| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - George Charlton (fresh) SG - Dustin Edwards (fresh) SF - William Mayers (fresh) PF - Kosta Gembarowski (fresh) C - David Halls (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fresh) SG - Patrick McCorrison (fresh) SF - Mario Klingbeil (fresh) PF - Larry Stanley (fresh) C - Freddy Ross (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Illinois | Larry Stanley wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-5) | |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 19:45 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil misses short on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 0-0 |
| 19:43 | Mississippi State | Kosta Gembarowski pulls down the rebound | 0-0 |
| 19:20 | Mississippi State | David Halls misses the shot from the free throw line but he's hacked by Freddy Ross - foul #1 on Freddy Ross, team foul #1 | 0-0 |
| 19:20 | Mississippi State | David Halls makes the 1st free throw | 1-0 |
| 19:20 | Mississippi State | David Halls misses the 2nd free throw | 1-0 |
| 19:20 | Illinois | Larry Stanley grabs the defensive rebound | 1-0 |
| 19:02 | Illinois | Freddy Ross double dribbles as he's doubleteamed | 1-0 |
| 19:00 | Mississippi State | David Halls is hacked by Freddy Ross in the backcourt - foul #2 on Freddy Ross, team foul #2 | 1-0 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Ronnie Hickey (C) Freddy Ross | |
| 18:41 | Mississippi State | Clifton Peters picks off the pass by Kosta Gembarowski | 1-0 |
| 18:37 | Illinois | Larry Stanley lays it up and in on a great pass from Clifton Peters | 1-2 |
| 18:20 | Mississippi State | Kosta Gembarowski misses the easy layup | 1-2 |
| 18:19 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Ronnie Hickey | 1-2 |
| 18:05 | Illinois | Patrick McCorrison can't finish the layup against a doubleteam | 1-2 |
| 18:03 | Illinois | Ronnie Hickey gets the offensive rebound | 1-2 |
| 17:51 | Illinois | Patrick McCorrison throws a bad pass out of bounds | 1-2 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Jack Robinson (SG), Leon Skinner (SF), Robert Moralez (PF) Clifton Peters, Patrick McCorrison, Mario Klingbeil, Larry Stanley | |
| 17:38 | Mississippi State | Ronnie Hickey picks off the pass by Dustin Edwards | 1-2 |
| 17:25 | Illinois | Robert Moralez is hacked by Kosta Gembarowski - foul #1 on Kosta Gembarowski, team foul #1 | 1-2 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Anthony Golden (PF) Ronnie Hickey | |
| 17:16 | Illinois | Jack Robinson comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 1-2 |
| 17:14 | Illinois | Robert Moralez tips it back up and in | 1-4 |
| 16:47 | Mississippi State | David Halls's floater is knocked away by Leon Skinner | 1-4 |
| 16:45 | Illinois | Leon Hall pulls down the rebound | 1-4 |
| 16:41 | Illinois | Jack Robinson misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the right side but the foul's on Kosta Gembarowski - foul #2 on Kosta Gembarowski, team foul #2 | 1-4 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Mason (PG), Thomas Petty (SF), Bradly Kelly (PF) George Charlton, William Mayers, Kosta Gembarowski | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG) Leon Hall | |
| 16:41 | Illinois | Jack Robinson makes the 1st free throw | 1-5 |
| 16:41 | Illinois | Jack Robinson makes the 2nd free throw | 1-6 |
| 16:12 | Mississippi State | David Halls slams it home on a great pass from John Mason | 3-6 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses short on a floater from the right wing but the foul's on David Halls - foul #1 on David Halls, team foul #3 | 3-6 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Patrick McCorrison (SG), Mario Klingbeil (SF), Ronnie Hickey (C) Jack Robinson, Leon Skinner, Anthony Golden | |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses the 1st free throw | 3-6 |
| 15:59 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses the 2nd free throw | 3-6 |
| 15:59 | Mississippi State | David Halls grabs the defensive rebound | 3-6 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - John Mason (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Dustin Edwards (fairly fresh) SF - Thomas Petty (fresh) PF - Bradly Kelly (fresh) C - David Halls (fairly fresh) 3 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Patrick McCorrison (fresh) SF - Mario Klingbeil (fresh) PF - Robert Moralez (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Ronnie Hickey (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 15:35 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards misses badly on a jumper from the left wing | 3-6 |
| 15:33 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly tips it in | 5-6 |
| 15:26 | Illinois | Bradly Kelly swats the layup by Robert Moralez | 5-6 |
| 15:25 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards gets the rebound | 5-6 |
| 15:23 | Mississippi State | John Mason's pass is intercepted by Mario Klingbeil in the backcourt | 5-6 |
