| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Thomas Simpson (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Edward Allen (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Miroslav Koski (fresh) 9 pts. PF - Matthew Rico (fresh) 13 pts. 2 reb. C - Todd Brunner (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Thomas Poole (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Rufus Borman (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Jon Prince (fresh) 8 pts. PF - Joseph Carver (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Daniel Patterson (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski inbounds the ball | 34-24 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a triangle offense and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 19:35 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico misses the easy layup | 34-24 |
| 19:34 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman grabs the board | 34-24 |
| 19:13 | Michigan State | Matthew Rico steals the ball from Thomas Poole | 34-24 |
| 18:58 | Northwestern | Thomas Poole picks off the pass by Edward Allen | 34-24 |
| 18:33 | Michigan State | Jon Prince misses short on a fadeaway from just outside the lane | 34-24 |
| 18:32 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner pulls down the rebound | 34-24 |
| 18:12 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico lays it up and in on a great pass from Thomas Simpson | 36-24 |
| 17:52 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson hits a fadeaway jumper from the left side set up by Joseph Carver | 36-26 |
| 17:49 | Northwestern | Thomas Poole steals the ball from Thomas Simpson in the backcourt | 36-26 |
| 17:26 | Michigan State | Jon Prince is fouled on the floor by Miroslav Koski - foul #1 on Miroslav Koski, team foul #1 | 36-26 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (PG), Robert Whitman (SG), Ante Zender (SF), Alvin Campbell (PF), Michael Morgan (C) Thomas Simpson, Edward Allen, Miroslav Koski, Matthew Rico, Todd Brunner | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 17:17 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman's pass is intercepted by Michael Morgan | 36-26 |
| 17:01 | Northwestern | Robert Whitman knocks in the fadeaway from the left wing on a great pass from Alvin Campbell | 38-26 |
| 16:32 | Michigan State | Alvin Campbell steals it from Daniel Patterson | 38-26 |
| 16:22 | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard misses the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 38-26 |
| 16:20 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Daniel Patterson | 38-26 |
| 15:51 | Michigan State | Jon Prince scores on a fadeaway in the paint set up by Thomas Poole | 38-28 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Richard Bernhard (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Robert Whitman (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Ante Zender (fresh) 4 reb. 3 pf. PF - Alvin Campbell (fresh) C - Michael Morgan (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Thomas Poole (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Rufus Borman (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Jon Prince (fairly fresh) 10 pts. PF - Joseph Carver (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Daniel Patterson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 15:34 | Northwestern | Robert Whitman is whistled for traveling | 38-28 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson (PG), Matthew Rico (PF), Todd Brunner (C) Robert Whitman, Alvin Campbell, Michael Morgan | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Paul Hicks (PG), Larry Williams (SG), Jerry Rodberg (SF), Joseph Powers (C) Thomas Poole, Rufus Borman, Jon Prince, Daniel Patterson | |
| 15:14 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver misses the shot from close range but he's fouled by Ante Zender - foul #4 on Ante Zender, team foul #2 | 38-28 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Miroslav Koski (SF) Richard Bernhard, Ante Zender | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 15:14 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver misses the 1st free throw | 38-28 |
| 15:14 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver makes the 2nd free throw | 38-29 |
| 14:55 | Northwestern | Jerry Rodberg blocks the short jumper by Todd Brunner | 38-29 |
| 14:54 | Michigan State | Jerry Rodberg snags the defensive board | 38-29 |
| 14:34 | Michigan State | Jerry Rodberg misses the easy layup | 38-29 |
| 14:33 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver can't tip it in | 38-29 |
| 14:32 | Northwestern | Edward Allen gets the rebound | 38-29 |
| 14:25 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner misses the lay-in but he's fouled by Joseph Carver - foul #2 on Joseph Carver, team foul #1 | 38-29 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG) Edward Allen | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (PG), Rufus Borman (SG) Paul Hicks, Larry Williams | |
| 14:25 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner makes the 1st free throw | 39-29 |
| 14:25 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner misses the 2nd free throw | 39-29 |
| 14:25 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver grabs the board | 39-29 |
| 14:04 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman misses badly on a shot in the paint but he's hacked by Richard Bernhard - foul #1 on Richard Bernhard, team foul #3 | 39-29 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG) Richard Bernhard | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson (C) Joseph Powers | |
| 14:04 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman makes the 1st free throw | 39-30 |
| 14:04 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman misses the 2nd free throw | 39-30 |
| 14:04 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico pulls down the rebound | 39-30 |
| 13:50 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson scores on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 41-30 |
| 13:31 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver hits a jumper near the basket on a nice dish by Thomas Poole | 41-32 |
| 13:13 | Northwestern | Edward Allen misses badly on a floater from the right wing | 41-32 |
| 13:11 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Daniel Patterson | 41-32 |
| 13:05 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole scores on a 3 from the left wing | 41-35 |
| 12:43 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski misses the 3 pointer from the left corner | 41-35 |
