb. C - Ernest Doyle (fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 07:47 | Western Illinois | Bret Wimmer hits a shot from the right side on a nice dish by Glenn Tejada | 62-45 |
| 07:25 | Mississippi State | James Krout misses the 3pt shot from the left corner | 62-45 |
| 07:23 | Western Illinois | Ernest Doyle grabs the defensive rebound | 62-45 |
| 07:04 | Western Illinois | Samuel Lee connects on the 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Ernest Doyle | 62-48 |
| 06:43 | Mississippi State | William Bennett scores on a jumper from the right block and he's fouled by Samuel Lee - foul #2 on Samuel Lee, team foul #8 | 64-48 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella (SG), Dan Pittman (SF), Dave Iser (PF) Maximo Bianchi, James Krout, James Dean | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Dikembe Orji (PG), Antoine Lancaster (SF), Gerald Lucey (PF), Charles Towry (C) Glenn Tejada, Samuel Lee, Bret Wimmer, Ernest Doyle | |
| 06:43 | Mississippi State | William Bennett misses the free throw | 64-48 |
| 06:43 | Western Illinois | Gerald Lucey pulls down the rebound | 64-48 |
| 06:31 | Western Illinois | Gerald Lucey throws a bad pass out of bounds | 64-48 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Green (PG), James Krout (C) Frank Foss, William Bennett | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | | |
| 06:05 | Mississippi State | James Green hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from the right wing but he's hacked by Dikembe Orji - foul #4 on Dikembe Orji, team foul #9 | 64-48 |
| 06:05 | Mississippi State | James Green makes the 1st free throw | 65-48 |
| 06:05 | Mississippi State | James Green makes the 2nd free throw | 66-48 |
| 05:57 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane but he's hacked by James Krout - foul #3 on James Krout, team foul #4 | 66-48 |
| 05:57 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry misses the 1st free throw | 66-48 |
| 05:57 | Western Illinois | Charles Towry makes the 2nd free throw | 66-49 |
| 05:39 | Mississippi State | Dikembe Orji steals the ball from Ronald Panella | 66-49 |
| 05:35 | Western Illinois | Dikembe Orji travels with the ball | 66-49 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Vangilder (C) Dave Iser | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Glenn Tejada (SG), Bret Wimmer (PF), Ernest Doyle (C) Samuel Collins, Charles Towry, Gerald Lucey | |
| 05:10 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman comes up short on the jumpshot from the right wing | 66-49 |
| 05:09 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder tips it back up and in | 68-49 |
| 04:54 | Western Illinois | Antoine Lancaster throws a bad pass out of bounds | 68-49 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Frank Foss (PG), James Dean (SG), Dirk Dyer (SF) James Green, Ronald Panella, Dan Pittman | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | | |
| 04:32 | Mississippi State | George Vangilder banks in the layup on a nice dish by James Dean | 70-49 |
| 04:16 | Western Illinois | Glenn Tejada can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 70-49 |
| 04:14 | Western Illinois | Bret Wimmer tips it home | 70-51 |
| 03:54 | Mississippi State | James Krout drills a 3pt shot from the right corner on a great pass from Frank Foss | 73-51 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Western Illinois | Western Illinois is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Frank Foss (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - James Dean (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. SF - Dirk Dyer (fresh) PF - James Krout (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 6 reb. 3 pf. C - George Vangilder (tiring) 13 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Western Illinois | PG - Dikembe Orji (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. 4 pf. SG - Glenn Tejada (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Antoine Lancaster (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. PF - Bret Wimmer (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 6 reb. C - Ernest Doyle (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 7 reb. | |
| 03:38 | Western Illinois | Antoine Lancaster is hacked by Dirk Dyer - foul #2 on Dirk Dyer, team foul #5 | 73-51 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi (PG), Ronald Panella (SG), Dan Pittman (SF), Dave Iser (PF) Frank Foss, Dirk Dyer, James Krout, George Vangilder | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | Samuel Collins (PG), Samuel Lee (SG), Gerald Lucey (SF), Charles Towry (PF), John Hauer (C) Dikembe Orji, Glenn Tejada, Antoine Lancaster, Bret Wimmer, Ernest Doyle | |
| 03:18 | Western Illinois | John Hauer's pass is intercepted by Maximo Bianchi | 73-51 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Western Illinois | Western Illinois is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 02:51 | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella buries a runner in the paint | 75-51 |
| 02:34 | Western Illinois | John Hauer misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 75-51 |
| 02:33 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman grabs the defensive rebound | 75-51 |
| 02:08 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the left side | 75-51 |
| 02:06 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman tips it home | 77-51 |
| 01:51 | Western Illinois | Ronald Panella steals it from Gerald Lucey | 77-51 |
| 01:34 | Mississippi State | James Dean makes the 3 from the left wing on a nice dish by Maximo Bianchi | 80-51 |
| 01:07 | Western Illinois | Samuel Lee misses the easy layup but the foul's on Dave Iser - foul #1 on Dave Iser, team foul #6 | 80-51 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Vangilder (C) James Dean | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | | |
| 01:07 | Western Illinois | Samuel Lee makes the 1st free throw | 80-52 |
| 01:07 | Western Illinois | Samuel Lee makes the 2nd free throw | 80-53 |
| 00:43 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman is called for a pushoff foul - foul #1 on Dan Pittman, team foul #7 | 80-53 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Western Illinois | Western Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:37 | Western Illinois | John Hauer is whistled for a carry | 80-53 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Western Illinois | Western Illinois is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:17 | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi misses short on a jumpshot from the left wing but the foul's on Gerald Lucey - foul #3 on Gerald Lucey, team foul #10 | 80-53 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Green (PG) George Vangilder | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | | |
| 00:17 | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi makes the 1st free throw | 81-53 |
| 00:17 | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi misses the 2nd free throw | 81-53 |
| 00:17 | Western Illinois | The rebound goes to Samuel Lee | 81-53 |
| 00:11 | Western Illinois | Samuel Lee drills a shot from the free throw line on a great pass from Samuel Collins and the foul's on Ronald Panella - foul #2 on Ronald Panella, team foul #8 | 81-55 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Vangilder (C) James Green | |
| Subs | Western Illinois | | |
| 00:11 | Western Illinois | Samuel Lee makes the free throw | 81-56 |
| 00:00 | Mississippi State | Maximo Bianchi runs out the clock | 81-56 |