| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leonard Thompson (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Patrick Wilkinson (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SF - Walter Knowles (fresh) 3 pts. PF - Clarence Opitz (fresh) 3 pts. 5 reb. C - Jonathan Chappell (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - David Wolfe (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Charles Alexander (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Michael Sax (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Ryan Dean (fresh) 7 pts. 3 pf. C - Richard Willett (fresh) 7 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Syracuse | Michael Sax inbounds the ball | 25-24 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 19:57 | Syracuse | David Wolfe's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 25-24 |
| 19:51 | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson is fouled on the floor by Richard Willett - foul #1 on Richard Willett, team foul #1 | 25-24 |
| 19:42 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson is whistled for a carry | 25-24 |
| 19:14 | Syracuse | Ryan Dean hits a shot from the right wing | 25-26 |
| 18:57 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz misses badly on a jumper from just outside the lane | 25-26 |
| 18:56 | Syracuse | The rebound goes to Charles Alexander | 25-26 |
| 18:27 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from close range but the foul's on Patrick Wilkinson - foul #1 on Patrick Wilkinson, team foul #1 | 25-26 |
| 18:27 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander makes the 1st free throw | 25-27 |
| 18:27 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander makes the 2nd free throw | 25-28 |
| 18:09 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz hits a runner in the paint | 27-28 |
| 17:50 | Syracuse | Richard Willett hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right corner | 27-28 |
| 17:49 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Clarence Opitz | 27-28 |
| 17:36 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles scores on a 3 from the right corner on a great pass from Leonard Thompson | 30-28 |
| 17:07 | Syracuse | Michael Sax travels with the ball | 30-28 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Kindel (SF) Walter Knowles | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 16:44 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson loses the dribble to Charles Alexander | 30-28 |
| 16:41 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander slams it home | 30-30 |
| 16:26 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz clanks a floater from the left block but the foul's on Richard Willett - foul #2 on Richard Willett, team foul #2 | 30-30 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Glass (SG), Patrick Weissman (C) Patrick Wilkinson, Jonathan Chappell | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Charles Ikner (C) Richard Willett | |
| 16:26 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz makes the 1st free throw | 31-30 |
| 16:26 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz makes the 2nd free throw | 32-30 |
| 16:10 | Syracuse | Michael Sax misses badly on a jumper from the left wing | 32-30 |
| 16:09 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman snags the defensive board | 32-30 |
| 15:47 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz splits the doubleteam and buries a runner from the left block | 34-30 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leonard Thompson (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SG - Michael Glass (fresh) SF - John Kindel (fresh) PF - Clarence Opitz (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 6 reb. C - Patrick Weissman (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - David Wolfe (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - Charles Alexander (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SF - Michael Sax (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - Ryan Dean (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 pf. C - Charles Ikner (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 15:27 | Syracuse | Charles Ikner connects on the shot from the free throw line on a nice dish by Charles Alexander | 34-32 |
| 15:07 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman misses the dunk | 34-32 |
| 15:05 | Syracuse | Charles Ikner gets the rebound | 34-32 |
| 14:47 | Syracuse | Ryan Dean double dribbles | 34-32 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson (SG), Walter Knowles (SF), Andrew Wilson (PF), Jonathan Chappell (C) Michael Glass, John Kindel, Clarence Opitz, Patrick Weissman | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Richard Willett (C) Charles Ikner | |
| 14:31 | Michigan State | The jump hook by Andrew Wilson is blocked by Michael Sax | 34-32 |
| 14:30 | Syracuse | Michael Sax gets the rebound | 34-32 |
| 14:01 | Syracuse | Jonathan Chappell denies the turnaround by Ryan Dean | 34-32 |
| 13:59 | Michigan State | Andrew Wilson grabs the defensive rebound | 34-32 |
| 13:41 | Michigan State | Michael Sax denies the turnaround by Andrew Wilson | 34-32 |
| 13:40 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander grabs the defensive rebound | 34-32 |
| 13:18 | Syracuse | David Wolfe is hacked by Patrick Wilkinson - foul #2 on Patrick Wilkinson, team foul #2 | 34-32 |
| 12:59 | Syracuse | Jonathan Chappell picks off the pass by Ryan Dean | 34-32 |
| 12:33 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 34-32 |
| 12:32 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell tips it back up and in | 36-32 |
| 12:05 | Syracuse | Richard Willett connects on the fadeaway from the left block on a great pass from David Wolfe and he's hacked by Walter Knowles - foul #2 on Walter Knowles, team foul #3 | 36-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Kindel (PG), Michael Glass (SG), Clarence Opitz (PF), Patrick Weissman (C) Leonard Thompson, Patrick Wilkinson, Andrew Wilson, Jonathan Chappell | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Joseph Cline (PG), Bill Peck (SF), Vincent Thompson (PF) David Wolfe, Charles Alexander, Ryan Dean | |
