| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - David Miles (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Howard Daly (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Charles Choate (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Robert Blau (fresh) 8 pts. C - Ronald Johnson (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Stacy McKenny (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Ray Burdette (fresh) SF - Santiago Martin (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - John Smith (fresh) 3 reb. C - Edward Work (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | Santiago Martin inbounds the ball | 26-24 |
| Game Plan | Holy Cross | Holy Cross is playing a triangle offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-3) | |
| 19:41 | Mississippi State | Edward Work banks in the wide open layup and he's hacked by Robert Blau - foul #1 on Robert Blau, team foul #1 | 26-26 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Bradford (PG), Michael Robinson (SF) Stacy McKenny, Santiago Martin | |
| 19:41 | Mississippi State | Edward Work misses the free throw | 26-26 |
| 19:41 | Holy Cross | The rebound goes to Robert Blau | 26-26 |
| 19:19 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly misses short on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 26-26 |
| 19:18 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson tips it back up and in | 28-26 |
| 18:54 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette makes the jumpshot from just outside the lane set up by Edward Work | 28-28 |
| 18:38 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly comes up short on the 3 from straight away | 28-28 |
| 18:37 | Mississippi State | John Smith grabs the board | 28-28 |
| 18:08 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right side | 28-28 |
| 18:07 | Mississippi State | John Smith snags the offensive board | 28-28 |
| 17:44 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette misses short on a pull-up jumper from the right wing but the foul's on Howard Daly - foul #3 on Howard Daly, team foul #2 | 28-28 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz (PG), Derrick Clay (SG), Fred Pridemore (SF), Larry Jones (PF), Kenneth Freitag (C) David Miles, Howard Daly, Charles Choate, Robert Blau, Ronald Johnson | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny (PG), Santiago Martin (SF), Justin Rushenberg (C) John Bradford, Michael Robinson, Edward Work | |
| 17:44 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette makes the 1st free throw | 28-29 |
| 17:44 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette makes the 2nd free throw | 28-30 |
| 17:22 | Holy Cross | Kenneth Freitag throws a bad pass out of bounds | 28-30 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | David Morris (SF) Ray Burdette | |
| 17:06 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg misses the easy dunk attempt | 28-30 |
| 17:04 | Mississippi State | John Smith pulls down the offensive rebound | 28-30 |
| 16:42 | Mississippi State | David Morris clanks a fadeaway from the left wing | 28-30 |
| 16:40 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones gets the rebound | 28-30 |
| 16:30 | Holy Cross | Fred Pridemore is fouled on the floor by David Morris - foul #3 on David Morris, team foul #1 | 28-30 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Bradford (SG) David Morris | |
| 16:14 | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz misses short on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 28-30 |
| 16:12 | Holy Cross | Kenneth Freitag grabs the offensive rebound | 28-30 |
| 16:02 | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz is fouled on the floor by John Bradford - foul #1 on John Bradford, team foul #2 | 28-30 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | David Miles (PG), Charles Choate (SF), Robert Blau (PF), Ronald Johnson (C) Derrick Clay, Fred Pridemore, Larry Jones, Kenneth Freitag | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Timothy Jolicoeur (PG), Ray Burdette (SG) Stacy McKenny, John Bradford | |
| 15:57 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson hits a shot in the lane on a nice dish by David Miles | 30-30 |
| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - David Miles (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Gerardo Ruiz (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Charles Choate (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Robert Blau (fresh) 8 pts. C - Ronald Johnson (fresh) 7 pts. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Timothy Jolicoeur (fresh) SG - Ray Burdette (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Santiago Martin (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - John Smith (fairly fresh) 6 reb. C - Justin Rushenberg (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 15:53 | Mississippi State | Robert Blau steals it from Santiago Martin in the backcourt | 30-30 |
| 15:35 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson hits the finger roll set up by Gerardo Ruiz and the foul's on Justin Rushenberg - foul #1 on Justin Rushenberg, team foul #3 | 32-30 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Howard Daly (SG) Gerardo Ruiz | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny (PG), John Bradford (SG), David Morris (SF) Timothy Jolicoeur, Ray Burdette, Santiago Martin | |
