| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Joseph Hoskins (fresh) 5 pts. 4 ast. SG - Martin Ellis (fresh) SF - John Williams (fresh) PF - John Bourgeois (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Lee Robinson (fresh) 10 pts. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Earl Brown (fresh) 7 pts. SG - Rex Longstreet (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Vaughn Hawkins (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 2 reb. C - Frank Harn (fresh) 7 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Mississippi State | John Williams inbounds the ball | 31-28 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-5) | |
| 19:49 | Mississippi State | John Williams comes up short on the fadeaway from the free throw line | 31-28 |
| 19:47 | Mississippi State | Martin Ellis tips it home | 33-28 |
| 19:27 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet buries a 3pt jumper from the left wing set up by Earl Brown | 33-31 |
| 19:20 | Mississippi State | Martin Ellis can't connect on a jumpshot from the left side but the foul's on Lewis Whitley - foul #2 on Lewis Whitley, team foul #1 | 33-31 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (SG), Samuel Axford (PF) Rex Longstreet, Lewis Whitley | |
| 19:20 | Mississippi State | Martin Ellis makes the 1st free throw | 34-31 |
| 19:20 | Mississippi State | Martin Ellis makes the 2nd free throw | 35-31 |
| 18:51 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins can't finish the layup | 35-31 |
| 18:49 | Michigan State | Earl Brown tips it in | 35-33 |
| 18:35 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson clanks a shot from the right block but he's hacked by Frank Harn - foul #1 on Frank Harn, team foul #2 | 35-33 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet (SG), Lewis Whitley (PF) Vaughn Hawkins, Samuel Axford | |
| 18:35 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson makes the 1st free throw | 36-33 |
| 18:35 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson makes the 2nd free throw | 37-33 |
| 18:14 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet drills a 3pt jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Earl Brown | 37-36 |
| 17:55 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the baseline | 37-36 |
| 17:53 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Lewis Whitley | 37-36 |
| 17:24 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley is fouled on the floor by John Bourgeois - foul #1 on John Bourgeois, team foul #1 | 37-36 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Joel Walker (PG), Brian Turcotte (PF), Mark Hensley (C) Joseph Hoskins, John Bourgeois, Lee Robinson | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins (SF), Samuel Axford (PF) Rex Longstreet, Lewis Whitley | |
| 16:55 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins scores on a jumper from the left side | 37-38 |
| 16:34 | Mississippi State | Joel Walker clanks a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 37-38 |
| 16:33 | Michigan State | Earl Brown pulls down the rebound | 37-38 |
| 16:05 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins misses the wide open 3 pointer from straight away | 37-38 |
| 16:04 | Michigan State | Frank Harn pulls down the offensive rebound | 37-38 |
| 15:35 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford misses badly on a jumper from the left side | 37-38 |
| 15:34 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte snags the defensive board | 37-38 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Joel Walker (fairly fresh) 3 ast. SG - Martin Ellis (tiring) 4 pts. SF - John Williams (tiring) PF - Brian Turcotte (fairly fresh) 3 pts. C - Mark Hensley (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Earl Brown (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - Reginald Smith (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SF - Vaughn Hawkins (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Samuel Axford (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Frank Harn (tiring) 7 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 15:13 | Mississippi State | Mark Hensley can't finish the layup | 37-38 |
| 15:12 | Michigan State | Frank Harn snags the defensive board | 37-38 |
| 15:08 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 37-38 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins (PG), Greg Phelps (SG), Gregg Patterson (SF), John Bourgeois (PF), Lee Robinson (C) Joel Walker, Martin Ellis, John Williams, Brian Turcotte, Mark Hensley | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet (SG), Lewis Whitley (PF) Reginald Smith, Frank Harn | |
| 15:02 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois misses long on a jumpshot from the left side | 37-38 |
| 15:00 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson snags the offensive board | 37-38 |
| 14:47 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 37-38 |
| 14:46 | Mississippi State | Gregg Patterson gets the offensive rebound | 37-38 |
| 14:32 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois steps out of bounds on the sideline | 37-38 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (SF) Vaughn Hawkins | |