| 15:10 | Illinois | Patrick McCorrison misses the dunk over the doubleteam but he's hacked by Dustin Edwards - foul #1 on Dustin Edwards, team foul #4 | 5-6 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Charlton (PG) Dustin Edwards | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Larry Stanley (PF) Clifton Peters, Robert Moralez | |
| 15:10 | Illinois | Patrick McCorrison makes the 1st free throw | 5-7 |
| 15:10 | Illinois | Patrick McCorrison misses the 2nd free throw | 5-7 |
| 15:10 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly snags the defensive board | 5-7 |
| 14:45 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty is fouled on the floor by Mario Klingbeil - foul #1 on Mario Klingbeil, team foul #3 | 5-7 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | William Mayers (SF) John Mason | |
| Subs | Illinois | Adam Welter (SG) Patrick McCorrison | |
| 14:22 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 5-7 |
| 14:21 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to George Charlton | 5-7 |
| 13:59 | Mississippi State | William Mayers scores on a 3 pointer from the right corner on a nice dish by George Charlton | 8-7 |
| 13:42 | Illinois | Adam Welter scores on a fadeaway from the right wing on a nice dish by Leon Hall | 8-9 |
| 13:40 | Mississippi State | Adam Welter steals it from Thomas Petty in the backcourt | 8-9 |
| 13:34 | Illinois | William Mayers steals the ball from Ronnie Hickey | 8-9 |
| 13:30 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty hits the finger roll on a great pass from William Mayers | 10-9 |
| 13:16 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil hits a runner from the left block set up by Leon Hall and he's hacked by William Mayers - foul #1 on William Mayers, team foul #5 | 10-11 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards (SG), John Mason (SF) Thomas Petty, William Mayers | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG), Jack Robinson (SG), Anthony Golden (PF), Patrick McCorrison (C) Leon Hall, Adam Welter, Larry Stanley, Ronnie Hickey | |
| 13:16 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil makes the free throw | 10-12 |
| 13:14 | Mississippi State | Mario Klingbeil takes the ball from Dustin Edwards in the backcourt | 10-12 |
| 13:12 | Illinois | Jack Robinson blows the layup | 10-12 |
| 13:11 | Illinois | Anthony Golden tips it but misses | 10-12 |
| 13:09 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards pulls down the rebound | 10-12 |
| 12:45 | Mississippi State | John Mason can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 10-12 |
| 12:44 | Illinois | Patrick McCorrison pulls down the rebound | 10-12 |
| 12:35 | Illinois | Bradly Kelly is called for the reach on Anthony Golden - foul #1 on Bradly Kelly, team foul #6 | 10-12 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | William Mayers (SF) George Charlton | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Skinner (SF), Robert Moralez (C) Jack Robinson, Mario Klingbeil | |
| 12:20 | Illinois | Clifton Peters misses the 3 pointer from the left wing | 10-12 |
| 12:18 | Mississippi State | William Mayers grabs the board | 10-12 |
| 11:55 | Mississippi State | David Halls scores on a shot from the left wing | 12-12 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - John Mason (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Dustin Edwards (fairly fresh) SF - William Mayers (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. PF - Bradly Kelly (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - David Halls (tiring) 5 pts. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Patrick McCorrison (fairly fresh) 1 pts. SF - Leon Skinner (fresh) PF - Anthony Golden (fairly fresh) C - Robert Moralez (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 11:47 | Illinois | Clifton Peters misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 12-12 |
| 11:45 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Bradly Kelly | 12-12 |
| 11:41 | Mississippi State | Patrick McCorrison is called for the reach on Dustin Edwards in the backcourt - foul #1 on Patrick McCorrison, team foul #4 | 12-12 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Charlton (PG) John Mason | |
| Subs | Illinois | Adam Welter (PG), Jack Robinson (SG), Larry Stanley (PF), Ronnie Hickey (C) Clifton Peters, Patrick McCorrison, Anthony Golden, Robert Moralez | |
| 11:27 | Mississippi State | William Mayers can't connect on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 12-12 |
| 11:26 | Illinois | Ronnie Hickey gets the rebound | 12-12 |
| 11:14 | Illinois | William Mayers takes the ball from Jack Robinson | 12-12 |
| 10:55 | Mississippi State | William Mayers misses long on a 3 from the left wing | 12-12 |
| 10:53 | Illinois | Ronnie Hickey grabs the board | 12-12 |
| 10:36 | Illinois | Jack Robinson misses the 3pt shot from straight away | 12-12 |
| 10:35 | Illinois | Adam Welter hits the follow up shot | 12-14 |
| 10:23 | Mississippi State | George Charlton misses the driving attempt near the basket but he's hacked by Larry Stanley - foul #1 on Larry Stanley, team foul #5 | 12-14 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty (SG), John Mason (SF) Dustin Edwards, William Mayers | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Mario Klingbeil (SF), Robert Moralez (C) Jack Robinson, Leon Skinner, Ronnie Hickey | |
