| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Charles Frazier (fresh) SG - David Brock (fresh) SF - Trevor Mercer (fresh) PF - Gerald Moss (fresh) C - Gerald Woodie (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leonard Thompson (fresh) SG - Eric Ansley (fresh) SF - Walter Knowles (fresh) PF - Clarence Opitz (fresh) C - Jonathan Chappell (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a triangle offense and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| 19:45 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie knocks in the jumper from the free throw line on a nice dish by Charles Frazier | 2-0 |
| 19:31 | Michigan State | Gerald Woodie steps in front of the Eric Ansley pass | 2-0 |
| 19:15 | Northwestern | Clarence Opitz blocks the short jumper by Gerald Woodie | 2-0 |
| 19:14 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell snags the defensive board | 2-0 |
| 18:53 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 2-0 |
| 18:51 | Northwestern | Charles Frazier grabs the board | 2-0 |
| 18:34 | Northwestern | David Brock misses the 3pt shot from straight away | 2-0 |
| 18:33 | Northwestern | Gerald Moss tips it home | 4-0 |
| 18:12 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles hits the front of the rim on the shot near the basket but the foul's on David Brock - foul #1 on David Brock, team foul #1 | 4-0 |
| 18:12 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles makes the 1st free throw | 4-1 |
| 18:12 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles makes the 2nd free throw | 4-2 |
| 17:52 | Northwestern | Charles Frazier clanks a shot from the right side | 4-2 |
| 17:51 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles grabs the board | 4-2 |
| 17:46 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz is wide open but clanks a 3 from the left corner | 4-2 |
| 17:45 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Trevor Mercer | 4-2 |
| 17:29 | Northwestern | David Brock is fouled on the floor by Clarence Opitz - foul #1 on Clarence Opitz, team foul #1 | 4-2 |
| 17:16 | Northwestern | Walter Knowles steps in front of the Charles Frazier pass | 4-2 |
| 17:12 | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson misses the lay-in | 4-2 |
| 17:11 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer gets the rebound | 4-2 |
| 16:57 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer can't finish the layup | 4-2 |
| 16:55 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles grabs the defensive rebound | 4-2 |
| 16:33 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles is hacked by Trevor Mercer - foul #1 on Trevor Mercer, team foul #2 | 4-2 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson (SF), Patrick Weissman (PF), Jerry Poch (C) Walter Knowles, Clarence Opitz, Jonathan Chappell | |
| 16:21 | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson misses badly on a fadeaway in the paint | 4-2 |
| 16:20 | Northwestern | Gerald Moss snags the defensive board | 4-2 |
| 16:01 | Northwestern | David Brock is whistled for a carry | 4-2 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Glass (SG) Eric Ansley | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Charles Frazier (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - David Brock (fairly fresh) SF - Trevor Mercer (fairly fresh) 2 reb. PF - Gerald Moss (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Gerald Woodie (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leonard Thompson (fairly fresh) SG - Michael Glass (fresh) SF - Patrick Wilkinson (fresh) PF - Patrick Weissman (fresh) C - Jerry Poch (fresh) | |
| 15:34 | Michigan State | Gerald Moss is called for the reach on Michael Glass - foul #1 on Gerald Moss, team foul #3 | 4-2 |
| 15:20 | Michigan State | Michael Glass misses the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 4-2 |
| 15:19 | Michigan State | Michael Glass gets the offensive rebound | 4-2 |
| 15:00 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson hits a fadeaway in the paint set up by Leonard Thompson and he's hacked by David Brock - foul #2 on David Brock, team foul #4 | 4-4 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Connery (SG), Raymond Hill (PF), Frankie Bock (C) David Brock, Gerald Moss, Gerald Woodie | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Walter Knowles (SF), Clarence Opitz (PF), Jonathan Chappell (C) Michael Glass, Patrick Weissman, Jerry Poch | |
| 15:00 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson makes the free throw | 4-5 |
| 14:37 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer lays it in | 6-5 |
| 14:20 | Michigan State | Robert Connery is called for the reach on Patrick Wilkinson - foul #1 on Robert Connery, team foul #5 | 6-5 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Emmitt Holt (SF) Trevor Mercer | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Eric Ansley (SG) Patrick Wilkinson | |
| 14:08 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles misses the 3pt shot from the left wing | 6-5 |
| 14:06 | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson gets the offensive rebound | 6-5 |
| 13:51 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell can't connect on a floater from the left side but he's hacked by Frankie Bock - foul #1 on Frankie Bock, team foul #6 | 6-5 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Tim Kraker (PG), Gerald Woodie (C) Charles Frazier, Frankie Bock | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 13:51 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell makes the 1st free throw | 6-6 |
| 13:51 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell misses the 2nd free throw | 6-6 |
| 13:51 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie pulls down the rebound | 6-6 |
| 13:47 | Northwestern | Robert Connery hits a 3 from the right wing on a great pass from Tim Kraker | 9-6 |
