| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Mederos (fresh) SG - Zane Branch (fresh) SF - George Hill (fresh) PF - Terry Horwitz (fresh) C - David White (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Austin Coward (fresh) SG - Boris Zellous (fresh) SF - James Aguon (fresh) PF - Tomas Wilde (fresh) C - Terrance Riccio (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| 19:37 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio can't connect on a jumpshot from the left side | 0-0 |
| 19:36 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio hits the follow up shot | 0-2 |
| 19:19 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch buries a 3pt shot from the right corner | 3-2 |
| 19:04 | Illinois | Boris Zellous hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 3-2 |
| 19:03 | Mississippi State | George Hill snags the defensive board | 3-2 |
| 18:49 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos misses badly on a jumpshot from the right wing | 3-2 |
| 18:47 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Boris Zellous | 3-2 |
| 18:40 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio throws it down on a great pass from James Aguon | 3-4 |
| 18:13 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz buries a jumpshot from the left side on a nice dish by Zane Branch | 5-4 |
| 18:10 | Illinois | Zane Branch picks off the pass by Terrance Riccio in the backcourt | 5-4 |
| 18:09 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch lays it in | 7-4 |
| 18:07 | Illinois | Boris Zellous is hacked by George Hill in the backcourt - foul #1 on George Hill, team foul #1 | 7-4 |
| 17:49 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde hits the front of the rim on the shot from the left wing | 7-4 |
| 17:48 | Mississippi State | George Hill grabs the defensive rebound | 7-4 |
| 17:44 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch scores on a 3pt shot from the left wing set up by Richard Mederos | 10-4 |
| 17:24 | Illinois | Boris Zellous's pass is intercepted by Richard Mederos | 10-4 |
| 17:07 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos drills a floater from the right wing | 12-4 |
| 16:46 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde is whistled for a carry | 12-4 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans (PF), Mark Rouse (C) Terry Horwitz, David White | |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Foster (PG), Nelson Boyer (SG), Edward Fox (SF), Andrew Bailey (PF), Robert Fisher (C) Austin Coward, Boris Zellous, James Aguon, Tomas Wilde, Terrance Riccio | |
| 16:23 | Mississippi State | George Hill is hacked by Edward Fox - foul #1 on Edward Fox, team foul #1 | 12-4 |
| 16:07 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos is hacked by Wayne Foster - foul #1 on Wayne Foster, team foul #2 | 12-4 |
| 15:46 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos loses the ball out of bounds | 12-4 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Richard Mederos (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Zane Branch (fairly fresh) 8 pts. SF - George Hill (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - Daniel Evans (fresh) C - Mark Rouse (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Wayne Foster (fresh) SG - Nelson Boyer (fresh) SF - Edward Fox (fresh) PF - Andrew Bailey (fresh) C - Robert Fisher (fresh) | |
| 15:25 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer is open and scores on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 12-7 |
| 15:05 | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans misses long on a floater from the left block | 12-7 |
| 15:04 | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans hits the follow up shot | 14-7 |
| 15:01 | Illinois | Wayne Foster is fouled in the backcourt by Richard Mederos - foul #1 on Richard Mederos, team foul #2 | 14-7 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Avitia (SG), Eric Latta (SF), James Widener (C) Zane Branch, George Hill, Mark Rouse | |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Tomas Wilde (PF), Virgil Polson (C) Wayne Foster, Andrew Bailey, Robert Fisher | |
| 14:45 | Illinois | Edward Fox is hacked by Eric Latta - foul #1 on Eric Latta, team foul #3 | 14-7 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David White (C) James Widener | |
| Subs | Illinois | Carl Hartsock (SF) Edward Fox | |
| 14:31 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde misses the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 14-7 |
| 14:29 | Illinois | Austin Coward pulls down the offensive rebound | 14-7 |
| 14:22 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 14-7 |
| 14:21 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Richard Mederos | 14-7 |
| 14:16 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos double dribbles in the backcourt | 14-7 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz (PF) Daniel Evans | |
| Subs | Illinois | James Aguon (SF) Nelson Boyer | |
| 14:02 | Illinois | Austin Coward drills a jumper near the basket on a great pass from Carl Hartsock | 14-9 |