| 15:35 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson makes the free throw | 33-30 |
| 15:20 | Mississippi State | David Morris makes the fadeaway jumper from the left side on a nice dish by John Smith and he's hacked by Howard Daly - foul #4 on Howard Daly, team foul #3 | 33-32 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz (SG) Howard Daly | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Edward Work (C) Justin Rushenberg | |
| 15:20 | Mississippi State | David Morris makes the free throw | 33-33 |
| 14:58 | Holy Cross | John Smith takes the ball from Ronald Johnson | 33-33 |
| 14:34 | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny is by himself and knocks in the 3pt attempt from the left wing on a great pass from John Smith | 33-36 |
| 14:18 | Holy Cross | Charles Choate's floater is tipped away by John Smith | 33-36 |
| 14:16 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau tips it back up and in | 35-36 |
| 13:57 | Mississippi State | David Morris is called for a charge - foul #4 on David Morris, team foul #4 | 35-36 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Derrick Clay (SG), Fred Pridemore (SF), Larry Jones (PF), Kenneth Freitag (C) Gerardo Ruiz, Charles Choate, Robert Blau, Ronald Johnson | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Timothy Jolicoeur (PG), Ray Burdette (SG), Santiago Martin (SF), Justin Rushenberg (C) Stacy McKenny, John Bradford, David Morris, Edward Work | |
| 13:39 | Holy Cross | David Miles comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 35-36 |
| 13:37 | Holy Cross | The offensive rebound goes to Kenneth Freitag | 35-36 |
| 13:19 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones buries a runner in the lane set up by Derrick Clay and he's fouled by John Smith - foul #3 on John Smith, team foul #5 | 37-36 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny (PG), Michael Robinson (SF) Timothy Jolicoeur, Santiago Martin | |
| 13:19 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones makes the free throw | 38-36 |
| 12:52 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg is fouled on the floor by Kenneth Freitag - foul #2 on Kenneth Freitag, team foul #4 | 38-36 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz (PG), Charles Choate (SF), Shawn Lacy (PF) David Miles, Fred Pridemore, Larry Jones | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Timothy Jolicoeur (PG), Santiago Martin (SF), Edward Work (C) Stacy McKenny, Michael Robinson, Justin Rushenberg | |
| 12:26 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left side | 38-36 |
| 12:24 | Holy Cross | Charles Choate pulls down the rebound | 38-36 |
| 12:04 | Holy Cross | Shawn Lacy hits the finger roll on a great pass from Gerardo Ruiz | 40-36 |
| 11:45 | Mississippi State | Charles Choate steps in front of the Santiago Martin pass | 40-36 |
| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - Gerardo Ruiz (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Derrick Clay (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SF - Charles Choate (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. PF - Shawn Lacy (fresh) 2 pts. C - Kenneth Freitag (fairly fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Timothy Jolicoeur (fresh) SG - Ray Burdette (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SF - Santiago Martin (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - John Smith (tiring) 6 reb. 3 pf. C - Edward Work (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:25 | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from just outside the lane | 40-36 |
| 11:23 | Mississippi State | John Smith grabs the board | 40-36 |
| 11:01 | Mississippi State | Edward Work connects on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Ray Burdette | 40-38 |
| 10:46 | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 40-38 |
| 10:45 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette snags the defensive board | 40-38 |
| 10:42 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette is fouled in the backcourt by Derrick Clay - foul #1 on Derrick Clay, team foul #5 | 40-38 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | David Miles (PG), Fred Pridemore (SF), Robert Blau (PF), Ronald Johnson (C) Derrick Clay, Charles Choate, Shawn Lacy, Kenneth Freitag | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny (PG), John Bradford (SG), Michael Robinson (SF), Justin Rushenberg (C) Timothy Jolicoeur, Ray Burdette, Santiago Martin, Edward Work | |
| 10:13 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg comes up short on the floater from the left side but the foul's on Ronald Johnson - foul #2 on Ronald Johnson, team foul #6 | 40-38 |
| 10:13 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg makes the 1st free throw | 40-39 |
| 10:13 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg makes the 2nd free throw | 40-40 |
| 10:10 | Holy Cross | David Miles's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 40-40 |
| 09:49 | Mississippi State | Ronald Johnson swats the short shot by Justin Rushenberg | 40-40 |