| 12:05 | Syracuse | Richard Willett misses the free throw | 36-34 |
| 12:05 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz snags the defensive board | 36-34 |
| 11:39 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles is called for the offensive foul - foul #3 on Walter Knowles, team foul #4 | 36-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Charles Alexander (SG), Charles Ikner (C) Michael Sax, Richard Willett | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Kindel (fresh) SG - Michael Glass (fresh) SF - Walter Knowles (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 pf. PF - Clarence Opitz (fresh) 9 pts. 7 reb. C - Patrick Weissman (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Joseph Cline (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Charles Alexander (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Bill Peck (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Vincent Thompson (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Charles Ikner (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:18 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander drills a jumpshot from just outside the lane set up by Joseph Cline | 36-36 |
| 11:04 | Michigan State | Michael Glass makes the fadeaway from the left side on a great pass from Clarence Opitz | 38-36 |
| 10:37 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander scores on a jumper from close range on a great pass from Charles Ikner | 38-38 |
| 10:17 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz scores on a pull-up jumper from the left side | 40-38 |
| 09:58 | Syracuse | Vincent Thompson misses short on a fadeaway from the left block | 40-38 |
| 09:56 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles grabs the board | 40-38 |
| 09:39 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles is denied on a dunk by Charles Ikner | 40-38 |
| 09:37 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles hits the follow up shot | 42-38 |
| 09:16 | Syracuse | Joseph Cline slams it home and he's hacked by John Kindel - foul #3 on John Kindel, team foul #5 | 42-40 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson (PG), Patrick Wilkinson (SG), Andrew Wilson (PF), Jonathan Chappell (C) Michael Glass, Walter Knowles, Clarence Opitz, Patrick Weissman | |
| Subs | Syracuse | David Wolfe (SG), Michael Sax (SF), Ryan Dean (PF), Richard Willett (C) Charles Alexander, Bill Peck, Vincent Thompson, Charles Ikner | |
| 09:16 | Syracuse | Joseph Cline makes the free throw | 42-41 |
| 09:11 | Michigan State | David Wolfe steps in front of the Leonard Thompson pass in the backcourt | 42-41 |
| 09:09 | Syracuse | Joseph Cline misses the easy layup | 42-41 |
| 09:07 | Syracuse | Ryan Dean tips it but misses | 42-41 |
| 09:05 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson gets the rebound | 42-41 |
| 08:37 | Michigan State | Michael Sax picks off the pass by Jonathan Chappell | 42-41 |
| 08:31 | Syracuse | Jonathan Chappell steals the ball from Michael Sax | 42-41 |
| 08:23 | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson misses the 3pt shot from the right wing | 42-41 |
| 08:21 | Syracuse | David Wolfe snags the defensive board | 42-41 |
| 08:00 | Syracuse | John Kindel is called for the reach on Michael Sax - foul #4 on John Kindel, team foul #6 | 42-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Christopher Baker (PF) John Kindel | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Bill Peck (SF) Joseph Cline | |
| 07:48 | Syracuse | Richard Willett drills a 3 pointer from straight away set up by Ryan Dean | 42-44 |
| 07:31 | Michigan State | Christopher Baker is denied on a layup by Richard Willett | 42-44 |
| 07:29 | Syracuse | David Wolfe snags the defensive board | 42-44 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leonard Thompson (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SG - Patrick Wilkinson (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SF - Andrew Wilson (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. PF - Christopher Baker (fresh) 2 pts. C - Jonathan Chappell (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - David Wolfe (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Michael Sax (fairly fresh) 3 reb. 2 blk. SF - Bill Peck (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ryan Dean (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Richard Willett (fresh) 12 pts. | |
| 07:05 | Syracuse | David Wolfe hits a pull-up jumper from the left side on a great pass from Michael Sax | 42-46 |
| 06:59 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from just outside the lane but the foul's on Richard Willett - foul #3 on Richard Willett, team foul #3 | 42-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Kindel (SF), Clarence Opitz (PF) Andrew Wilson, Christopher Baker | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Charles Alexander (SG) Bill Peck | |
| 06:59 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell misses the 1st free throw | 42-46 |
| 06:59 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell makes the 2nd free throw | 43-46 |
| 06:37 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander is hacked by Patrick Wilkinson - foul #3 on Patrick Wilkinson, team foul #7 | 43-46 |
| 06:37 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander makes the 1st free throw | 43-47 |
| 06:37 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander misses the 2nd free throw | 43-47 |
| 06:37 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz snags the defensive board | 43-47 |
| 06:25 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz is whistled for a carry | 43-47 |
