| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy Demps (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Clarence Maroney (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Tyrone Brown (fresh) 4 pts. C - Michael Hullinger (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Ronald Panella (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Dan Pittman (fresh) 3 pts. SF - James Dean (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - William Felts (fresh) 3 reb. C - George Lambert (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | James Dean inbounds the ball | 30-26 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-4) | |
| 19:48 | Mississippi State | James Dean hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt from the left block but he's hacked by Marko Mioduszewski - foul #3 on Marko Mioduszewski, team foul #1 | 30-26 |
| 19:48 | Mississippi State | James Dean makes the 1st free throw | 30-27 |
| 19:48 | Mississippi State | James Dean misses the 2nd free throw | 30-27 |
| 19:48 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski gets the rebound | 30-27 |
| 19:28 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney is hacked by Ronald Panella - foul #3 on Ronald Panella, team foul #1 | 30-27 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Kyle Core (PG) Ronald Panella | |
| 19:08 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Marko Mioduszewski | 32-27 |
| 18:41 | Mississippi State | James Dean comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 32-27 |
| 18:39 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman pulls down the offensive rebound | 32-27 |
| 18:19 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 32-27 |
| 18:18 | Illinois | Randy Demps gets the rebound | 32-27 |
| 17:50 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger misses the floater from the right block but he's fouled by George Lambert - foul #2 on George Lambert, team foul #2 | 32-27 |
| 17:50 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger makes the 1st free throw | 33-27 |
| 17:50 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger makes the 2nd free throw | 34-27 |
| 17:30 | Mississippi State | James Dean hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 34-27 |
| 17:28 | Mississippi State | George Lambert gets the offensive rebound | 34-27 |
| 17:17 | Mississippi State | James Dean drills a shot from the free throw line and he's fouled by Michael Hullinger - foul #2 on Michael Hullinger, team foul #2 | 34-29 |
| 17:17 | Mississippi State | James Dean misses the free throw | 34-29 |
| 17:17 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger grabs the defensive rebound | 34-29 |
| 16:53 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski drills a fadeaway from the left wing | 36-29 |
| 16:30 | Mississippi State | Clarence Maroney denies the turnaround by Dan Pittman | 36-29 |
| 16:28 | Mississippi State | George Lambert grabs the offensive rebound | 36-29 |
| 16:14 | Mississippi State | George Lambert hits the finger roll | 36-31 |
| 15:57 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger comes up short on the shot from the left wing | 36-31 |
| 15:55 | Mississippi State | George Lambert grabs the board | 36-31 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy Demps (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Clarence Maroney (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. PF - Tyrone Brown (fairly fresh) 6 pts. C - Michael Hullinger (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Kyle Core (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Dan Pittman (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. SF - James Dean (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. PF - William Felts (fairly fresh) 3 reb. C - George Lambert (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 15:38 | Mississippi State | James Dean hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the right side | 36-31 |
| 15:37 | Illinois | Randy Demps snags the defensive board | 36-31 |
| 15:31 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown misses long on a jumper from just outside the lane | 36-31 |
| 15:30 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney pulls down the offensive rebound | 36-31 |
| 15:15 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown is fouled on the floor by William Felts - foul #1 on William Felts, team foul #3 | 36-31 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Cain (PG), Alfred Grant (SG), Michael Bissonnette (SF), Steven Shattuck (PF) Randy Demps, Clarence Maroney, Marko Mioduszewski, Tyrone Brown | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella (PG), Dave Iser (PF), Willie Reno (C) Kyle Core, William Felts, George Lambert | |
| 14:53 | Illinois | Paul Cain can't finish the layup | 36-31 |
| 14:52 | Mississippi State | Willie Reno grabs the defensive rebound | 36-31 |
| 14:49 | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella is fouled in the backcourt by Paul Cain - foul #1 on Paul Cain, team foul #3 | 36-31 |
| 14:36 | Mississippi State | James Dean works out of a doubleteam and scores on a driving attempt from close range on a great pass from Ronald Panella | 36-33 |
| 14:10 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck hits the finger roll on a great pass from Paul Cain and he's fouled by Willie Reno - foul #1 on Willie Reno, team foul #4 | 38-33 |
