| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Darrell Pate (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Martin Thompson (fresh) 7 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Bill Allen (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. PF - Richard Ranallo (fresh) C - Cecil Oliveras (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - John Brown (fresh) 5 pts. 5 ast. SG - Ed Kuklenski (fresh) SF - John Rines (fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. PF - Steven Mayer (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. C - Raymond Price (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | John Rines inbounds the ball | 28-29 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 19:37 | Northwestern | Cecil Oliveras is called for the reach on John Rines - foul #2 on Cecil Oliveras, team foul #1 | 28-29 |
| 19:22 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer travels with the ball | 28-29 |
| 18:53 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras's pass is intercepted by Steven Mayer | 28-29 |
| 18:37 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer comes up short on the jumper from the baseline | 28-29 |
| 18:36 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski gets the offensive rebound | 28-29 |
| 18:29 | Northwestern | John Brown misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the free throw line but the foul's on Darrell Pate - foul #2 on Darrell Pate, team foul #2 | 28-29 |
| 18:29 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 1st free throw | 28-30 |
| 18:29 | Northwestern | John Brown misses the 2nd free throw | 28-30 |
| 18:29 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo gets the rebound | 28-30 |
| 18:00 | Michigan State | Steven Mayer steps in front of the Martin Thompson pass | 28-30 |
| 17:41 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right wing but he's hacked by Martin Thompson - foul #2 on Martin Thompson, team foul #3 | 28-30 |
| 17:41 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski misses the 1st free throw | 28-30 |
| 17:41 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski makes the 2nd free throw | 28-31 |
| 17:41 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski misses the 3rd free throw | 28-31 |
| 17:41 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras gets the rebound | 28-31 |
| 17:24 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3 pointer from straight away | 28-31 |
| 17:23 | Northwestern | John Brown gets the rebound | 28-31 |
| 16:54 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer can't finish the layup but he's fouled by Darrell Pate - foul #3 on Darrell Pate, team foul #4 | 28-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Arnold Johnson (SF) Darrell Pate | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 16:54 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer makes the 1st free throw | 28-32 |
| 16:54 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer makes the 2nd free throw | 28-33 |
| 16:33 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras hits the front of the rim on the runner in the paint | 28-33 |
| 16:31 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer grabs the board | 28-33 |
| 16:18 | Northwestern | Richard Ranallo is called for the reach on Steven Mayer - foul #3 on Richard Ranallo, team foul #5 | 28-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Owen Crawford (SG), David Barba (PF), Kermit Hedlund (C) Bill Allen, Richard Ranallo, Cecil Oliveras | |
| Subs | Northwestern | George Hutchcraft (PF), James Hawkins (C) Steven Mayer, Raymond Price | |
| 16:05 | Northwestern | John Brown knocks in the pull-up jumper from the left wing | 28-35 |
| 15:36 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund's fadeaway is rejected by James Hawkins | 28-35 |
| 15:35 | Northwestern | George Hutchcraft gets the rebound | 28-35 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Martin Thompson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Owen Crawford (fresh) SF - Arnold Johnson (fresh) 3 pts. PF - David Barba (fresh) C - Kermit Hedlund (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - John Brown (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 5 ast. SG - Ed Kuklenski (fairly fresh) 1 pts. SF - John Rines (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. PF - George Hutchcraft (fresh) 4 pts. C - James Hawkins (fresh) | |
| 15:29 | Northwestern | George Hutchcraft banks in the layup set up by Ed Kuklenski | 28-37 |
| 15:09 | Michigan State | Arnold Johnson double dribbles | 28-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Darrell Pate (PG), Bill Allen (SG), Cecil Oliveras (C) Martin Thompson, Owen Crawford, David Barba | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels (PG), Steven Mayer (PF), Raymond Price (C) John Brown, George Hutchcraft, James Hawkins | |
| 14:49 | Northwestern | John Rines loses the dribble to Arnold Johnson | 28-37 |
| 14:25 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras hits a shot from the left side set up by Bill Allen | 30-37 |
| 14:04 | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels is hacked by Darrell Pate - foul #4 on Darrell Pate, team foul #6 | 30-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Martin Thompson (PG), Richard Ranallo (PF) Darrell Pate, Kermit Hedlund | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 13:43 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer scores on a floater from the left block set up by Raymond Price | 30-39 |
| 13:17 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras misses the jump hook near the basket | 30-39 |
| 13:15 | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels grabs the board | 30-39 |
| 12:53 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski buries a 3pt attempt from the right wing set up by Darryl Daniels | 30-42 |
| 12:31 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson's pass over a doubleteam is off the mark and out of bounds | 30-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Johnson (PG), Owen Crawford (SF), Kermit Hedlund (C) Bill Allen, Arnold Johnson, Cecil Oliveras | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Brown (PG), Malcolm Archer (SG), Leland Bopp (SF), George Hutchcraft (PF), James Hawkins (C) Darryl Daniels, Ed Kuklenski, John Rines, Steven Mayer, Raymond Price | |
| 12:22 | Northwestern | John Brown clanks a 3 from the left wing | 30-42 |
| 12:20 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Kermit Hedlund | 30-42 |
| 12:01 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo hits the finger roll set up by John Johnson | 32-42 |