| 10:23 | Mississippi State | George Charlton makes the 1st free throw | 13-14 |
| 10:23 | Mississippi State | George Charlton makes the 2nd free throw | 14-14 |
| 10:04 | Illinois | Thomas Petty picks off the pass by Larry Stanley | 14-14 |
| 09:42 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly buries a fadeaway from the left block | 16-14 |
| 09:35 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil drills a shot near the basket set up by Leon Hall | 16-16 |
| 09:14 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty knocks in the 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by George Charlton | 19-16 |
| 08:55 | Illinois | Robert Moralez is fouled on the floor by David Halls - foul #2 on David Halls, team foul #7 | 19-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards (SG), Kosta Gembarowski (PF) John Mason, David Halls | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG), Jack Robinson (SG), Patrick McCorrison (SF), Anthony Golden (PF) Leon Hall, Adam Welter, Mario Klingbeil, Larry Stanley | |
| 08:55 | Illinois | Robert Moralez misses the 1st free throw | 19-16 |
| 08:55 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly gets the rebound | 19-16 |
| 08:26 | Mississippi State | Kosta Gembarowski comes up short on the shot in the paint | 19-16 |
| 08:25 | Illinois | Robert Moralez grabs the defensive rebound | 19-16 |
| 08:08 | Illinois | George Charlton steals the ball from Robert Moralez | 19-16 |
| 08:05 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards blows the layup | 19-16 |
| 08:04 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to Dustin Edwards | 19-16 |
| 07:38 | Mississippi State | Patrick McCorrison denies the turnaround by Bradly Kelly | 19-16 |
| 07:36 | Illinois | The rebound goes to Patrick McCorrison | 19-16 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - George Charlton (tiring) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Dustin Edwards (fairly fresh) SF - Thomas Petty (fairly fresh) 5 pts. PF - Kosta Gembarowski (fresh) C - Bradly Kelly (tired) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Jack Robinson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SF - Patrick McCorrison (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. PF - Anthony Golden (fairly fresh) C - Robert Moralez (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:26 | Illinois | Clifton Peters is called for traveling | 19-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Mason (PG), William Mayers (SF) George Charlton, Thomas Petty | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Leon Skinner (SF), Larry Stanley (PF), Ronnie Hickey (C) Clifton Peters, Jack Robinson, Anthony Golden, Robert Moralez | |
| 07:01 | Mississippi State | John Mason misses badly on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 19-16 |
| 07:00 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly grabs the offensive board | 19-16 |
| 06:40 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards misses long on a shot from the right side but he's fouled by Leon Skinner - foul #1 on Leon Skinner, team foul #6 | 19-16 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Halls (C) Bradly Kelly | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG), Adam Welter (SG), Mario Klingbeil (SF), Freddy Ross (C) Leon Hall, Patrick McCorrison, Leon Skinner, Ronnie Hickey | |
| 06:40 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards makes the 1st free throw | 20-16 |
| 06:40 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards misses the 2nd free throw | 20-16 |
| 06:40 | Illinois | Larry Stanley snags the defensive board | 20-16 |
| 06:32 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil clanks a floater from the left block | 20-16 |
| 06:30 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to David Halls | 20-16 |
| 06:01 | Mississippi State | William Mayers misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 20-16 |
| 06:00 | Illinois | Freddy Ross snags the defensive board | 20-16 |
| 05:42 | Illinois | Larry Stanley misses long on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 20-16 |
| 05:41 | Illinois | The offensive rebound goes to Clifton Peters | 20-16 |
| 05:30 | Illinois | Clifton Peters buries a pull-up jumper from the right side on a great pass from Mario Klingbeil | 20-18 |
| 05:28 | Mississippi State | John Mason is hacked by Freddy Ross in the backcourt - foul #3 on Freddy Ross, team foul #7 | 20-18 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty (SG) Dustin Edwards | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Jack Robinson (SG), Leon Skinner (SF), Anthony Golden (PF), Ronnie Hickey (C) Clifton Peters, Adam Welter, Mario Klingbeil, Larry Stanley, Freddy Ross | |
| 05:28 | Mississippi State | John Mason makes the 1st free throw | 21-18 |
| 05:28 | Mississippi State | John Mason misses the 2nd free throw | 21-18 |
| 05:28 | Illinois | Anthony Golden grabs the board | 21-18 |
| 05:13 | Illinois | Jack Robinson scores on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Leon Skinner | 21-20 |