| 13:42 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left side | 14-9 |
| 13:41 | Mississippi State | David White tips it back up and in | 16-9 |
| 13:25 | Illinois | Austin Coward drills a 3pt attempt from the right wing on a nice dish by Carl Hartsock | 16-12 |
| 13:06 | Mississippi State | David White hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt in the paint | 16-12 |
| 13:04 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz tips it back up and in | 18-12 |
| 12:52 | Illinois | Austin Coward blows the layup but the foul's on Richard Mederos - foul #2 on Richard Mederos, team foul #4 | 18-12 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Zane Branch (SG), George Hill (SF), Daniel Evans (PF), Mark Rouse (C) Richard Mederos, Eric Latta, Terry Horwitz, David White | |
| Subs | Illinois | Boris Zellous (SG), Edward Fox (SF), Andrew Bailey (PF), Terrance Riccio (C) Carl Hartsock, James Aguon, Tomas Wilde, Virgil Polson | |
| 12:52 | Illinois | Austin Coward makes the 1st free throw | 18-13 |
| 12:52 | Illinois | Austin Coward makes the 2nd free throw | 18-14 |
| 12:28 | Mississippi State | Terrance Riccio picks off the pass by Daniel Evans | 18-14 |
| 12:17 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio hits the front of the rim on the jump hook from close range | 18-14 |
| 12:16 | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans pulls down the rebound | 18-14 |
| 12:10 | Mississippi State | George Hill hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 18-14 |
| 12:08 | Illinois | Andrew Bailey snags the defensive board | 18-14 |
| 11:45 | Illinois | Edward Fox double dribbles | 18-14 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Widener (C) Mark Rouse | |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Foster (PG), Nelson Boyer (SG), Robert Fisher (PF) Austin Coward, Boris Zellous, Andrew Bailey | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - David Avitia (fairly fresh) SG - Zane Branch (fairly fresh) 8 pts. SF - George Hill (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - Daniel Evans (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - James Widener (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Wayne Foster (fresh) SG - Nelson Boyer (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Edward Fox (fresh) PF - Robert Fisher (fresh) C - Terrance Riccio (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 11:31 | Mississippi State | David Avitia misses the 3 pointer from the right corner | 18-14 |
| 11:29 | Illinois | Robert Fisher gets the rebound | 18-14 |
| 11:08 | Illinois | Robert Fisher can't connect on a jumper in the lane | 18-14 |
| 11:06 | Mississippi State | James Widener pulls down the rebound | 18-14 |
| 10:53 | Mississippi State | Zane Branch misses long on a 3 from the left wing | 18-14 |
| 10:51 | Illinois | Edward Fox snags the defensive board | 18-14 |
| 10:29 | Illinois | Edward Fox clanks a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 18-14 |
| 10:27 | Illinois | Robert Fisher hits the follow up shot | 18-16 |
| 10:16 | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans makes the turnaround from close range | 20-16 |
| 09:51 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer knocks in the 3pt jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Wayne Foster | 20-19 |
| 09:41 | Mississippi State | George Hill is fouled on the floor by Edward Fox - foul #2 on Edward Fox, team foul #3 | 20-19 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Frank Pruden (PG), Eric Latta (SF), Terry Horwitz (PF), David White (C) David Avitia, George Hill, Daniel Evans, James Widener | |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Boris Zellous (SG), James Aguon (SF), Tomas Wilde (PF), Virgil Polson (C) Wayne Foster, Nelson Boyer, Edward Fox, Robert Fisher, Terrance Riccio | |
| 09:35 | Mississippi State | Frank Pruden throws a bad pass out of bounds | 20-19 |
| 09:33 | Illinois | Frank Pruden steals the ball from James Aguon in the backcourt | 20-19 |
| 09:31 | Mississippi State | Frank Pruden slams it home | 22-19 |
| 09:27 | Illinois | Frank Pruden takes the ball from Boris Zellous in the backcourt | 22-19 |
| 09:26 | Mississippi State | Frank Pruden throws it down | 24-19 |
| 09:24 | Illinois | Frank Pruden is called for the reach on Austin Coward in the backcourt - foul #1 on Frank Pruden, team foul #5 | 24-19 |
| 09:16 | Illinois | David White is called for the reach on Tomas Wilde - foul #1 on David White, team foul #6 | 24-19 |
| 08:59 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde comes up short on the floater from the right side but he's fouled by Terry Horwitz - foul #1 on Terry Horwitz, team foul #7 | 24-19 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Avitia (SG) Zane Branch | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 08:59 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde makes the 1st free throw | 24-20 |
| 08:59 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde misses the 2nd free throw | 24-20 |
| 08:59 | Mississippi State | David White grabs the defensive rebound | 24-20 |