| 14:14 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith is fouled on the floor by Lee Robinson - foul #2 on Lee Robinson, team foul #2 | 37-38 |
| 13:54 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford can't connect on a shot in the lane but the foul's on Lee Robinson - foul #3 on Lee Robinson, team foul #3 | 37-38 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins (SF) Reginald Smith | |
| 13:54 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford makes the 1st free throw | 37-39 |
| 13:54 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford misses the 2nd free throw | 37-39 |
| 13:54 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson grabs the board | 37-39 |
| 13:40 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois can't throw it down but the foul's on Rex Longstreet - foul #2 on Rex Longstreet, team foul #3 | 37-39 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Frank Harn (C) Samuel Axford | |
| 13:40 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois makes the 1st free throw | 38-39 |
| 13:40 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois misses the 2nd free throw | 38-39 |
| 13:40 | Michigan State | Frank Harn grabs the board | 38-39 |
| 13:38 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 38-39 |
| 13:33 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins misses long on a jump hook from the baseline | 38-39 |
| 13:32 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley grabs the board | 38-39 |
| 13:10 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet misses badly on the uncontested 3 pointer from the left corner | 38-39 |
| 13:09 | Michigan State | Frank Harn tips it home | 38-41 |
| 12:54 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois misses short on a fadeaway from the right side but the foul's on Lewis Whitley - foul #3 on Lewis Whitley, team foul #4 | 38-41 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Joel Walker (PG), Martin Ellis (SG), Brian Turcotte (SF), Mark Hensley (C) Joseph Hoskins, Greg Phelps, Gregg Patterson, Lee Robinson | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (SF), Samuel Axford (C) Vaughn Hawkins, Frank Harn | |
| 12:54 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois makes the 1st free throw | 39-41 |
| 12:54 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois makes the 2nd free throw | 40-41 |
| 12:51 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet double dribbles in the backcourt | 40-41 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | John Williams (SF) John Bourgeois | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 12:38 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt near the basket | 40-41 |
| 12:36 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet snags the defensive board | 40-41 |
| 12:10 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith connects on the open turnaround in the lane on a nice dish by Lewis Whitley | 40-43 |
| 11:51 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte misses the pull-up jumper from the right side | 40-43 |
| 11:50 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet grabs the defensive rebound | 40-43 |
| 11:32 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet is open but comes up short on the fadeaway from the right side | 40-43 |
| 11:31 | Michigan State | Samuel Axford grabs the offensive rebound | 40-43 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Joel Walker (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Martin Ellis (tiring) 4 pts. SF - John Williams (tiring) PF - Brian Turcotte (fairly fresh) 3 pts. C - Mark Hensley (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Earl Brown (tired) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - Rex Longstreet (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - Reginald Smith (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. PF - Lewis Whitley (fairly fresh) 4 reb. 3 pf. C - Samuel Axford (tiring) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 11:13 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley connects on the shot from close range | 40-45 |
| 11:01 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte misses long on a runner near the basket but he's fouled by Lewis Whitley - foul #4 on Lewis Whitley, team foul #5 | 40-45 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins (PG), Greg Phelps (SG), John Bourgeois (PF), Lee Robinson (C) Joel Walker, Martin Ellis, John Williams, Mark Hensley | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins (SF), Jeffrey Boykins (PF), Frank Harn (C) Reginald Smith, Lewis Whitley, Samuel Axford | |
| 11:01 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte makes the 1st free throw | 41-45 |
| 11:01 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte makes the 2nd free throw | 42-45 |
| 10:34 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet misses long on an open 3 pointer from the left wing | 42-45 |
| 10:32 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte grabs the defensive rebound | 42-45 |
