| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Rob Hoose (fresh) SG - Carlton Tillman (fresh) SF - William McConico (fresh) PF - Ronald Mathews (fresh) C - Ronnie Ramsey (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Alton Baker (fresh) SG - Joey Smith (fresh) SF - Stanley Parramore (fresh) PF - Benjamin Jones (fresh) C - Jerry Baker (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| 19:38 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones is wide open but clanks a turnaround from the right block | 0-0 |
| 19:36 | Michigan State | Jerry Baker tips it but misses | 0-0 |
| 19:34 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones tips it home | 0-2 |
| 19:30 | Northwestern | William McConico scores on a fadeaway in the paint on a nice dish by Carlton Tillman | 2-2 |
| 19:06 | Michigan State | Alton Baker comes up short on the turnaround from the right block | 2-2 |
| 19:04 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones tips it in | 2-4 |
| 18:41 | Northwestern | William McConico connects on the shot from the left wing on a great pass from Ronald Mathews | 4-4 |
| 18:37 | Michigan State | Alton Baker is hacked by Ronnie Ramsey in the backcourt - foul #1 on Ronnie Ramsey, team foul #1 | 4-4 |
| 18:21 | Michigan State | Joey Smith is hacked by Carlton Tillman - foul #1 on Carlton Tillman, team foul #2 | 4-4 |
| 18:04 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones is open but comes up short on the shot from the right block | 4-4 |
| 18:03 | Northwestern | Rob Hoose pulls down the rebound | 4-4 |
| 17:56 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews misses long on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 4-4 |
| 17:55 | Michigan State | Alton Baker grabs the defensive rebound | 4-4 |
| 17:28 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones drills a pull-up jumper from the right side set up by Alton Baker | 4-6 |
| 17:09 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews knocks in the 3 from straight away | 7-6 |
| 16:56 | Michigan State | Stanley Parramore misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 7-6 |
| 16:54 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to William McConico | 7-6 |
| 16:47 | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 7-6 |
| 16:46 | Michigan State | Alton Baker snags the defensive board | 7-6 |
| 16:17 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones is open and scores on a pull-up jumper from the right wing set up by Stanley Parramore | 7-8 |
| 16:01 | Northwestern | William McConico hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from close range | 7-8 |
| 16:00 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Stanley Parramore | 7-8 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Rob Hoose (fairly fresh) SG - Carlton Tillman (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SF - William McConico (fairly fresh) 4 pts. PF - Ronald Mathews (fairly fresh) 3 pts. C - Ronnie Ramsey (fairly fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Alton Baker (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Joey Smith (fairly fresh) SF - Stanley Parramore (fairly fresh) 1 ast. PF - Benjamin Jones (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. C - Jerry Baker (fairly fresh) | |
| 15:56 | Michigan State | Alton Baker throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 7-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin (PG), Ira Eastman (SG), Jay Miles (PF), Kevin Goulet (C) Rob Hoose, Carlton Tillman, Ronald Mathews, Ronnie Ramsey | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Larry Sly (PG), Erin Newman (SF), Reginald Waterbury (PF), Sean Mandeville (C) Alton Baker, Stanley Parramore, Benjamin Jones, Jerry Baker | |
| 15:43 | Northwestern | William McConico misses the driving attempt from the baseline but he's fouled by Erin Newman - foul #1 on Erin Newman, team foul #1 | 7-8 |
| 15:43 | Northwestern | William McConico makes the 1st free throw | 8-8 |
| 15:43 | Northwestern | William McConico makes the 2nd free throw | 9-8 |
| 15:19 | Michigan State | Jay Miles picks off the pass by Erin Newman | 9-8 |
| 15:07 | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin is whistled for traveling | 9-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones (PF) Joey Smith | |
| 14:38 | Michigan State | Sean Mandeville is whistled for traveling | 9-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Shaun Roy (SF) William McConico | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 14:25 | Northwestern | Shaun Roy misses long on a jumper from the free throw line | 9-8 |
| 14:23 | Michigan State | Reginald Waterbury snags the defensive board | 9-8 |