| 12:41 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico grabs the offensive rebound | 41-35 |
| 12:29 | Northwestern | Joseph Carver steps in front of the Edward Allen pass | 41-35 |
| 12:01 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole misses the 3 from the left wing | 41-35 |
| 12:00 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman tips it back up and in | 41-37 |
| 11:44 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico blows the layup | 41-37 |
| 11:42 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson grabs the board | 41-37 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Thomas Simpson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. SG - Edward Allen (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Miroslav Koski (fairly fresh) 9 pts. PF - Matthew Rico (fresh) 15 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Todd Brunner (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Thomas Poole (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Rufus Borman (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - Jerry Rodberg (fairly fresh) 3 reb. PF - Joseph Carver (tiring) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - Daniel Patterson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 11:15 | Michigan State | Miroslav Koski steals it from Joseph Carver | 41-37 |
| 11:07 | Northwestern | Edward Allen is fouled on the floor by Jerry Rodberg - foul #3 on Jerry Rodberg, team foul #2 | 41-37 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG), Ante Zender (SF), Alvin Campbell (C) Edward Allen, Miroslav Koski, Todd Brunner | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Paul Hicks (PG), Larry Williams (SG), Jon Prince (SF), James Christensen (PF), Joseph Powers (C) Thomas Poole, Rufus Borman, Jerry Rodberg, Joseph Carver, Daniel Patterson | |
| 10:50 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico is fouled on the floor by James Christensen - foul #1 on James Christensen, team foul #3 | 41-37 |
| 10:38 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico steps out of bounds on the baseline | 41-37 |
| 10:09 | Michigan State | James Christensen comes up short on the jumper from the left wing | 41-37 |
| 10:08 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers pulls down the offensive rebound | 41-37 |
| 09:48 | Michigan State | Paul Hicks comes up short on the jumper from just outside the lane but the foul's on Thomas Simpson - foul #1 on Thomas Simpson, team foul #4 | 41-37 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Miroslav Koski (SF), Todd Brunner (C) Thomas Simpson, Matthew Rico, Alvin Campbell | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rufus Borman (SG) Larry Williams | |
| 09:48 | Michigan State | Paul Hicks misses the 1st free throw | 41-37 |
| 09:48 | Michigan State | Paul Hicks makes the 2nd free throw | 41-38 |
| 09:35 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski clanks a fadeaway near the basket | 41-38 |
| 09:34 | Michigan State | James Christensen grabs the defensive rebound | 41-38 |
| 09:06 | Michigan State | James Christensen buries a fadeaway jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Rufus Borman | 41-40 |
| 08:52 | Northwestern | James Christensen is called for the reach on Edward Allen - foul #2 on James Christensen, team foul #4 | 41-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson (PG), Matthew Rico (PF), Alvin Campbell (C) Edward Allen, Miroslav Koski, Todd Brunner | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (PG), Daniel Patterson (C) Paul Hicks, Joseph Powers | |
| 08:41 | Northwestern | Ante Zender misses short on a runner in the paint but he's hacked by James Christensen - foul #3 on James Christensen, team foul #5 | 41-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Todd Brunner (C) Alvin Campbell | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 08:41 | Northwestern | Ante Zender makes the 1st free throw | 42-40 |
| 08:41 | Northwestern | Ante Zender makes the 2nd free throw | 43-40 |
| 08:15 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson is fouled on the floor by Todd Brunner - foul #3 on Todd Brunner, team foul #5 | 43-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Miroslav Koski (SF) Richard Bernhard, Todd Brunner | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 07:57 | Michigan State | Jon Prince misses badly on a jumper from the left side | 43-40 |
| 07:56 | Michigan State | Jon Prince grabs the offensive rebound | 43-40 |
| 07:43 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman makes the turnaround from close range | 43-42 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Thomas Simpson (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 ast. SG - Edward Allen (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Miroslav Koski (fresh) 9 pts. 2 stl. PF - Matthew Rico (fairly fresh) 15 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. C - Ante Zender (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Thomas Poole (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Rufus Borman (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jon Prince (fairly fresh) 10 pts. PF - James Christensen (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Daniel Patterson (fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 07:24 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico makes the jumper from the left wing | 45-42 |
| 07:20 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman makes the fadeaway from the left wing on a great pass from Jon Prince | 45-44 |
| 07:05 | Northwestern | Ante Zender misses the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 45-44 |
| 07:04 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to James Christensen | 45-44 |
| 06:57 | Michigan State | James Christensen misses the lay-in but he's hacked by Miroslav Koski - foul #2 on Miroslav Koski, team foul #6 | 45-44 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (SG), Todd Brunner (C) Edward Allen, Miroslav Koski | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Larry Williams (SG), Jerry Rodberg (SF) Rufus Borman, Jon Prince | |
| 06:57 | Michigan State | James Christensen makes the 1st free throw | 45-45 |
| 06:57 | Michigan State | James Christensen misses the 2nd free throw | 45-45 |
| 06:57 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico grabs the board | 45-45 |
| 06:44 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico misses the lay-in | 45-45 |
| 06:43 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner hits the follow up shot | 47-45 |
| 06:27 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson hits the finger roll on a great pass from Thomas Poole | 47-47 |