| 10:24 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte is hacked by Vaughn Hawkins - foul #3 on Vaughn Hawkins, team foul #6 | 42-45 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Gregg Patterson (SF) Brian Turcotte | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG) Earl Brown | |
| 10:12 | Mississippi State | Gregg Patterson is denied on a layup by Jeffrey Boykins | 42-45 |
| 10:11 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Boykins pulls down the rebound | 42-45 |
| 10:09 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins is hacked by Gregg Patterson in the backcourt - foul #1 on Gregg Patterson, team foul #4 | 42-45 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Earl Brown (PG), Samuel Axford (PF) Rex Longstreet, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| 09:55 | Michigan State | Earl Brown is denied on a layup by Lee Robinson | 42-45 |
| 09:53 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins snags the defensive board | 42-45 |
| 09:42 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois buries a 3 pointer from the left wing on a great pass from Joseph Hoskins | 45-45 |
| 09:20 | Michigan State | Frank Harn misses the lay-in | 45-45 |
| 09:18 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins tips it in | 45-47 |
| 09:11 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois makes the turnaround in the paint set up by Gregg Patterson | 47-47 |
| 08:42 | Michigan State | Frank Harn can't connect on an uncontested fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 47-47 |
| 08:41 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins gets the rebound | 47-47 |
| 08:32 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins misses the pull-up jumper from the free throw line but he's hacked by Earl Brown - foul #2 on Earl Brown, team foul #7 | 47-47 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Martin Ellis (SG), John Williams (SF), Gary Johnson (PF), Mark Hensley (C) Greg Phelps, Gregg Patterson, John Bourgeois, Lee Robinson | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet (PG), Jeffrey Boykins (PF) Earl Brown, Samuel Axford | |
| 08:32 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins makes the 1st free throw | 48-47 |
| 08:32 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins makes the 2nd free throw | 49-47 |
| 08:13 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 49-47 |
| 08:11 | Michigan State | Frank Harn grabs the offensive board | 49-47 |
| 07:45 | Michigan State | Joseph Hoskins steals it from Reginald Smith | 49-47 |
| 07:36 | Mississippi State | John Williams is called for a charge - foul #2 on John Williams, team foul #5 | 49-47 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Joel Walker (PG), Lee Robinson (C) Joseph Hoskins, Gary Johnson | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Earl Brown (PG), Lewis Whitley (PF), Samuel Axford (C) Reginald Smith, Jeffrey Boykins, Frank Harn | |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Joel Walker (fresh) 3 ast. SG - Martin Ellis (tiring) 4 pts. SF - John Williams (tiring) PF - Mark Hensley (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. C - Lee Robinson (fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Earl Brown (tired) 9 pts. 2 ast. SG - Rex Longstreet (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - Vaughn Hawkins (tiring) 9 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. C - Samuel Axford (tiring) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 07:07 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins hits a 3 from the left corner | 49-50 |
| 06:52 | Mississippi State | Martin Ellis loses the dribble to Vaughn Hawkins | 49-50 |
| 06:30 | Michigan State | Earl Brown is fouled on the floor by Mark Hensley - foul #1 on Mark Hensley, team foul #6 | 49-50 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Greg Phelps (SG), Brian Turcotte (SF), John Bourgeois (PF), Gary Johnson (C) Martin Ellis, John Williams, Mark Hensley, Lee Robinson | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (SF), Frank Harn (C) Vaughn Hawkins, Samuel Axford | |
| 06:01 | Michigan State | Earl Brown is denied on a layup by Gary Johnson | 49-50 |
| 05:59 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley grabs the offensive board | 49-50 |
| 05:37 | Michigan State | Earl Brown buries a turnaround from the baseline on a great pass from Rex Longstreet and he's fouled by Gary Johnson - foul #2 on Gary Johnson, team foul #7 | 49-52 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Gregg Patterson (SF), Lee Robinson (C) Joel Walker, Gary Johnson | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins (SF), Samuel Axford (C) Reginald Smith, Frank Harn | |
| 05:37 | Michigan State | Earl Brown makes the free throw | 49-53 |
| 05:29 | Mississippi State | Samuel Axford swats the dunk try by Lee Robinson | 49-53 |
| 05:28 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte misses the tip | 49-53 |
| 05:27 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins pulls down the rebound | 49-53 |
| 04:58 | Michigan State | Earl Brown misses long on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 49-53 |
| 04:57 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins tips it but misses | 49-53 |
| 04:56 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson grabs the board | 49-53 |