| 09:47 | Mississippi State | John Smith grabs the offensive board | 40-40 |
| 09:25 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg buries a jumper from the left block on a great pass from John Bradford and the foul's on David Miles - foul #1 on David Miles, team foul #7 | 40-42 |
| 09:25 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg makes the free throw | 40-43 |
| 09:09 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau is fouled on the floor by Michael Robinson - foul #1 on Michael Robinson, team foul #6 | 40-43 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Derrick Clay (SG), Charles Choate (SF) Gerardo Ruiz, Fred Pridemore | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Santiago Martin (SF) Michael Robinson | |
| 08:52 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau is denied on a layup by John Smith | 40-43 |
| 08:51 | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny pulls down the rebound | 40-43 |
| 08:22 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg is called for a charge - foul #2 on Justin Rushenberg, team foul #7 | 40-43 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Larry Jones (PF), Shawn Lacy (C) Robert Blau, Ronald Johnson | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette (SG), Michael Robinson (SF), Edward Work (C) John Bradford, Santiago Martin, Justin Rushenberg | |
| 08:09 | Holy Cross | Edward Work picks off the pass by Shawn Lacy | 40-43 |
| 07:44 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette misses long on a jump hook near the basket but the foul's on Derrick Clay - foul #2 on Derrick Clay, team foul #8 | 40-43 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz (PG), Howard Daly (SG), Fred Pridemore (SF), Kenneth Freitag (C) David Miles, Derrick Clay, Charles Choate, Shawn Lacy | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Bradford (PG), David Morris (SF) Stacy McKenny, Michael Robinson | |
| 07:44 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette makes the 1st free throw | 40-44 |
| 07:44 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette misses the 2nd free throw | 40-44 |
| 07:44 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones grabs the defensive rebound | 40-44 |
| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - Gerardo Ruiz (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Howard Daly (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. 4 pf. SF - Fred Pridemore (fresh) PF - Larry Jones (fresh) 3 pts. 7 reb. C - Kenneth Freitag (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - John Bradford (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Ray Burdette (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - David Morris (fresh) 8 pts. 4 pf. PF - John Smith (tired) 8 reb. 2 blk. 3 pf. C - Edward Work (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:31 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones knocks in the shot from the baseline | 42-44 |
| 07:09 | Mississippi State | Edward Work misses the shot from the free throw line | 42-44 |
| 07:07 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones snags the defensive board | 42-44 |
| 07:00 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones's fadeaway is rejected by Edward Work | 42-44 |
| 06:58 | Mississippi State | Edward Work gets the rebound | 42-44 |
| 06:29 | Mississippi State | John Smith is called for traveling | 42-44 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | David Miles (PG), Charles Choate (SF), Robert Blau (PF), Ronald Johnson (C) Gerardo Ruiz, Fred Pridemore, Larry Jones, Kenneth Freitag | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny (PG), Justin Rushenberg (C) Ray Burdette, Edward Work | |
| 06:20 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau clanks a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 42-44 |
| 06:18 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson pulls down the offensive rebound | 42-44 |
| 06:03 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson misses the lay-in | 42-44 |
| 06:01 | Holy Cross | Charles Choate tips it in | 44-44 |
| 05:32 | Mississippi State | David Morris buries a jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by John Smith | 44-46 |
| 05:12 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau lays it in on a nice dish by Howard Daly | 46-46 |
| 04:47 | Mississippi State | John Smith's floater is tipped away by Ronald Johnson | 46-46 |
| 04:46 | Mississippi State | David Morris tips it back up and in | 46-48 |
| 04:23 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson can't finish the layup | 46-48 |
| 04:22 | Mississippi State | Justin Rushenberg pulls down the rebound | 46-48 |
| 03:56 | Mississippi State | David Morris is alone and drills a 3pt jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by John Bradford | 46-51 |
| 03:32 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly misses long on a 3 pointer from straight away but the foul's on David Morris - foul #5 on David Morris, team foul #8 | 46-51 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz (PG), Fred Pridemore (SF), Larry Jones (PF), Kenneth Freitag (C) David Miles, Charles Choate, Robert Blau, Ronald Johnson | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette (SG), Santiago Martin (SF), Edward Work (C) John Bradford, David Morris, Justin Rushenberg | |