| 14:03 | Michigan State | Larry Sly is open but comes up short on the jumpshot from the right wing | 9-8 |
| 14:01 | Northwestern | Jay Miles snags the defensive board | 9-8 |
| 13:57 | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 9-8 |
| 13:56 | Northwestern | Jay Miles grabs the offensive rebound | 9-8 |
| 13:46 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman can't finish the layup but the foul's on Reginald Waterbury - foul #1 on Reginald Waterbury, team foul #2 | 9-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews (PF), Albert Moore (C) Jay Miles, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alton Baker (SG) Benjamin Jones | |
| 13:46 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman makes the 1st free throw | 10-8 |
| 13:46 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman misses the 2nd free throw | 10-8 |
| 13:46 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Sean Mandeville | 10-8 |
| 13:22 | Michigan State | Shaun Roy takes the ball from Alton Baker | 10-8 |
| 12:58 | Northwestern | Larry Sly is called for the reach on Albert Moore - foul #1 on Larry Sly, team foul #3 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Rob Hoose (PG), Carlton Tillman (SG), William McConico (SF), Ronnie Ramsey (C) Joseph Coggin, Ira Eastman, Shaun Roy, Albert Moore | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Stanley Parramore (SF), Jerry Baker (PF) Larry Sly, Erin Newman | |
| 12:43 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews is whistled for a charge - foul #1 on Ronald Mathews, team foul #3 | 10-8 |
| 12:38 | Michigan State | Reginald Waterbury is fouled in the backcourt by William McConico - foul #1 on William McConico, team foul #4 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joey Smith (SG) Reginald Waterbury | |
| 12:10 | Michigan State | Stanley Parramore is hacked by Ronald Mathews - foul #2 on Ronald Mathews, team foul #5 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Albert Moore (PF) Ronald Mathews | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Larry Sly (PG) Alton Baker | |
| 11:50 | Michigan State | A charge is called on Jerry Baker - foul #1 on Jerry Baker, team foul #4 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jay Miles (PF), Kevin Goulet (C) Albert Moore, Ronnie Ramsey | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Erin Newman (SF), Reginald Waterbury (PF) Stanley Parramore, Sean Mandeville | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Rob Hoose (fresh) SG - Carlton Tillman (fresh) 1 ast. SF - William McConico (fairly fresh) 6 pts. PF - Jay Miles (fresh) 2 reb. C - Kevin Goulet (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Larry Sly (fairly fresh) SG - Joey Smith (fresh) SF - Erin Newman (fresh) PF - Reginald Waterbury (fairly fresh) C - Jerry Baker (fresh) | |
| 11:30 | Northwestern | William McConico misses badly on a shot from the left block | 10-8 |
| 11:29 | Northwestern | Rob Hoose pulls down the offensive rebound | 10-8 |
| 11:18 | Northwestern | Jerry Baker steps in front of the Rob Hoose pass | 10-8 |
| 10:53 | Michigan State | William McConico steals the ball from Joey Smith | 10-8 |
| 10:27 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet misses long on a shot from the free throw line but he's hacked by Larry Sly - foul #2 on Larry Sly, team foul #5 | 10-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin (PG), Ira Eastman (SG), Shaun Roy (SF), Albert Moore (PF) Rob Hoose, Carlton Tillman, William McConico, Jay Miles | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alton Baker (PG), Stanley Parramore (SF), Benjamin Jones (PF), Sean Mandeville (C) Larry Sly, Erin Newman, Reginald Waterbury, Jerry Baker | |
| 10:27 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet makes the 1st free throw | 11-8 |
| 10:27 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet makes the 2nd free throw | 12-8 |
| 10:00 | Michigan State | Sean Mandeville's fadeaway is rejected by Kevin Goulet | 12-8 |
| 09:58 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Shaun Roy | 12-8 |
| 09:43 | Northwestern | Joey Smith steals it from Albert Moore | 12-8 |
| 09:22 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones hits the easy wide open finger roll set up by Alton Baker and he's hacked by Albert Moore - foul #1 on Albert Moore, team foul #6 | 12-10 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman (SG), Ronnie Ramsey (C) Ira Eastman, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 09:22 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones makes the free throw | 12-11 |
| 09:11 | Northwestern | Joey Smith steals the ball from Shaun Roy | 12-11 |