| 11:35 | Northwestern | John Brown buries a floater from the left side on a great pass from George Hutchcraft | 32-44 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - John Johnson (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Martin Thompson (fresh) 7 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Owen Crawford (fresh) PF - Richard Ranallo (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. C - Kermit Hedlund (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - John Brown (fresh) 10 pts. 5 ast. SG - Malcolm Archer (fresh) SF - Leland Bopp (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. PF - George Hutchcraft (fresh) 6 pts. C - James Hawkins (fresh) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 11:14 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson can't connect on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 32-44 |
| 11:13 | Northwestern | John Brown grabs the board | 32-44 |
| 11:02 | Northwestern | John Brown can't connect on a floater from the right wing | 32-44 |
| 11:01 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund grabs the board | 32-44 |
| 10:36 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo hits the front of the rim on the runner from the right block but he's fouled by Malcolm Archer - foul #2 on Malcolm Archer, team foul #1 | 32-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bill Allen (SG), Arnold Johnson (SF), Cecil Oliveras (C) Martin Thompson, Owen Crawford, Kermit Hedlund | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski (SG), Steven Mayer (PF), Raymond Price (C) Malcolm Archer, George Hutchcraft, James Hawkins | |
| 10:36 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo makes the 1st free throw | 33-44 |
| 10:36 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo makes the 2nd free throw | 34-44 |
| 10:07 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp misses the lay-in but the foul's on Richard Ranallo - foul #4 on Richard Ranallo, team foul #7 | 34-44 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund (PF) Richard Ranallo | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 10:07 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp makes the 1st free throw | 34-45 |
| 10:07 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp makes the 2nd free throw | 34-46 |
| 09:54 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund is whistled for a carry | 34-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Rines (SF) Leland Bopp | |
| 09:43 | Northwestern | John Brown buries a jumper in the paint on a nice dish by Ed Kuklenski | 34-48 |
| 09:15 | Michigan State | Raymond Price blocks the short jumper by Arnold Johnson | 34-48 |
| 09:14 | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski grabs the board | 34-48 |
| 08:59 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer misses the dunk | 34-48 |
| 08:57 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Steven Mayer | 34-48 |
| 08:45 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the jumpshot from the left wing set up by Raymond Price | 34-50 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 08:38 | Michigan State | Raymond Price swats the dunk try by Bill Allen | 34-50 |
| 08:36 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund hits the follow up shot | 36-50 |
| 08:17 | Northwestern | John Brown travels with the ball | 36-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Martin Thompson (PG), Owen Crawford (SG) John Johnson, Arnold Johnson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels (PG) John Brown | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 07:54 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 36-50 |
| 07:52 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Raymond Price | 36-50 |
| 07:30 | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels misses the lay-in | 36-50 |
| 07:29 | Michigan State | Bill Allen pulls down the rebound | 36-50 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Martin Thompson (fresh) 7 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Owen Crawford (fresh) SF - Bill Allen (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. PF - Kermit Hedlund (fresh) 6 pts. 6 reb. C - Cecil Oliveras (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Darryl Daniels (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Ed Kuklenski (tiring) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - John Rines (tiring) 3 pts. 3 pf. PF - Steven Mayer (fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. 3 stl. C - Raymond Price (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 07:24 | Michigan State | Bill Allen is hacked by Steven Mayer - foul #3 on Steven Mayer, team foul #2 | 36-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Darrell Pate (PG), Richard Ranallo (PF) Owen Crawford, Cecil Oliveras | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Malcolm Archer (SG), Leland Bopp (SF) Ed Kuklenski, John Rines | |
| 07:19 | Michigan State | Bill Allen banks in the layup on a nice dish by Darrell Pate | 38-50 |
| 07:06 | Northwestern | Malcolm Archer can't finish the layup but he's fouled by Martin Thompson - foul #3 on Martin Thompson, team foul #8 | 38-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Arnold Johnson (SF) Bill Allen | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Brown (PG), George Hutchcraft (PF), James Hawkins (C) Darryl Daniels, Steven Mayer, Raymond Price | |
| 07:06 | Northwestern | Malcolm Archer makes the 1st free throw | 38-51 |
| 07:06 | Northwestern | Malcolm Archer makes the 2nd free throw | 38-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 06:58 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the left side but he's fouled by Malcolm Archer - foul #3 on Malcolm Archer, team foul #3 | 38-52 |
| 06:58 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate makes the 1st free throw | 39-52 |
| 06:58 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate makes the 2nd free throw | 40-52 |
| 06:40 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp can't connect on a runner from the right block | 40-52 |
| 06:39 | Northwestern | George Hutchcraft tips it but misses | 40-52 |
| 06:37 | Northwestern | James Hawkins gets the offensive rebound | 40-52 |
| 06:21 | Northwestern | James Hawkins hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the baseline | 40-52 |
| 06:19 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo snags the defensive board | 40-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 05:57 | Michigan State | John Brown is called for the reach on Darrell Pate - foul #1 on John Brown, team foul #4 | 40-52 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bill Allen (SF), Cecil Oliveras (C) Arnold Johnson, Kermit Hedlund | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Steven Mayer (PF), Raymond Price (C) George Hutchcraft, James Hawkins | |