| 06:02 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander misses short on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 43-47 |
| 06:00 | Syracuse | Richard Willett tips it back up and in | 43-49 |
| 05:41 | Michigan State | John Kindel is whistled for traveling | 43-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Glass (SG), Walter Knowles (SF), Patrick Weissman (C) Patrick Wilkinson, John Kindel, Jonathan Chappell | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Charles Ikner (C) Richard Willett | |
| 05:20 | Syracuse | Ryan Dean can't connect on a turnaround from the left block | 43-49 |
| 05:19 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz grabs the defensive rebound | 43-49 |
| 05:02 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman misses short on a turnaround in the paint but he's hacked by Charles Ikner - foul #2 on Charles Ikner, team foul #4 | 43-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Kindel (PG) Leonard Thompson | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Vincent Thompson (PF) Ryan Dean | |
| 05:02 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman makes the 1st free throw | 44-49 |
| 05:02 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman misses the 2nd free throw | 44-49 |
| 05:02 | Syracuse | Charles Ikner gets the rebound | 44-49 |
| 04:33 | Syracuse | Charles Ikner hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the baseline | 44-49 |
| 04:31 | Syracuse | Charles Ikner tips it home | 44-51 |
| 04:13 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz makes the contested floater from the free throw line set up by Walter Knowles | 46-51 |
| 03:48 | Syracuse | Michael Sax misses long on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing but the foul's on Clarence Opitz - foul #2 on Clarence Opitz, team foul #8 | 46-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson (PG), Patrick Wilkinson (SG), Andrew Wilson (PF), Jonathan Chappell (C) John Kindel, Michael Glass, Clarence Opitz, Patrick Weissman | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Joseph Cline (PG), Bill Peck (SF), Ryan Dean (PF), Richard Willett (C) David Wolfe, Charles Alexander, Vincent Thompson, Charles Ikner | |
| 03:48 | Syracuse | Michael Sax makes the 1st free throw | 46-52 |
| 03:48 | Syracuse | Michael Sax makes the 2nd free throw | 46-53 |
| 03:27 | Michigan State | Andrew Wilson misses long on a floater from close range but the foul's on Richard Willett - foul #4 on Richard Willett, team foul #5 | 46-53 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Syracuse | Charles Alexander (SG) Michael Sax | |
| 03:27 | Michigan State | Andrew Wilson makes the 1st free throw | 47-53 |
| 03:27 | Michigan State | Andrew Wilson makes the 2nd free throw | 48-53 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leonard Thompson (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SG - Patrick Wilkinson (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SF - Walter Knowles (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. PF - Andrew Wilson (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. C - Jonathan Chappell (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Syracuse | PG - Joseph Cline (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Charles Alexander (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Bill Peck (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Ryan Dean (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Richard Willett (fresh) 14 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. | |
| 03:02 | Syracuse | Bill Peck is whistled for traveling | 48-53 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Kindel (SF) Walter Knowles | |
| Subs | Syracuse | | |
| 02:58 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 48-53 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Walter Knowles (SF), Clarence Opitz (PF) John Kindel, Andrew Wilson | |
| Subs | Syracuse | David Wolfe (PG), Michael Sax (SF) Joseph Cline, Bill Peck | |
| 02:38 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz is denied on a layup by Michael Sax | 48-53 |
| 02:37 | Syracuse | The rebound goes to David Wolfe | 48-53 |
| 02:14 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander drills a 3pt shot from the right wing | 48-56 |
| 01:52 | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson drills a shot from the right wing | 50-56 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 01:30 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from straight away | 50-56 |
| 01:29 | Syracuse | Ryan Dean snags the offensive board | 50-56 |
| 01:04 | Syracuse | Michael Sax scores on a jumpshot from the left side set up by David Wolfe | 50-58 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 00:48 | Michigan State | Charles Alexander steals the ball from Walter Knowles | 50-58 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (-2) | |
| 00:45 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander is hacked by Patrick Wilkinson in the backcourt - foul #4 on Patrick Wilkinson, team foul #9 | 50-58 |
| 00:45 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander makes the 1st free throw | 50-59 |
| 00:45 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander makes the 2nd free throw | 50-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+1) | |
| 00:41 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz's floater is tipped away by Ryan Dean | 50-60 |
| 00:39 | Syracuse | Ryan Dean grabs the board | 50-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Syracuse | Syracuse is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+1) | |
| 00:11 | Syracuse | Jonathan Chappell swats the layup by David Wolfe | 50-60 |
| 00:10 | Syracuse | Richard Willett tips it home | 50-62 |
| 00:04 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell's dunk attempt is rejected by Ryan Dean | 50-62 |
| 00:02 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell tips it but misses | 50-62 |
| 00:00 | Syracuse | Charles Alexander gets the rebound | 50-62 |