| Subs | Illinois | Tyrone Brown (PF) Michael Hullinger | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Kyle Core (SF) James Dean | |
| 14:10 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck misses the free throw | 38-33 |
| 14:10 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser grabs the defensive rebound | 38-33 |
| 13:50 | Mississippi State | Steven Shattuck swats the dunk try by Dave Iser | 38-33 |
| 13:49 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser tips it home | 38-35 |
| 13:35 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck misses badly on a turnaround in the lane | 38-35 |
| 13:33 | Illinois | Paul Cain tips it home | 40-35 |
| 13:06 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser knocks in the floater from the left side | 40-37 |
| 12:38 | Illinois | Dave Iser denies the turnaround by Paul Cain | 40-37 |
| 12:37 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown tips it in | 42-37 |
| 12:18 | Mississippi State | Kyle Core is whistled for a carry | 42-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (PG), Clarence Maroney (SG), Marko Mioduszewski (PF), Michael Hullinger (C) Alfred Grant, Michael Bissonnette, Tyrone Brown, Steven Shattuck | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | William Felts (SF), George Lambert (C) Dan Pittman, Willie Reno | |
| 11:56 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski misses the shot from the left side | 42-37 |
| 11:54 | Mississippi State | William Felts snags the defensive board | 42-37 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy Demps (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Clarence Maroney (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Paul Cain (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. PF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. C - Michael Hullinger (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Ronald Panella (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. SG - Kyle Core (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SF - William Felts (fresh) 4 reb. PF - Dave Iser (fresh) 9 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. C - George Lambert (fresh) 11 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 11:45 | Mississippi State | Michael Hullinger swats the short shot by William Felts | 42-37 |
| 11:43 | Mississippi State | George Lambert can't tip it in | 42-37 |
| 11:42 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger grabs the defensive rebound | 42-37 |
| 11:16 | Illinois | George Lambert swats the short shot by Randy Demps | 42-37 |
| 11:15 | Mississippi State | William Felts pulls down the rebound | 42-37 |
| 11:08 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser loses the dribble to Marko Mioduszewski | 42-37 |
| 10:39 | Illinois | Ronald Panella steps in front of the Paul Cain pass | 42-37 |
| 10:18 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser misses the fadeaway near the basket but he's hacked by Marko Mioduszewski - foul #4 on Marko Mioduszewski, team foul #4 | 42-37 |
| Subs | Illinois | Tyrone Brown (PF), Steven Shattuck (C) Paul Cain, Michael Hullinger | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman (SG), James Dean (SF) Kyle Core, William Felts | |
| 10:18 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser makes the 1st free throw | 42-38 |
| 10:18 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser misses the 2nd free throw | 42-38 |
| 10:18 | Mississippi State | The offensive rebound goes to George Lambert | 42-38 |
| 09:55 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser is called for a charge - foul #4 on Dave Iser, team foul #5 | 42-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | William Felts (PF) Dave Iser | |
| 09:38 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski scores on a jumpshot from the right side set up by Clarence Maroney | 44-38 |
| 09:36 | Mississippi State | Clarence Maroney picks off the pass by Ronald Panella in the backcourt | 44-38 |
| 09:14 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown comes up short on the fadeaway from the left wing but the foul's on William Felts - foul #2 on William Felts, team foul #6 | 44-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Alfred Grant (SG) Clarence Maroney | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 09:14 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown makes the 1st free throw | 45-38 |
| 09:14 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 46-38 |
| 09:01 | Mississippi State | George Lambert clanks a pull-up jumper from the right side | 46-38 |
| 09:00 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski gets the rebound | 46-38 |
| 08:33 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck misses long on a jump hook from the right block but he's fouled by George Lambert - foul #3 on George Lambert, team foul #7 | 46-38 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Cain (PG), Michael Bissonnette (SF), Michael Hullinger (C) Randy Demps, Marko Mioduszewski, Tyrone Brown | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Kyle Core (PG), Willie Reno (C) Ronald Panella, George Lambert | |
| 08:33 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck makes the 1st free throw | 47-38 |
| 08:33 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck makes the 2nd free throw | 48-38 |
| 08:10 | Mississippi State | William Felts's pass is intercepted by Michael Bissonnette | 48-38 |