| 08:39 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz comes up short on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 24-20 |
| 08:37 | Illinois | Virgil Polson gets the rebound | 24-20 |
| 08:27 | Illinois | Virgil Polson can't connect on an uncontested 3 from the right wing | 24-20 |
| 08:25 | Mississippi State | David Avitia grabs the board | 24-20 |
| 08:01 | Mississippi State | James Aguon swats the dunk try by David White | 24-20 |
| 08:00 | Illinois | James Aguon gets the rebound | 24-20 |
| 07:43 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde misses short on a fadeaway from close range | 24-20 |
| 07:42 | Mississippi State | David White pulls down the rebound | 24-20 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Frank Pruden (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. SG - David Avitia (tiring) SF - Eric Latta (fairly fresh) PF - Terry Horwitz (fairly fresh) 4 pts. C - David White (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Austin Coward (fairly fresh) 7 pts. SG - Boris Zellous (fairly fresh) SF - James Aguon (fairly fresh) 1 ast. PF - Tomas Wilde (fairly fresh) 1 pts. C - Virgil Polson (fairly fresh) | |
| 07:24 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz travels with the ball | 24-20 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Zane Branch (SG), George Hill (SF), Daniel Evans (PF), Mark Rouse (C) Frank Pruden, Eric Latta, Terry Horwitz, David White | |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Foster (PG), Nelson Boyer (SG), Carl Hartsock (SF), Andrew Bailey (PF), Robert Fisher (C) Austin Coward, Boris Zellous, James Aguon, Tomas Wilde, Virgil Polson | |
| 07:10 | Illinois | Wayne Foster misses the floater from the left side | 24-20 |
| 07:09 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse grabs the board | 24-20 |
| 06:50 | Mississippi State | A charge is called on Zane Branch - foul #1 on Zane Branch, team foul #8 | 24-20 |
| 06:41 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 24-20 |
| 06:40 | Mississippi State | George Hill snags the defensive board | 24-20 |
| 06:27 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse can't throw it down | 24-20 |
| 06:25 | Illinois | Robert Fisher gets the rebound | 24-20 |
| 06:07 | Illinois | Andrew Bailey loses the ball out of bounds | 24-20 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz (PF), James Widener (C) Daniel Evans, Mark Rouse | |
| Subs | Illinois | Tomas Wilde (PF), Terrance Riccio (C) Andrew Bailey, Robert Fisher | |
| 05:43 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz misses the easy layup | 24-20 |
| 05:42 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde gets the rebound | 24-20 |
| 05:18 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde buries a driving attempt near the basket on a great pass from Wayne Foster and the foul's on David Avitia - foul #1 on David Avitia, team foul #9 | 24-22 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Frank Pruden (PG), Michael Haynes (SF), David White (C) David Avitia, George Hill, James Widener | |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Boris Zellous (SG), James Aguon (SF) Wayne Foster, Nelson Boyer, Carl Hartsock | |
| 05:18 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde makes the free throw | 24-23 |
| 05:05 | Mississippi State | Michael Haynes double dribbles | 24-23 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Daniel Evans (PF) Terry Horwitz | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:41 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde misses the lay-in | 24-23 |
| 04:40 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio grabs the offensive rebound | 24-23 |
| 04:29 | Illinois | Austin Coward connects on the shot from the free throw line set up by James Aguon and he's hacked by Frank Pruden - foul #2 on Frank Pruden, team foul #10 | 24-25 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Avitia (PG), Eric Latta (SF) Frank Pruden, Michael Haynes | |
| Subs | Illinois | Nelson Boyer (SG), Andrew Bailey (PF), Virgil Polson (C) Boris Zellous, Tomas Wilde, Terrance Riccio | |
| 04:29 | Illinois | Austin Coward makes the free throw | 24-26 |
| 04:14 | Mississippi State | Virgil Polson is called for the reach on David White - foul #1 on Virgil Polson, team foul #4 | 24-26 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Hill (SG), Mark Rouse (C) Zane Branch, Daniel Evans | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 04:09 | Mississippi State | David White knocks in the jumpshot from the left wing set up by Eric Latta | 26-26 |
| 04:03 | Illinois | Austin Coward clanks a 3pt shot from straight away | 26-26 |
| 04:02 | Mississippi State | George Hill pulls down the rebound | 26-26 |
| 03:46 | Mississippi State | David Avitia makes the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 28-26 |
| 03:23 | Illinois | Austin Coward misses badly on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 28-26 |
