| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fresh) SG - Chad Sanders (fresh) SF - Jim Queen (fresh) PF - Ricky Williams (fresh) C - Daniel Patterson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Donald Black (fresh) SG - Richard Dillon (fresh) SF - Johnny Swasey (fresh) PF - William Davis (fresh) C - Loyd Ayer (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:46 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson buries a shot from the left block on a great pass from Chad Sanders | 2-0 |
| 19:25 | Northern Iowa | William Davis hits the front of the rim on the runner from the left block | 2-0 |
| 19:23 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to John Coffey | 2-0 |
| 19:00 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams is hacked by William Davis - foul #1 on William Davis, team foul #1 | 2-0 |
| 18:39 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders can't connect on a jumpshot from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Richard Dillon - foul #1 on Richard Dillon, team foul #2 | 2-0 |
| 18:39 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the 1st free throw | 3-0 |
| 18:39 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the 2nd free throw | 4-0 |
| 18:21 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey misses the shot from the left wing | 4-0 |
| 18:19 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders snags the defensive board | 4-0 |
| 17:58 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams can't connect on a turnaround from the baseline but he's hacked by Donald Black - foul #1 on Donald Black, team foul #3 | 4-0 |
| 17:58 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams misses the 1st free throw | 4-0 |
| 17:58 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams misses the 2nd free throw | 4-0 |
| 17:58 | Northern Iowa | Loyd Ayer pulls down the rebound | 4-0 |
| 17:41 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey clanks a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 4-0 |
| 17:40 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson gets the rebound | 4-0 |
| 17:34 | Michigan State | John Coffey hits a pull-up jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Chad Sanders | 6-0 |
| 17:24 | Northern Iowa | Loyd Ayer loses the dribble to John Coffey | 6-0 |
| 17:21 | Michigan State | Jim Queen dunks the ball on a great pass from John Coffey | 8-0 |
| 17:02 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey is hacked by Chad Sanders - foul #1 on Chad Sanders, team foul #1 | 8-0 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells (PF), Joseph Powers (C) Ricky Williams, Daniel Patterson | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 16:44 | Northern Iowa | 3 seconds is called on Donald Black | 8-0 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (SG) Jim Queen | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 16:15 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders lays it in on a nice dish by Richard Sorrells and he's fouled by William Davis - foul #2 on William Davis, team foul #4 | 10-0 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | David Springer (PF) William Davis | |
| 16:15 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the free throw | 11-0 |
| 15:55 | Northern Iowa | Loyd Ayer hits the front of the rim on the 3 from straight away | 11-0 |
| 15:53 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey grabs the offensive rebound | 11-0 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Thomas Poole (fresh) SF - Richard Sorrells (fresh) 1 ast. PF - Chad Sanders (fairly fresh) 5 pts. C - Joseph Powers (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Donald Black (fresh) SG - Richard Dillon (fairly fresh) SF - Johnny Swasey (fresh) PF - David Springer (fresh) C - Loyd Ayer (fresh) | |
| 15:33 | Northern Iowa | Loyd Ayer banks in the layup on a great pass from David Springer | 11-2 |
| 15:09 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 11-2 |
| 15:07 | Northern Iowa | David Springer snags the defensive board | 11-2 |
| 14:49 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey can't connect on a fadeaway from the right side but he's fouled by Richard Sorrells - foul #1 on Richard Sorrells, team foul #2 | 11-2 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jim Queen (SF), Ricky Williams (PF), Daniel Patterson (C) John Coffey, Chad Sanders, Joseph Powers | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish (PG), Richard Barksdale (SG), Justin Olsen (C) Donald Black, Richard Dillon, Loyd Ayer | |
| 14:49 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey makes the 1st free throw | 11-3 |
| 14:49 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey makes the 2nd free throw | 11-4 |
| 14:33 | Michigan State | Jim Queen can't connect on a fadeaway from the left wing but the foul's on Johnny Swasey - foul #1 on Johnny Swasey, team foul #5 | 11-4 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Glenn Horovitz (SF) Johnny Swasey | |
| 14:33 | Michigan State | Jim Queen misses the 1st free throw | 11-4 |
| 14:33 | Michigan State | Jim Queen misses the 2nd free throw | 11-4 |
| 14:33 | Northern Iowa | David Springer grabs the defensive rebound | 11-4 |
| 14:16 | Northern Iowa | David Springer misses long on a 3 from the left wing | 11-4 |
| 14:14 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells grabs the defensive rebound | 11-4 |
| 14:09 | Michigan State | Jim Queen misses badly on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 11-4 |
| 14:08 | Northern Iowa | Glenn Horovitz grabs the board | 11-4 |
| 13:42 | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish hits the front of the rim on the jumper from just outside the lane | 11-4 |
| 13:40 | Northern Iowa | David Springer tips it in | 11-6 |