| 07:48 | Illinois | Steven Shattuck misses the fadeaway from the left side | 48-38 |
| 07:46 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman pulls down the rebound | 48-38 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Paul Cain (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SG - Alfred Grant (fresh) SF - Michael Bissonnette (fresh) PF - Steven Shattuck (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. C - Michael Hullinger (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Kyle Core (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Dan Pittman (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. SF - James Dean (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. PF - William Felts (fairly fresh) 5 reb. C - Willie Reno (fresh) | |
| 07:25 | Mississippi State | William Felts misses badly on a floater from the right block | 48-38 |
| 07:24 | Mississippi State | William Felts hits the follow up shot | 48-40 |
| 07:04 | Illinois | Michael Bissonnette blows the layup | 48-40 |
| 07:03 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to William Felts | 48-40 |
| 06:40 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman misses the 3pt attempt from straight away | 48-40 |
| 06:38 | Mississippi State | James Dean tips it in | 48-42 |
| 06:13 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger misses the easy layup but he's hacked by Willie Reno - foul #2 on Willie Reno, team foul #8 | 48-42 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (PG), Clarence Maroney (SG), Marko Mioduszewski (SF), Tyrone Brown (PF) Paul Cain, Alfred Grant, Michael Bissonnette, Steven Shattuck | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella (PG), Dave Iser (PF), George Lambert (C) Kyle Core, William Felts, Willie Reno | |
| 06:13 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger makes the 1st free throw | 49-42 |
| 06:13 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger makes the 2nd free throw | 50-42 |
| 06:01 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left side but he's fouled by Tyrone Brown - foul #2 on Tyrone Brown, team foul #5 | 50-42 |
| 06:01 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman makes the 1st free throw | 50-43 |
| 06:01 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman makes the 2nd free throw | 50-44 |
| 05:34 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney is called for traveling | 50-44 |
| 05:23 | Mississippi State | George Lambert is open and buries a jumper from the right wing | 50-46 |
| 05:01 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski makes the jumper from close range on a nice dish by Michael Hullinger | 52-46 |
| 04:47 | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella is hacked by Michael Hullinger - foul #3 on Michael Hullinger, team foul #6 | 52-46 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Kyle Core (PG) Ronald Panella | |
| 04:34 | Mississippi State | Kyle Core makes the fadeaway jumper from the left side set up by Dave Iser | 52-48 |
| 04:09 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger's pass is intercepted by Dave Iser | 52-48 |
| 03:52 | Mississippi State | Dave Iser misses short on a shot from the free throw line | 52-48 |
| 03:51 | Mississippi State | James Dean grabs the offensive board | 52-48 |
| 03:33 | Mississippi State | James Dean is hacked by Tyrone Brown - foul #3 on Tyrone Brown, team foul #7 | 52-48 |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Shattuck (C) Michael Hullinger | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella (PG) Dan Pittman | |
| 03:33 | Mississippi State | James Dean makes the 1st free throw | 52-49 |
| 03:33 | Mississippi State | James Dean makes the 2nd free throw | 52-50 |
| Lineup | Illinois | PG - Randy Demps (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Clarence Maroney (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Marko Mioduszewski (fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. 4 pf. PF - Tyrone Brown (fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Steven Shattuck (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Ronald Panella (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. SG - James Dean (fairly fresh) 14 pts. 5 reb. SF - Kyle Core (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Dave Iser (fresh) 10 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. C - George Lambert (fresh) 13 pts. 8 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 03:15 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown can't connect on a fadeaway near the basket but he's fouled by Dave Iser - foul #5 on Dave Iser, team foul #9 | 52-50 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | William Felts (PF) Dave Iser | |
| 03:15 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown makes the 1st free throw | 53-50 |
| 03:15 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 54-50 |
| 02:54 | Mississippi State | George Lambert can't connect on a runner from the baseline | 54-50 |
| 02:52 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski gets the rebound | 54-50 |
| 02:36 | Illinois | Randy Demps can't connect on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 54-50 |
| 02:34 | Mississippi State | George Lambert grabs the board | 54-50 |