| 04:47 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by Gregg Patterson | 51-53 |
| 04:18 | Michigan State | Earl Brown is open but comes up short on the fadeaway from the left side | 51-53 |
| 04:17 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson gets the rebound | 51-53 |
| 04:00 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 51-53 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins (PG), Martin Ellis (SG), Gary Johnson (PF), Mark Hensley (C) John Bourgeois, Greg Phelps, Brian Turcotte, Lee Robinson | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG), Frank Harn (C) Earl Brown, Samuel Axford | |
| 03:39 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins misses the jumpshot from the right wing | 51-53 |
| 03:38 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to Mark Hensley | 51-53 |
| 03:35 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins loses the dribble to Reginald Smith in the backcourt | 51-53 |
| 03:34 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet banks in the layup on a great pass from Reginald Smith | 51-55 |
| Lineup | Mississippi State | PG - Joseph Hoskins (fresh) 7 pts. 5 ast. 2 stl. SG - Martin Ellis (tiring) 4 pts. SF - Gregg Patterson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. PF - Gary Johnson (fresh) 2 pts. C - Mark Hensley (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. SG - Rex Longstreet (tiring) 11 pts. 2 ast. SF - Vaughn Hawkins (tiring) 12 pts. 7 reb. 3 pf. PF - Lewis Whitley (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. 4 pf. C - Frank Harn (tiring) 9 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 03:17 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins hits a 3 pointer from the right wing | 54-55 |
| 02:48 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet connects on the 3 pointer from the left corner on a great pass from Lewis Whitley | 54-58 |
| 02:48 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 54-58 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Greg Phelps (SG), Brian Turcotte (SF), John Bourgeois (PF), Lee Robinson (C) Martin Ellis, Gregg Patterson, Gary Johnson, Mark Hensley | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Earl Brown (PG), Samuel Axford (C) Rex Longstreet, Frank Harn | |
| 02:37 | Mississippi State | Brian Turcotte hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from just outside the lane | 54-58 |
| 02:36 | Mississippi State | John Bourgeois pulls down the offensive rebound | 54-58 |
| 02:13 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson drills a jumper in the paint | 56-58 |
| 02:08 | Michigan State | Earl Brown's pass is intercepted by Joseph Hoskins in the backcourt | 56-58 |
| 01:57 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins can't connect on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 56-58 |
| 01:55 | Michigan State | Earl Brown snags the defensive board | 56-58 |
| 01:50 | Michigan State | Vaughn Hawkins hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the right corner | 56-58 |
| 01:49 | Mississippi State | The rebound goes to John Bourgeois | 56-58 |
| 01:49 | Mississippi State | Mississippi State calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 56-58 |
| Subs | Mississippi State | Martin Ellis (SG), John Williams (SF) Greg Phelps, Brian Turcotte | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet (SG), Frank Harn (C) Reginald Smith, Samuel Axford | |
| 01:39 | Mississippi State | Martin Ellis misses short on a floater in the lane | 56-58 |
| 01:37 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Rex Longstreet | 56-58 |
| 01:08 | Michigan State | Earl Brown is fouled on the floor by John Williams - foul #3 on John Williams, team foul #8 | 56-58 |
| 01:08 | Michigan State | Earl Brown makes the 1st free throw | 56-59 |
| 01:08 | Michigan State | Earl Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 56-60 |
| 00:50 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson is hacked by Frank Harn - foul #2 on Frank Harn, team foul #8 | 56-60 |
| 00:50 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson makes the 1st free throw | 57-60 |
| 00:50 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson misses the 2nd free throw | 57-60 |
| 00:50 | Mississippi State | Lee Robinson pulls down the offensive rebound | 57-60 |
| 00:40 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins connects on the 3pt shot from the right wing on a nice dish by John Williams | 60-60 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-5) | |
| 00:17 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet double dribbles | 60-60 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-5) | |
| 00:03 | Mississippi State | Joseph Hoskins knocks in the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane set up by Martin Ellis | 62-60 |
| 00:03 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 3 full remaining) | 62-60 |
| Game Plan | Mississippi State | Mississippi State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+4) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-5) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Rex Longstreet clanks a halfcourt shot | 62-60 |