| 13:27 | Michigan State | Gerald Woodie denies the turnaround by Clarence Opitz | 9-6 |
| 13:26 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles hits the follow up shot | 9-8 |
| 13:24 | Northwestern | Leonard Thompson is called for the reach on Tim Kraker in the backcourt - foul #1 on Leonard Thompson, team foul #2 | 9-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gerald Moss (PF) Raymond Hill | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson (SF), Patrick Weissman (PF) Walter Knowles, Clarence Opitz | |
| 12:57 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie is called for a moving pick - foul #1 on Gerald Woodie, team foul #7 | 9-8 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Charles Frazier (PG), Trevor Mercer (SF) Tim Kraker, Emmitt Holt | |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Kindel (PG) Leonard Thompson | |
| 12:39 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman knocks in the jumpshot from the left side set up by John Kindel and the foul's on Gerald Moss - foul #2 on Gerald Moss, team foul #8 | 9-10 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Raymond Hill (PF) Gerald Moss | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jerry Poch (C) Jonathan Chappell | |
| 12:39 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman makes the free throw | 9-11 |
| 12:21 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie misses long on a jumper near the basket but he's hacked by Patrick Wilkinson - foul #1 on Patrick Wilkinson, team foul #3 | 9-11 |
| 12:21 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie misses the 1st free throw | 9-11 |
| 12:21 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie misses the 2nd free throw | 9-11 |
| 12:21 | Michigan State | Jerry Poch grabs the defensive rebound | 9-11 |
| 12:00 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley is hacked by Gerald Woodie - foul #2 on Gerald Woodie, team foul #9 | 9-11 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Frankie Bock (C) Gerald Woodie | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson (PG), Walter Knowles (SF), Clarence Opitz (PF) John Kindel, Patrick Wilkinson, Patrick Weissman | |
| 12:00 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley misses the 1st free throw | 9-11 |
| 12:00 | Northwestern | Frankie Bock gets the rebound | 9-11 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Charles Frazier (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Robert Connery (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Trevor Mercer (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Raymond Hill (fresh) C - Frankie Bock (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leonard Thompson (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Eric Ansley (fresh) SF - Walter Knowles (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. PF - Clarence Opitz (fresh) C - Jerry Poch (fresh) | |
| 11:31 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer comes up short on the floater from the right side but he's fouled by Walter Knowles - foul #1 on Walter Knowles, team foul #4 | 9-11 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell (C) Jerry Poch | |
| 11:31 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer makes the 1st free throw | 10-11 |
| 11:31 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer makes the 2nd free throw | 11-11 |
| 11:15 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles misses badly on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 11-11 |
| 11:14 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz hits the follow up shot | 11-13 |
| 10:53 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer can't connect on a floater in the paint but he's hacked by Leonard Thompson - foul #2 on Leonard Thompson, team foul #5 | 11-13 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Tim Kraker (PG) Charles Frazier | |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Kindel (PG), Patrick Wilkinson (SG) Leonard Thompson, Eric Ansley | |
| 10:53 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer misses the 1st free throw | 11-13 |
| 10:53 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer misses the 2nd free throw | 11-13 |
| 10:53 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz pulls down the rebound | 11-13 |
| 10:31 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz is fouled on the floor by Raymond Hill - foul #1 on Raymond Hill, team foul #10 | 11-13 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Emmitt Holt (SF) Trevor Mercer | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 10:31 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz misses the 1st free throw | 11-13 |
| 10:31 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz misses the 2nd free throw | 11-13 |
| 10:31 | Northwestern | Frankie Bock pulls down the rebound | 11-13 |
| 10:17 | Northwestern | Tim Kraker clanks a jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by John Kindel - foul #1 on John Kindel, team foul #6 | 11-13 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Glass (SG), Patrick Weissman (PF) Walter Knowles, Clarence Opitz | |
| 10:17 | Northwestern | Tim Kraker makes the 1st free throw | 12-13 |
| 10:17 | Northwestern | Tim Kraker makes the 2nd free throw | 13-13 |
| 10:00 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson connects on the jumper from the left block | 13-15 |
| 09:39 | Northwestern | Robert Connery makes the 3pt shot from the right wing on a great pass from Tim Kraker | 16-15 |
| 09:35 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson can't connect on a jumpshot from the left wing but the foul's on Emmitt Holt - foul #1 on Emmitt Holt, team foul #11 | 16-15 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Charles Frazier (PG) Robert Connery | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Eric Ansley (SG), Jerry Poch (C) Michael Glass, Jonathan Chappell | |