| 06:14 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner's pass is intercepted by James Christensen | 47-47 |
| 05:55 | Michigan State | James Christensen misses long on a jumpshot from the right wing | 47-47 |
| 05:53 | Northwestern | Ante Zender grabs the defensive rebound | 47-47 |
| 05:27 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico steps out of bounds on the sideline | 47-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edward Allen (SG), Miroslav Koski (SF) Richard Bernhard, Matthew Rico | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rufus Borman (SG), Jon Prince (SF), Joseph Carver (PF), Joseph Powers (C) Larry Williams, Jerry Rodberg, James Christensen, Daniel Patterson | |
| 05:00 | Michigan State | Todd Brunner steals the ball from Jon Prince | 47-47 |
| 04:45 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski hits a shot in the paint set up by Edward Allen | 49-47 |
| 04:35 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers scores on a runner from the left block set up by Thomas Poole | 49-49 |
| 04:14 | Northwestern | Thomas Poole picks off the pass by Ante Zender | 49-49 |
| 04:10 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman lays it up and in on a great pass from Thomas Poole | 49-51 |
| 03:53 | Northwestern | Edward Allen misses long on a jumper from the left side | 49-51 |
| 03:51 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver snags the defensive board | 49-51 |
| 03:25 | Michigan State | Joseph Powers throws a bad pass out of bounds | 49-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Bernhard (PG), Matthew Rico (PF) Thomas Simpson, Todd Brunner | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Paul Hicks (PG), Jerry Rodberg (SF), Daniel Patterson (C) Thomas Poole, Jon Prince, Joseph Powers | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Richard Bernhard (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Edward Allen (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SF - Miroslav Koski (fresh) 11 pts. 2 stl. PF - Matthew Rico (fresh) 17 pts. 5 reb. 2 stl. C - Ante Zender (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Paul Hicks (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Rufus Borman (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jerry Rodberg (fresh) 3 reb. 3 pf. PF - Joseph Carver (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. C - Daniel Patterson (fresh) 6 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 03:14 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski hits a shot from the baseline on a great pass from Edward Allen and he's hacked by Jerry Rodberg - foul #4 on Jerry Rodberg, team foul #6 | 51-51 |
| 03:14 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski makes the free throw | 52-51 |
| 02:47 | Michigan State | Paul Hicks loses the dribble to Richard Bernhard | 52-51 |
| 02:29 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico throws it down on a great pass from Miroslav Koski and he's hacked by Joseph Carver - foul #3 on Joseph Carver, team foul #7 | 54-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson (PG), Todd Brunner (C) Richard Bernhard, Miroslav Koski | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Larry Williams (SG) Rufus Borman | |
| 02:29 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico makes the free throw | 55-51 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a triangle offense and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 02:26 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 55-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Poole (PG), Rufus Borman (SG), Jon Prince (SF) Paul Hicks, Larry Williams, Jerry Rodberg | |
| 02:16 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson hits the finger roll set up by Thomas Poole | 55-53 |
| 01:59 | Northwestern | Ante Zender makes the fadeaway from just outside the lane and he's fouled by Jon Prince - foul #1 on Jon Prince, team foul #8 | 57-53 |
| 01:59 | Northwestern | Ante Zender makes the free throw | 58-53 |
| 01:47 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver misses short on a floater from the left wing | 58-53 |
| 01:46 | Northwestern | Thomas Simpson snags the defensive board | 58-53 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a triangle offense and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (0) | |
| 01:40 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico misses long on a runner in the paint | 58-53 |
| 01:39 | Michigan State | Joseph Carver pulls down the rebound | 58-53 |
| 01:35 | Michigan State | Thomas Poole misses short on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 58-53 |
| 01:33 | Michigan State | Daniel Patterson grabs the offensive rebound | 58-53 |
| 01:21 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman drills a 3 pointer from the right corner | 58-56 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a triangle offense and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 01:08 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico is called for the offensive foul - foul #1 on Matthew Rico, team foul #7 | 58-56 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski (SF) Ante Zender | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a triangle offense and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:40 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman is hacked by Edward Allen - foul #2 on Edward Allen, team foul #8 | 58-56 |
| 00:40 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman makes the 1st free throw | 58-57 |
| 00:40 | Michigan State | Rufus Borman misses the 2nd free throw | 58-57 |
| 00:40 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico snags the defensive board | 58-57 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:16 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner misses badly on a floater from the left wing | 58-57 |
| 00:15 | Northwestern | Matthew Rico misses the tip | 58-57 |
| 00:14 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski grabs the offensive rebound | 58-57 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski is fouled on the floor by Jon Prince - foul #2 on Jon Prince, team foul #9 | 58-57 |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski makes the 1st free throw | 59-57 |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | Miroslav Koski makes the 2nd free throw | 60-57 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 3-2 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:01 | Michigan State | Jon Prince can't connect on a 3 from straight away | 60-57 |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Todd Brunner gets the rebound | 60-57 |