| 13:22 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells scores on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 14-6 |
| 13:13 | Northern Iowa | Richard Barksdale scores on a 3pt shot from straight away on a nice dish by Chad Farrish | 14-9 |
| 13:00 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson hits the front of the rim on the jump hook from the right block but he's hacked by David Springer - foul #1 on David Springer, team foul #6 | 14-9 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Coffey (PG), Chad Sanders (SG) Thomas Poole, Richard Sorrells | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Donald Black (PG), Johnny Swasey (SF), Loyd Ayer (C) Richard Barksdale, Glenn Horovitz, David Springer | |
| 13:00 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson makes the 1st free throw | 15-9 |
| 13:00 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson makes the 2nd free throw | 16-9 |
| 12:47 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey is whistled for a carry | 16-9 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Richard Dillon (SG) Chad Farrish | |
| 12:25 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams makes the driving attempt from the right block set up by John Coffey and he's fouled by Donald Black - foul #2 on Donald Black, team foul #7 | 18-9 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Powers (C) Daniel Patterson | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish (PG) Donald Black | |
| 12:25 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams misses the free throw | 18-9 |
| 12:25 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers snags the offensive board | 18-9 |
| 12:09 | Michigan State | Jim Queen is hacked by Chad Farrish - foul #1 on Chad Farrish, team foul #8 | 18-9 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Sylvester Bakos (PF) Justin Olsen | |
| 12:09 | Michigan State | Jim Queen misses the 1st free throw | 18-9 |
| 12:09 | Northern Iowa | Loyd Ayer snags the defensive board | 18-9 |
| 11:59 | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish knocks in the fadeaway from the right side on a great pass from Johnny Swasey and he's hacked by John Coffey - foul #1 on John Coffey, team foul #3 | 18-11 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (SF), Daniel Patterson (C) Jim Queen, Ricky Williams | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 11:59 | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish makes the free throw | 18-12 |
| 11:35 | Michigan State | Sylvester Bakos picks off the pass by Joseph Powers | 18-12 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Chad Sanders (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Thomas Poole (fresh) PF - Joseph Powers (fresh) C - Daniel Patterson (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Chad Farrish (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Richard Dillon (fresh) SF - Johnny Swasey (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Sylvester Bakos (fresh) C - Loyd Ayer (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 11:07 | Northern Iowa | Richard Dillon's pass is intercepted by Joseph Powers | 18-12 |
| 10:44 | Michigan State | John Coffey buries a 3 from the left wing set up by Daniel Patterson | 21-12 |
| 10:27 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey hits a jumper from the right wing set up by Chad Farrish | 21-14 |
| 09:58 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers travels with the ball | 21-14 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells (SG), Jim Queen (SF), Ricky Williams (PF) Chad Sanders, Thomas Poole, Joseph Powers | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Justin Olsen (PG), Richard Barksdale (SG), David Springer (PF), Edward Allen (C) Chad Farrish, Richard Dillon, Sylvester Bakos, Loyd Ayer | |
| 09:35 | Northern Iowa | Richard Barksdale is called for the offensive foul - foul #1 on Richard Barksdale, team foul #9 | 21-14 |
| 09:23 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 21-14 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Glenn Horovitz (SF) Johnny Swasey | |
| 09:07 | Northern Iowa | Glenn Horovitz loses the dribble to Richard Sorrells | 21-14 |
| 08:42 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells drills a 3 from the left corner on a great pass from Ricky Williams | 24-14 |
| 08:19 | Northern Iowa | Justin Olsen makes the shot from the right wing | 24-16 |
| 07:57 | Michigan State | John Coffey can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 24-16 |
| 07:55 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Glenn Horovitz | 24-16 |
| 07:39 | Northern Iowa | Richard Barksdale misses long on a shot from the free throw line | 24-16 |
| 07:37 | Michigan State | Ricky Williams gets the rebound | 24-16 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Coffey (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Sorrells (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jim Queen (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Ricky Williams (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Daniel Patterson (tiring) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Justin Olsen (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Richard Barksdale (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Glenn Horovitz (fresh) 2 reb. PF - David Springer (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Edward Allen (fresh) | |
| 07:33 | Michigan State | Richard Sorrells misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 24-16 |
| 07:32 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Richard Barksdale | 24-16 |
| 07:26 | Northern Iowa | Richard Barksdale buries a shot from the right side on a great pass from Justin Olsen | 24-18 |