| 09:35 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson misses the 1st free throw | 16-15 |
| 09:35 | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson makes the 2nd free throw | 16-16 |
| 09:11 | Northwestern | Frankie Bock can't finish the layup | 16-16 |
| 09:09 | Northwestern | Emmitt Holt gets the offensive rebound | 16-16 |
| 09:04 | Northwestern | John Kindel is called for the reach on Charles Frazier - foul #2 on John Kindel, team foul #7 | 16-16 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer (SF) Tim Kraker | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson (PG), Walter Knowles (SF), Clarence Opitz (PF) John Kindel, Patrick Wilkinson, Patrick Weissman | |
| 09:04 | Northwestern | Charles Frazier makes the 1st free throw | 17-16 |
| 09:04 | Northwestern | Charles Frazier makes the 2nd free throw | 18-16 |
| 08:51 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles is open and buries a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Jerry Poch | 18-18 |
| 08:29 | Northwestern | Charles Frazier throws a bad pass out of bounds | 18-18 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Connery (SG) Emmitt Holt | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell (C) Jerry Poch | |
| 08:12 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz knocks in the fadeaway near the basket on a nice dish by Walter Knowles | 18-20 |
| 07:55 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer can't connect on a floater from the left side | 18-20 |
| 07:53 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell snags the defensive board | 18-20 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Charles Frazier (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Connery (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - Trevor Mercer (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. PF - Raymond Hill (tiring) C - Frankie Bock (fairly fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leonard Thompson (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Eric Ansley (fresh) SF - Walter Knowles (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. PF - Clarence Opitz (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. C - Jonathan Chappell (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:33 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell travels with the ball | 18-20 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Tim Kraker (PG), Emmitt Holt (SF) Charles Frazier, Trevor Mercer | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson (SF), Patrick Weissman (PF) Walter Knowles, Clarence Opitz | |
| 07:04 | Northwestern | Frankie Bock loses the ball out of bounds | 18-20 |
| 06:49 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley makes the wide open 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by Patrick Weissman | 18-23 |
| 06:40 | Northwestern | Tim Kraker makes the pull-up jumper from the left side on a nice dish by Emmitt Holt | 20-23 |
| 06:27 | Michigan State | Frankie Bock is called for the reach on Eric Ansley - foul #2 on Frankie Bock, team foul #12 | 20-23 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Charles Frazier (PG), Trevor Mercer (SF), Gerald Woodie (C) Tim Kraker, Robert Connery, Frankie Bock | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Glass (SG), Jerry Poch (C) Leonard Thompson, Jonathan Chappell | |
| 06:27 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley makes the 1st free throw | 20-24 |
| 06:27 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley misses the 2nd free throw | 20-24 |
| 06:27 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Jerry Poch | 20-24 |
| 06:20 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman connects on the jumper from the left wing | 20-26 |
| 06:06 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer double dribbles | 20-26 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Kindel (PG), Walter Knowles (SF), Clarence Opitz (PF) Eric Ansley, Michael Glass, Patrick Weissman | |
| 05:47 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the right side | 20-26 |
| 05:45 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz pulls down the offensive rebound | 20-26 |
| 05:28 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles makes the fadeaway from the left side on a nice dish by John Kindel | 20-28 |
| 05:14 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie misses badly on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 20-28 |
| 05:13 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Walter Knowles | 20-28 |
| 04:58 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles is hacked by Emmitt Holt - foul #2 on Emmitt Holt, team foul #13 | 20-28 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Tim Kraker (SG) Emmitt Holt | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Glass (SG), Patrick Weissman (SF), Jonathan Chappell (C) John Kindel, Patrick Wilkinson, Jerry Poch | |
| 04:58 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles makes the 1st free throw | 20-29 |
| 04:58 | Michigan State | Walter Knowles misses the 2nd free throw | 20-29 |
| 04:58 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie gets the rebound | 20-29 |
| 04:45 | Northwestern | Tim Kraker misses long on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 20-29 |
| 04:44 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell pulls down the rebound | 20-29 |
| 04:28 | Michigan State | Trevor Mercer steals it from Patrick Weissman | 20-29 |
| 04:23 | Northwestern | Charles Frazier lays it up and in on a nice dish by Trevor Mercer | 22-29 |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz is hacked by Raymond Hill - foul #2 on Raymond Hill, team foul #14 | 22-29 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Connery (SG) Raymond Hill | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Eric Ansley (SG), Roy Hill (PF) Walter Knowles, Michael Glass | |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz makes the 1st free throw | 22-30 |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz misses the 2nd free throw | 22-30 |