| 02:13 | Mississippi State | William Felts dunks the ball on a nice dish by Ronald Panella and he's hacked by Tyrone Brown - foul #4 on Tyrone Brown, team foul #8 | 54-52 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Cain (PG), Alfred Grant (SG), Michael Bissonnette (SF) Randy Demps, Clarence Maroney, Marko Mioduszewski | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman (SG), Willie Reno (C) James Dean, George Lambert | |
| 02:13 | Mississippi State | William Felts makes the free throw | 54-53 |
| 02:07 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 54-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (PG), Michael Hullinger (C) Alfred Grant, Steven Shattuck | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | George Lambert (C) Willie Reno | |
| 01:44 | Illinois | Michael Hullinger can't connect on a jump hook in the paint | 54-53 |
| 01:43 | Illinois | Randy Demps tips it in | 56-53 |
| 01:43 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 56-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Clarence Maroney (SG), Marko Mioduszewski (SF) Paul Cain, Michael Bissonnette | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | James Dean (SF) Kyle Core | |
| 01:31 | Mississippi State | James Dean's pass over a doubleteam is off the mark and out of bounds | 56-53 |
| 01:28 | Illinois | Randy Demps throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 56-53 |
| 01:10 | Mississippi State | George Lambert's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 56-53 |
| 00:46 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney buries a 3pt jumper from the right wing set up by Randy Demps | 59-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 00:42 | Mississippi State | Tyrone Brown swats the short shot by George Lambert | 59-53 |
| 00:41 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski pulls down the rebound | 59-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| 00:39 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski is fouled in the backcourt by Ronald Panella - foul #4 on Ronald Panella, team foul #10 | 59-53 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Cain (SG) Randy Demps | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 00:39 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski makes the 1st free throw | 60-53 |
| 00:39 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski misses the 2nd free throw | 60-53 |
| 00:39 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown grabs the offensive rebound | 60-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+3) | |
| 00:37 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown is fouled on the floor by George Lambert - foul #4 on George Lambert, team foul #11 | 60-53 |
| 00:37 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown makes the 1st free throw | 61-53 |
| 00:37 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown misses the 2nd free throw | 61-53 |
| 00:37 | Mississippi State | William Felts snags the defensive board | 61-53 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+3) | |
| 00:31 | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella drills a 3pt shot from the left wing set up by James Dean | 61-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Dan Pittman is called for the reach on Marko Mioduszewski in the backcourt - foul #2 on Dan Pittman, team foul #12 | 61-56 |
| Subs | Illinois | Steven Shattuck (PF) Tyrone Brown | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski makes the 1st free throw | 62-56 |
| 00:29 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski misses the 2nd free throw | 62-56 |
| 00:29 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman grabs the board | 62-56 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| 00:24 | Mississippi State | Ronald Panella connects on the open 3 pointer from straight away set up by Dan Pittman | 62-59 |
| 00:24 | Illinois | Illinois calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 62-59 |
| Subs | Illinois | Randy Demps (PG) Paul Cain | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski is hacked by Ronald Panella in the backcourt - foul #5 on Ronald Panella, team foul #13 | 62-59 |
| Subs | Illinois | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Kyle Core (PG) Ronald Panella | |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski makes the 1st free throw | 63-59 |
| 00:23 | Illinois | Marko Mioduszewski makes the 2nd free throw | 64-59 |
| 00:20 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 64-59 |
| Subs | Illinois | Tyrone Brown (PF) Steven Shattuck | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 00:17 | Mississippi State | Dan Pittman misses badly on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 64-59 |
| 00:16 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown grabs the board | 64-59 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Dan Pittman is called for the reach on Tyrone Brown in the backcourt - foul #3 on Dan Pittman, team foul #14 | 64-59 |
| Subs | Illinois | Paul Cain (SG) Randy Demps | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown makes the 1st free throw | 65-59 |
| 00:14 | Illinois | Tyrone Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 66-59 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-4) | |
| 00:07 | Mississippi State | Paul Cain takes the ball from Dan Pittman | 66-59 |
| Game Plan | Illinois | Illinois is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (+3) | |
| 00:00 | Illinois | Clarence Maroney runs out the clock | 66-59 |