| 04:59 | Mississippi State | David Halls lays it in set up by John Mason | 23-20 |
| 04:50 | Illinois | Jack Robinson double dribbles | 23-20 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Charlton (PG) John Mason | |
| Subs | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil (SF) Leon Skinner | |
| 04:25 | Mississippi State | George Charlton is wide open but clanks a jumpshot from the left wing | 23-20 |
| 04:23 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil grabs the board | 23-20 |
| 04:14 | Illinois | Anthony Golden is whistled for traveling | 23-20 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Illinois | Adam Welter (PG), Patrick McCorrison (SG), Larry Stanley (PF) Leon Hall, Jack Robinson, Anthony Golden | |
| 03:59 | Mississippi State | William Mayers buries a 3pt attempt from the right wing on a great pass from George Charlton | 26-20 |
| 03:51 | Illinois | Ronnie Hickey knocks in the driving attempt from the right block on a great pass from Adam Welter | 26-22 |
| 03:49 | Mississippi State | Patrick McCorrison is called for the reach on Thomas Petty in the backcourt - foul #2 on Patrick McCorrison, team foul #8 | 26-22 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards (SG) William Mayers | |
| Subs | Illinois | Clifton Peters (PG), Leon Skinner (SF) Adam Welter, Mario Klingbeil | |
| 03:49 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty makes the 1st free throw | 27-22 |
| 03:49 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty misses the 2nd free throw | 27-22 |
| 03:49 | Mississippi State | Kosta Gembarowski snags the offensive board | 27-22 |
| 03:20 | Mississippi State | Kosta Gembarowski misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 27-22 |
| 03:18 | Illinois | Ronnie Hickey grabs the defensive rebound | 27-22 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - George Charlton (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Dustin Edwards (tiring) 1 pts. SF - Thomas Petty (fairly fresh) 6 pts. PF - Kosta Gembarowski (tiring) 2 reb. C - David Halls (tired) 7 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Clifton Peters (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Patrick McCorrison (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. SF - Leon Skinner (fresh) PF - Larry Stanley (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Ronnie Hickey (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 02:58 | Illinois | Clifton Peters knocks in the 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by Leon Skinner | 27-25 |
| 02:55 | Mississippi State | Thomas Petty throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 27-25 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly (C) David Halls | |
| Subs | Illinois | Adam Welter (SG), Mario Klingbeil (SF), Anthony Golden (PF), Robert Moralez (C) Patrick McCorrison, Leon Skinner, Larry Stanley, Ronnie Hickey | |
| 02:42 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil is hacked by Thomas Petty - foul #1 on Thomas Petty, team foul #8 | 27-25 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | William Mayers (SF) Thomas Petty | |
| Subs | Illinois | Jack Robinson (SG) Adam Welter | |
| 02:42 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil makes the 1st free throw | 27-26 |
| 02:42 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil makes the 2nd free throw | 27-27 |
| 02:15 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards connects on the open 3pt jumper from straight away on a great pass from George Charlton | 30-27 |
| 02:00 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right block | 30-27 |
| 01:58 | Mississippi State | Bradly Kelly grabs the board | 30-27 |
| 01:30 | Mississippi State | William Mayers buries a 3pt jumper from the right wing set up by Kosta Gembarowski | 33-27 |
| 01:24 | Illinois | Jack Robinson misses short on a floater from the left side | 33-27 |
| 01:22 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Kosta Gembarowski | 33-27 |
| 01:01 | Mississippi State | Dustin Edwards hits a jumper from the left wing | 35-27 |
| 00:47 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil misses long on a driving attempt from the right block but he's hacked by Bradly Kelly - foul #2 on Bradly Kelly, team foul #9 | 35-27 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Mason (PG), Thomas Petty (SF), David Halls (C) George Charlton, William Mayers, Bradly Kelly | |
| Subs | Illinois | Leon Hall (PG), Patrick McCorrison (SG), Larry Stanley (PF), Ronnie Hickey (C) Clifton Peters, Jack Robinson, Anthony Golden, Robert Moralez | |
| 00:47 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil makes the 1st free throw | 35-28 |
| 00:47 | Illinois | Mario Klingbeil misses the 2nd free throw | 35-28 |
| 00:47 | Mississippi State | David Halls grabs the defensive rebound | 35-28 |
| 00:28 | Mississippi State | Patrick McCorrison swats the shot by Kosta Gembarowski | 35-28 |
| 00:27 | Illinois | Ronnie Hickey pulls down the rebound | 35-28 |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Leon Hall is open and lays it up and in | 35-30 |