| 09:09 | Michigan State | Shaun Roy steps in front of the Stanley Parramore pass in the backcourt | 12-11 |
| 09:08 | Northwestern | Shaun Roy blows the layup | 12-11 |
| 09:06 | Michigan State | Alton Baker snags the defensive board | 12-11 |
| 09:02 | Michigan State | Joey Smith is fouled in the backcourt by Carlton Tillman - foul #2 on Carlton Tillman, team foul #7 | 12-11 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ira Eastman (SG) Carlton Tillman | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Erin Newman (SF), Jerry Baker (C) Stanley Parramore, Sean Mandeville | |
| 09:02 | Michigan State | Joey Smith makes the 1st free throw | 12-12 |
| 09:02 | Michigan State | Joey Smith misses the 2nd free throw | 12-12 |
| 09:02 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones grabs the offensive board | 12-12 |
| 08:41 | Michigan State | Jerry Baker clanks a fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 12-12 |
| 08:39 | Northwestern | Albert Moore snags the defensive board | 12-12 |
| 08:32 | Northwestern | Ronnie Ramsey is hacked by Jerry Baker - foul #2 on Jerry Baker, team foul #6 | 12-12 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Rob Hoose (PG), William McConico (SF), Jay Miles (PF) Joseph Coggin, Shaun Roy, Albert Moore | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Waterbury (SG), Sean Mandeville (C) Joey Smith, Jerry Baker | |
| 08:19 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman can't connect on a 3 pointer from straight away | 12-12 |
| 08:18 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones pulls down the rebound | 12-12 |
| 07:53 | Michigan State | Sean Mandeville makes the jumper from the left wing | 12-14 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Rob Hoose (fresh) SG - Ira Eastman (fresh) 1 pts. SF - William McConico (fairly fresh) 6 pts. PF - Jay Miles (fresh) 2 reb. C - Ronnie Ramsey (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Alton Baker (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SG - Reginald Waterbury (fairly fresh) SF - Erin Newman (fairly fresh) PF - Benjamin Jones (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 4 reb. C - Sean Mandeville (tiring) 2 pts. | |
| 07:31 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman is fouled on the floor by Sean Mandeville - foul #1 on Sean Mandeville, team foul #7 | 12-14 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin (PG), Kevin Goulet (C) Rob Hoose, Ronnie Ramsey | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joey Smith (SG), Stanley Parramore (SF) Reginald Waterbury, Erin Newman | |
| 07:31 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman makes the 1st free throw | 13-14 |
| 07:31 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman makes the 2nd free throw | 14-14 |
| 07:05 | Michigan State | Stanley Parramore is called for traveling | 14-14 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Felton (SG), Shaun Roy (SF) Ira Eastman, William McConico | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 06:41 | Northwestern | Jay Miles scores on a floater from the right side | 16-14 |
| 06:38 | Michigan State | Jason Felton is called for the reach on Joey Smith in the backcourt - foul #1 on Jason Felton, team foul #8 | 16-14 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Carlton Tillman (SG), Ronald Mathews (PF) Jason Felton, Jay Miles | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Larry Sly (PG), Jerry Baker (C) Alton Baker, Sean Mandeville | |
| 06:38 | Michigan State | Joey Smith makes the 1st free throw | 16-15 |
| 06:38 | Michigan State | Joey Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 16-16 |
| 06:26 | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin is whistled for traveling | 16-16 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Rob Hoose (PG) Joseph Coggin | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Waterbury (PF) Benjamin Jones | |
| 06:01 | Michigan State | Joey Smith is alone and drills a fadeaway from the free throw line on a great pass from Larry Sly | 16-18 |
| 05:57 | Northwestern | Joey Smith steps in front of the Rob Hoose pass | 16-18 |
| 05:53 | Michigan State | Larry Sly lays it up and in on a great pass from Joey Smith | 16-20 |
| 05:39 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet makes the jumper in the lane set up by Shaun Roy | 18-20 |
| 05:11 | Michigan State | Joey Smith is fouled on the floor by Carlton Tillman - foul #3 on Carlton Tillman, team foul #9 | 18-20 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin (PG), Ira Eastman (SG), William McConico (SF), Ronnie Ramsey (C) Rob Hoose, Carlton Tillman, Shaun Roy, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Erin Newman (SF), Benjamin Jones (PF) Stanley Parramore, Reginald Waterbury | |