| 03:21 | Illinois | James Aguon snags the offensive board | 28-26 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - David Avitia (tiring) 2 pts. SG - George Hill (fairly fresh) 4 reb. SF - Eric Latta (fairly fresh) PF - David White (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Mark Rouse (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Austin Coward (fairly fresh) 10 pts. SG - Nelson Boyer (fresh) 6 pts. SF - James Aguon (fairly fresh) 2 ast. PF - Andrew Bailey (fairly fresh) C - Virgil Polson (fairly fresh) | |
| 03:07 | Illinois | James Aguon can't throw it down | 28-26 |
| 03:06 | Illinois | Virgil Polson misses the tip | 28-26 |
| 03:05 | Mississippi State | David White grabs the board | 28-26 |
| 02:51 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse misses the jumpshot from the right side | 28-26 |
| 02:50 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer pulls down the rebound | 28-26 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer is fouled in the backcourt by David Avitia - foul #2 on David Avitia, team foul #11 | 28-26 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos (PG), Frank Pruden (SG), Michael Haynes (SF), Terry Horwitz (PF), James Widener (C) David Avitia, George Hill, Eric Latta, David White, Mark Rouse | |
| Subs | Illinois | Wayne Foster (PG), Edward Fox (SF), Tomas Wilde (PF), Robert Fisher (C) Austin Coward, James Aguon, Andrew Bailey, Virgil Polson | |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer makes the 1st free throw | 28-27 |
| 02:48 | Illinois | Nelson Boyer makes the 2nd free throw | 28-28 |
| 02:21 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos comes up short on the jump hook from close range | 28-28 |
| 02:20 | Illinois | Robert Fisher grabs the board | 28-28 |
| 02:13 | Illinois | Terry Horwitz is called for the reach on Tomas Wilde - foul #2 on Terry Horwitz, team foul #12 | 28-28 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Boris Zellous (SG), Terrance Riccio (C) Nelson Boyer, Robert Fisher | |
| 02:13 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde misses the 1st free throw | 28-28 |
| 02:13 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde makes the 2nd free throw | 28-29 |
| 01:59 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the left side but he's fouled by Boris Zellous - foul #1 on Boris Zellous, team foul #5 | 28-29 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Robert Fisher (PF) Tomas Wilde | |
| 01:59 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz misses the 1st free throw | 28-29 |
| 01:59 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz misses the 2nd free throw | 28-29 |
| 01:59 | Illinois | Terrance Riccio grabs the defensive rebound | 28-29 |
| 01:41 | Illinois | Edward Fox hits a 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Wayne Foster | 28-32 |
| 01:23 | Mississippi State | Terry Horwitz misses short on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 28-32 |
| 01:22 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to James Widener | 28-32 |
| 01:13 | Mississippi State | Frank Pruden's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 28-32 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Zane Branch (SG), George Hill (SF), Daniel Evans (PF), David White (C) Frank Pruden, Michael Haynes, Terry Horwitz, James Widener | |
| Subs | Illinois | Austin Coward (PG), Tomas Wilde (PF) Wayne Foster, Terrance Riccio | |
| 01:01 | Illinois | Boris Zellous misses badly on a 3 from the right wing | 28-32 |
| 01:00 | Illinois | Edward Fox snags the offensive board | 28-32 |
| 00:48 | Illinois | Tomas Wilde hits a fadeaway jumper from the left side on a great pass from Robert Fisher | 28-34 |
| 00:41 | Mississippi State | David White buries a jump hook from close range and he's hacked by Robert Fisher - foul #1 on Robert Fisher, team foul #6 | 30-34 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Nelson Boyer (SG), Carl Hartsock (SF), Terrance Riccio (C) Boris Zellous, Edward Fox, Robert Fisher | |
| 00:41 | Mississippi State | David White misses the free throw | 30-34 |
| 00:41 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to Daniel Evans | 30-34 |
| 00:27 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos misses short on a turnaround from the right block but the foul's on Tomas Wilde - foul #1 on Tomas Wilde, team foul #7 | 30-34 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse (C) David White | |
| Subs | Illinois | Andrew Bailey (PF) Tomas Wilde | |
| 00:27 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos makes the 1st free throw | 31-34 |
| 00:27 | Mississippi State | Richard Mederos makes the 2nd free throw | 32-34 |
| 00:25 | Illinois | Richard Mederos is called for the reach on Austin Coward in the backcourt - foul #3 on Richard Mederos, team foul #13 | 32-34 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Avitia (PG) Richard Mederos | |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| 00:25 | Illinois | Austin Coward makes the 1st free throw | 32-35 |
| 00:25 | Illinois | Austin Coward makes the 2nd free throw | 32-36 |
| 00:00 | Mississippi State | Mark Rouse misses badly on a floater in the lane | 32-36 |