| 06:58 | Michigan State | John Coffey is fouled on the floor by Justin Olsen - foul #1 on Justin Olsen, team foul #10 | 24-18 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Chad Sanders (SG), Thomas Poole (SF), Joseph Powers (C) Richard Sorrells, Jim Queen, Daniel Patterson | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish (PG), Richard Dillon (SG), Johnny Swasey (SF), Sylvester Bakos (PF), Loyd Ayer (C) Justin Olsen, Richard Barksdale, Glenn Horovitz, David Springer, Edward Allen | |
| 06:58 | Michigan State | John Coffey makes the 1st free throw | 25-18 |
| 06:58 | Michigan State | John Coffey makes the 2nd free throw | 26-18 |
| 06:41 | Northern Iowa | Sylvester Bakos clanks a fadeaway from the baseline | 26-18 |
| 06:39 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders grabs the defensive rebound | 26-18 |
| 06:13 | Michigan State | Johnny Swasey steals it from Ricky Williams | 26-18 |
| 06:09 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Swasey banks in the layup | 26-20 |
| 05:47 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 26-20 |
| 05:45 | Michigan State | John Coffey snags the offensive board | 26-20 |
| 05:29 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole lays it in set up by John Coffey | 28-20 |
| 05:11 | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish misses badly on a driving attempt from close range | 28-20 |
| 05:09 | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish tips it in | 28-22 |
| 04:49 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers drills a driving attempt from the left block set up by Chad Sanders | 30-22 |
| 04:26 | Northern Iowa | Thomas Poole steals the ball from Chad Farrish | 30-22 |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders misses the easy layup but he's hacked by Chad Farrish - foul #2 on Chad Farrish, team foul #11 | 30-22 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jim Queen (SF), Richard Sorrells (PF), Daniel Patterson (C) John Coffey, Ricky Williams, Joseph Powers | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Justin Olsen (PG), Richard Barksdale (SG), David Springer (PF), Edward Allen (C) Chad Farrish, Richard Dillon, Sylvester Bakos, Loyd Ayer | |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the 1st free throw | 31-22 |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Chad Sanders makes the 2nd free throw | 32-22 |
| 03:50 | Northern Iowa | Richard Barksdale misses the shot from the right side but he's fouled by Chad Sanders - foul #2 on Chad Sanders, team foul #4 | 32-22 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Donald Black (PG), William Davis (PF) Justin Olsen, Edward Allen | |
| 03:50 | Northern Iowa | Richard Barksdale makes the 1st free throw | 32-23 |
| 03:50 | Northern Iowa | Richard Barksdale misses the 2nd free throw | 32-23 |
| 03:50 | Northern Iowa | David Springer snags the offensive board | 32-23 |
| 03:41 | Northern Iowa | Donald Black misses short on a 3 pointer from straight away | 32-23 |
| 03:40 | Northern Iowa | William Davis tips it but misses | 32-23 |
| 03:39 | Northern Iowa | David Springer tips it home | 32-25 |
| 03:10 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole is fouled on the floor by Donald Black - foul #3 on Donald Black, team foul #12 | 32-25 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Powers (PF) Chad Sanders | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish (PG), Justin Olsen (C) Donald Black, Johnny Swasey | |
| 03:10 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole misses the 1st free throw | 32-25 |
| 03:10 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole makes the 2nd free throw | 33-25 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Thomas Poole (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - Richard Sorrells (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jim Queen (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Joseph Powers (fresh) 2 pts. C - Daniel Patterson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Chad Farrish (fresh) 5 pts. SG - Richard Barksdale (fresh) 6 pts. SF - David Springer (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. PF - William Davis (fresh) C - Justin Olsen (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 02:47 | Northern Iowa | William Davis is fouled on the floor by Joseph Powers - foul #1 on Joseph Powers, team foul #5 | 33-25 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Coffey (PG) Thomas Poole | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Loyd Ayer (C) Justin Olsen | |
| 02:25 | Northern Iowa | Chad Farrish is whistled for a charge - foul #3 on Chad Farrish, team foul #13 | 33-25 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Justin Olsen (PG), Richard Dillon (SG) Chad Farrish, Richard Barksdale | |
| 01:57 | Michigan State | Justin Olsen picks off the pass by Richard Sorrells | 33-25 |
| 01:40 | Northern Iowa | Joseph Powers steps in front of the Loyd Ayer pass | 33-25 |
| 01:18 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers scores on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by John Coffey | 35-25 |
| 01:13 | Northern Iowa | The jump hook by David Springer is blocked by Jim Queen | 35-25 |
| 01:12 | Michigan State | John Coffey snags the defensive board | 35-25 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Jim Queen comes up short on the 3 from straight away | 35-25 |
| 00:43 | Northern Iowa | Loyd Ayer grabs the board | 35-25 |
| 00:31 | Northern Iowa | David Springer hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the right side | 35-25 |
| 00:30 | Northern Iowa | Loyd Ayer grabs the offensive board | 35-25 |
| 00:00 | Northern Iowa | William Davis hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 35-25 |