| 05:34 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras misses the 3 from the right corner | 40-52 |
| 05:33 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo can't tip it in | 40-52 |
| 05:31 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp grabs the board | 40-52 |
| 05:15 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp misses short on a floater from the left side | 40-52 |
| 05:13 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Darrell Pate | 40-52 |
| 05:00 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo loses the ball out of bounds | 40-52 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ed Kuklenski (SG), John Rines (SF) Malcolm Archer, Leland Bopp | |
| 04:44 | Northwestern | Raymond Price misses long on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 40-52 |
| 04:42 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate pulls down the rebound | 40-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 04:23 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson knocks in the 3pt jumper from straight away on a nice dish by Richard Ranallo | 43-52 |
| 04:04 | Northwestern | John Brown hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 43-52 |
| 04:03 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras snags the defensive board | 43-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| 03:46 | Michigan State | Bill Allen's layup is rejected by Steven Mayer | 43-52 |
| 03:45 | Michigan State | Bill Allen can't tip it in | 43-52 |
| 03:43 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Raymond Price | 43-52 |
| 03:28 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer misses the easy layup | 43-52 |
| 03:27 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras gets the rebound | 43-52 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Darrell Pate (fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. 4 pf. SG - Martin Thompson (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SF - Bill Allen (fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. PF - Richard Ranallo (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 4 pf. C - Cecil Oliveras (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - John Brown (fairly fresh) 14 pts. 5 ast. SG - Ed Kuklenski (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SF - John Rines (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. PF - Steven Mayer (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. 3 stl. 3 pf. C - Raymond Price (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| 03:16 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson splits the doubleteam and buries a 3pt attempt from straight away on a great pass from Darrell Pate | 46-52 |
| 02:58 | Northwestern | John Rines scores on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by John Brown | 46-54 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+4) | |
| 02:30 | Michigan State | Steven Mayer is called for the reach on Richard Ranallo - foul #4 on Steven Mayer, team foul #5 | 46-54 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Owen Crawford (SG), Arnold Johnson (SF), David Barba (PF), Kermit Hedlund (C) Martin Thompson, Bill Allen, Richard Ranallo, Cecil Oliveras | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels (PG), Leland Bopp (SF), George Hutchcraft (PF), James Hawkins (C) John Brown, John Rines, Steven Mayer, Raymond Price | |
| 02:23 | Michigan State | Owen Crawford misses the 3pt attempt from straight away | 46-54 |
| 02:21 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund tips it in | 48-54 |
| 02:21 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 48-54 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bill Allen (SG) Owen Crawford | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Rines (SF), Steven Mayer (PF), Raymond Price (C) Leland Bopp, George Hutchcraft, James Hawkins | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 01:52 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer comes up short on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane but he's fouled by David Barba - foul #2 on David Barba, team foul #9 | 48-54 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Martin Thompson (SG), Richard Ranallo (PF), Cecil Oliveras (C) Arnold Johnson, David Barba, Kermit Hedlund | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Brown (PG) Darryl Daniels | |
| 01:52 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer makes the 1st free throw | 48-55 |
| 01:52 | Northwestern | Steven Mayer makes the 2nd free throw | 48-56 |
| 01:40 | Michigan State | Bill Allen drills a jumper from close range set up by Martin Thompson | 50-56 |
| 01:14 | Northwestern | John Brown can't connect on a floater from just outside the lane | 50-56 |
| 01:12 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Richard Ranallo | 50-56 |
| 00:51 | Michigan State | Richard Ranallo buries a floater from close range | 52-56 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:27 | Northwestern | John Rines hits a jumper from just outside the lane on a nice dish by John Brown | 52-58 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-3) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:20 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate throws a bad pass out of bounds | 52-58 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:18 | Northwestern | John Brown is hacked by Darrell Pate in the backcourt - foul #5 on Darrell Pate, team foul #10 | 52-58 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Arnold Johnson (SF) Darrell Pate | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Malcolm Archer (SG), Leland Bopp (SF) Ed Kuklenski, John Rines | |
| 00:18 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 1st free throw | 52-59 |
| 00:18 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 52-60 |
| 00:13 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson comes up short on the 3 from the right wing | 52-60 |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | Raymond Price snags the defensive board | 52-60 |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 52-60 |
| 00:09 | Northwestern | John Brown is hacked by Martin Thompson in the backcourt - foul #4 on Martin Thompson, team foul #11 | 52-60 |
| 00:09 | Northwestern | John Brown misses the 1st free throw | 52-60 |
| 00:09 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 52-61 |
| 00:04 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson comes up short on the 3pt jumper from straight away | 52-61 |
| 00:02 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras grabs the offensive board | 52-61 |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | The clock runs out | 52-61 |