| 05:11 | Michigan State | Joey Smith makes the 1st free throw | 18-21 |
| 05:11 | Michigan State | Joey Smith misses the 2nd free throw | 18-21 |
| 05:11 | Northwestern | William McConico grabs the defensive rebound | 18-21 |
| 04:58 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews is hacked by Joey Smith - foul #1 on Joey Smith, team foul #8 | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alton Baker (SG) Joey Smith | |
| 04:58 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews misses the 1st free throw | 18-21 |
| 04:58 | Michigan State | Benjamin Jones grabs the defensive rebound | 18-21 |
| 04:43 | Michigan State | Jerry Baker is hacked by Ronnie Ramsey - foul #2 on Ronnie Ramsey, team foul #10 | 18-21 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jay Miles (PF) Ronald Mathews | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 04:43 | Michigan State | Jerry Baker makes the 1st free throw | 18-22 |
| 04:43 | Michigan State | Jerry Baker makes the 2nd free throw | 18-23 |
| 04:31 | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin clanks a pull-up jumper from the right wing | 18-23 |
| 04:30 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman gets the offensive rebound | 18-23 |
| 04:13 | Northwestern | Ira Eastman is called for the illegal screen - foul #1 on Ira Eastman, team foul #11 | 18-23 |
| 03:47 | Michigan State | Alton Baker misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 18-23 |
| 03:45 | Northwestern | Jay Miles pulls down the rebound | 18-23 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Joseph Coggin (fresh) SG - Ira Eastman (fresh) 3 pts. SF - William McConico (fairly fresh) 6 pts. PF - Jay Miles (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Ronnie Ramsey (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Larry Sly (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Alton Baker (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SF - Erin Newman (fresh) PF - Benjamin Jones (tiring) 11 pts. 5 reb. C - Jerry Baker (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 03:26 | Northwestern | Larry Sly steals the ball from William McConico | 18-23 |
| 03:01 | Michigan State | Alton Baker connects on the turnaround near the basket set up by Jerry Baker and he's hacked by Ira Eastman - foul #2 on Ira Eastman, team foul #12 | 18-25 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Rob Hoose (PG), Jason Felton (SG), Shaun Roy (SF), Ronald Mathews (PF), Kevin Goulet (C) Joseph Coggin, Ira Eastman, William McConico, Jay Miles, Ronnie Ramsey | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Stanley Parramore (SF), Reginald Waterbury (PF), Sean Mandeville (C) Erin Newman, Benjamin Jones, Jerry Baker | |
| 03:01 | Michigan State | Alton Baker makes the free throw | 18-26 |
| 02:34 | Northwestern | Kevin Goulet loses the dribble to Stanley Parramore | 18-26 |
| 02:29 | Michigan State | Sean Mandeville's pass is intercepted by Jason Felton in the backcourt | 18-26 |
| 02:15 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 18-26 |
| 02:14 | Michigan State | Sean Mandeville grabs the board | 18-26 |
| 01:55 | Michigan State | Alton Baker is alone and drills a driving attempt in the paint on a nice dish by Sean Mandeville | 18-28 |
| 01:36 | Northwestern | Jason Felton can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 18-28 |
| 01:35 | Northwestern | Rob Hoose snags the offensive board | 18-28 |
| 01:28 | Northwestern | Ronald Mathews connects on the runner from close range set up by Rob Hoose | 20-28 |
| 01:10 | Michigan State | Shaun Roy denies the turnaround by Alton Baker | 20-28 |
| 01:08 | Michigan State | Sean Mandeville tips it in | 20-30 |
| 00:49 | Northwestern | Shaun Roy misses short on a floater from the right wing but he's fouled by Larry Sly - foul #3 on Larry Sly, team foul #9 | 20-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Joseph Coggin (PG), Ira Eastman (SG), Jay Miles (PF), Ronnie Ramsey (C) Rob Hoose, Jason Felton, Ronald Mathews, Kevin Goulet | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joey Smith (SG), Erin Newman (SF), Benjamin Jones (PF), Jerry Baker (C) Larry Sly, Stanley Parramore, Reginald Waterbury, Sean Mandeville | |
| 00:49 | Northwestern | Shaun Roy misses the 1st free throw | 20-30 |
| 00:49 | Northwestern | Shaun Roy makes the 2nd free throw | 21-30 |
| 00:25 | Michigan State | Jerry Baker lays it in uncontested set up by Benjamin Jones | 21-32 |
| 00:01 | Northwestern | Jay Miles comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 21-32 |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Jerry Baker snags the defensive board | 21-32 |