| 04:09 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Gerald Woodie | 22-30 |
| 03:50 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer hits a jump hook from the right block set up by Charles Frazier | 24-30 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Charles Frazier (tiring) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Robert Connery (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - Tim Kraker (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. PF - Trevor Mercer (tiring) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Gerald Woodie (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Clarence Opitz (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. SG - Eric Ansley (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Patrick Weissman (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Roy Hill (fresh) C - Jonathan Chappell (fresh) 1 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:38 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz throws a bad pass out of bounds | 24-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Brock (SG), Emmitt Holt (SF), Gerald Moss (PF) Charles Frazier, Robert Connery, Trevor Mercer | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leonard Thompson (PG) Clarence Opitz | |
| 03:17 | Northwestern | Tim Kraker clanks a 3 from the left corner | 24-30 |
| 03:15 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Leonard Thompson | 24-30 |
| 03:11 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left block | 24-30 |
| 03:10 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman pulls down the offensive rebound | 24-30 |
| 02:50 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman misses long on a jumper from the right wing | 24-30 |
| 02:49 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley gets the offensive rebound | 24-30 |
| 02:34 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley is hacked by Emmitt Holt - foul #3 on Emmitt Holt, team foul #15 | 24-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer (SF) Emmitt Holt | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Walter Knowles (SF), Jerry Poch (C) Roy Hill, Jonathan Chappell | |
| 02:34 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley makes the 1st free throw | 24-31 |
| 02:34 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley makes the 2nd free throw | 24-32 |
| 02:21 | Northwestern | Eric Ansley steals the ball from Gerald Woodie | 24-32 |
| 02:13 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman is whistled for traveling | 24-32 |
| 01:58 | Northwestern | Trevor Mercer clanks a floater in the paint | 24-32 |
| 01:57 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman grabs the defensive rebound | 24-32 |
| 01:38 | Michigan State | Patrick Weissman clanks a jumpshot from the left wing | 24-32 |
| 01:37 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie pulls down the rebound | 24-32 |
| 01:26 | Northwestern | David Brock is fouled on the floor by Walter Knowles - foul #2 on Walter Knowles, team foul #8 | 24-32 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Charles Frazier (PG) Trevor Mercer | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz (PF) Patrick Weissman | |
| 01:26 | Northwestern | David Brock misses the 1st free throw | 24-32 |
| 01:26 | Michigan State | Jerry Poch grabs the board | 24-32 |
| 01:14 | Michigan State | Eric Ansley misses long on a 3 from the right corner | 24-32 |
| 01:13 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Walter Knowles | 24-32 |
| 01:07 | Michigan State | Gerald Woodie picks off the pass by Clarence Opitz | 24-32 |
| 00:51 | Northwestern | Gerald Woodie buries a jump hook near the basket | 26-32 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Jerry Poch hits the front of the rim on the turnaround from the left block but he's hacked by Gerald Woodie - foul #3 on Gerald Woodie, team foul #16 | 26-32 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Frankie Bock (C) Gerald Woodie | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Patrick Wilkinson (SG), Patrick Weissman (SF) Eric Ansley, Walter Knowles | |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Jerry Poch makes the 1st free throw | 26-33 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Jerry Poch makes the 2nd free throw | 26-34 |
| 00:38 | Northwestern | Jerry Poch is called for the reach on Charles Frazier - foul #1 on Jerry Poch, team foul #9 | 26-34 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell (C) Jerry Poch | |
| 00:38 | Northwestern | Charles Frazier misses the 1st free throw | 26-34 |
| 00:38 | Michigan State | Jonathan Chappell pulls down the rebound | 26-34 |
| 00:28 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz misses long on a runner from close range | 26-34 |
| 00:26 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz tips it but misses | 26-34 |
| 00:24 | Northwestern | David Brock grabs the defensive rebound | 26-34 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | David Brock is fouled on the floor by Patrick Wilkinson - foul #2 on Patrick Wilkinson, team foul #10 | 26-34 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | David Brock makes the 1st free throw | 27-34 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | David Brock misses the 2nd free throw | 27-34 |
| 00:20 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz grabs the defensive rebound | 27-34 |
| 00:02 | Michigan State | Clarence Opitz loses the dribble to Charles Frazier | 27-34 |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Charles Frazier misses short on a fullcourt shot | 27-34 |