| 03:32 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly makes the 1st free throw | 47-51 |
| 03:32 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly makes the 2nd free throw | 48-51 |
| 03:32 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly makes the 3rd free throw | 49-51 |
| Lineup | Holy Cross | PG - Gerardo Ruiz (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Howard Daly (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. 4 pf. SF - Fred Pridemore (fresh) PF - Larry Jones (fresh) 5 pts. 8 reb. C - Kenneth Freitag (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Stacy McKenny (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - Ray Burdette (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Santiago Martin (fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. PF - John Smith (very tired) 8 reb. 2 blk. 3 pf. C - Edward Work (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:08 | Mississippi State | Edward Work blows the dunk | 49-51 |
| 03:06 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones grabs the board | 49-51 |
| 02:50 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones misses long on a turnaround from the baseline but he's hacked by John Smith - foul #4 on John Smith, team foul #9 | 49-51 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Timothy Jolicoeur (PG) Stacy McKenny | |
| 02:50 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones misses the 1st free throw | 49-51 |
| 02:50 | Holy Cross | Larry Jones makes the 2nd free throw | 50-51 |
| 02:24 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette connects on the pull-up jumper from the left wing set up by Edward Work | 50-53 |
| 02:24 | Holy Cross | Holy Cross calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 50-53 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Robert Blau (PF) Larry Jones | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny (PG) Timothy Jolicoeur | |
| 02:02 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau clanks a turnaround from the baseline but he's fouled by Edward Work - foul #1 on Edward Work, team foul #10 | 50-53 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson (C) Kenneth Freitag | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Bradford (PG), Michael Robinson (SF) Stacy McKenny, Santiago Martin | |
| 02:02 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau makes the 1st free throw | 51-53 |
| 02:02 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau makes the 2nd free throw | 52-53 |
| 02:00 | Mississippi State | Edward Work travels in the backcourt | 52-53 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | David Miles (PG), Charles Choate (SF) Gerardo Ruiz, Fred Pridemore | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny (PG), Santiago Martin (SF) John Bradford, Michael Robinson | |
| 01:48 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson lays it in on a nice dish by Charles Choate | 54-53 |
| 01:26 | Mississippi State | Edward Work blows the dunk | 54-53 |
| 01:25 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau pulls down the rebound | 54-53 |
| 01:08 | Holy Cross | Robert Blau hits the front of the rim on the runner from the left block | 54-53 |
| 01:06 | Mississippi State | Edward Work pulls down the rebound | 54-53 |
| 01:04 | Mississippi State | Stacy McKenny throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 54-53 |
| 00:41 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson hits a driving attempt from the right block set up by Howard Daly | 56-53 |
| 00:25 | Mississippi State | David Miles is called for the reach on Ray Burdette - foul #2 on David Miles, team foul #9 | 56-53 |
| 00:25 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette makes the 1st free throw | 56-54 |
| 00:25 | Mississippi State | Ray Burdette makes the 2nd free throw | 56-55 |
| Game Plan | Holy Cross | Holy Cross is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 00:23 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly is fouled in the backcourt by Stacy McKenny - foul #2 on Stacy McKenny, team foul #11 | 56-55 |
| 00:23 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly makes the 1st free throw | 57-55 |
| 00:23 | Holy Cross | Howard Daly makes the 2nd free throw | 58-55 |
| 00:06 | Mississippi State | Santiago Martin comes up short on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 58-55 |
| 00:04 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson pulls down the rebound | 58-55 |
| 00:01 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson is fouled in the backcourt by Stacy McKenny - foul #3 on Stacy McKenny, team foul #12 | 58-55 |
| Subs | Holy Cross | Gerardo Ruiz (PG) David Miles | |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| 00:01 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson makes the 1st free throw | 59-55 |
| 00:01 | Holy Cross | Ronald Johnson makes the 2nd free throw | 60-55 |
| Game Plan | Holy Cross | Holy Cross is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-3) | |
| 00:00 | Mississippi State | Santiago Martin hits the front of the rim on the halfcourt shot | 60-55 |