| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Russell Towne (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - John Witherell (fresh) 14 pts. SF - James Johanson (fresh) 3 pts. PF - John Mikula (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - Kwakou Albarazi (fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Jerry Nyquist (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Geoffrey Mancha (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Dennis Watts (fresh) PF - Charles Bell (fresh) 4 pts. 3 stl. C - Johnny Heap (fresh) 8 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | James Johanson inbounds the ball | 37-27 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 19:44 | Michigan State | Russell Towne misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 37-27 |
| 19:43 | Michigan State | John Mikula pulls down the offensive rebound | 37-27 |
| 19:27 | Michigan State | James Johanson can't throw it down | 37-27 |
| 19:25 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Heap grabs the defensive rebound | 37-27 |
| 19:13 | Northern Iowa | Jerry Nyquist misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 37-27 |
| 19:11 | Michigan State | Kwakou Albarazi grabs the defensive rebound | 37-27 |
| 19:07 | Michigan State | Russell Towne drills a 3pt shot from the right wing on a great pass from John Witherell | 40-27 |
| 18:44 | Northern Iowa | Geoffrey Mancha is hacked by John Witherell - foul #1 on John Witherell, team foul #1 | 40-27 |
| 18:20 | Northern Iowa | Dennis Watts knocks in the driving attempt near the basket on a nice dish by Jerry Nyquist and he's fouled by James Johanson - foul #3 on James Johanson, team foul #2 | 40-29 |
| 18:20 | Northern Iowa | Dennis Watts makes the free throw | 40-30 |
| 18:01 | Michigan State | John Witherell throws a bad pass out of bounds | 40-30 |
| 17:47 | Northern Iowa | Geoffrey Mancha misses badly on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 40-30 |
| 17:45 | Michigan State | Kwakou Albarazi grabs the defensive rebound | 40-30 |
| 17:31 | Michigan State | James Johanson connects on the jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Russell Towne | 42-30 |
| 17:14 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell connects on the shot from the baseline on a great pass from Geoffrey Mancha | 42-32 |
| 17:01 | Michigan State | Johnny Heap denies the turnaround by James Johanson | 42-32 |
| 17:00 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to Charles Bell | 42-32 |
| 16:38 | Northern Iowa | Jerry Nyquist misses short on a 3 pointer from the right corner | 42-32 |
| 16:37 | Michigan State | James Johanson grabs the defensive rebound | 42-32 |
| 16:32 | Michigan State | Russell Towne makes the 3pt shot from straight away set up by John Witherell | 45-32 |
| 16:08 | Northern Iowa | The refs have stopped play. Geoffrey Mancha is in a lot of pain and is being checked by the trainers. He's holding his ankle. He appears to have just been shaken up and should be able to return. | 45-32 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randy Sharp (PG), Boris Gorzynski (SG), Michael Carlos (SF), William Callahan (PF), Stephen Harrold (C) Russell Towne, John Witherell, James Johanson, John Mikula, Kwakou Albarazi | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Kevin Prince (PG), Nathan Exley (SG), Paul Aragon (SF), Bobby Hartford (PF), George Edwards (C) Jerry Nyquist, Geoffrey Mancha, Dennis Watts, Charles Bell, Johnny Heap | |
| 16:03 | Northern Iowa | Kevin Prince hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 45-32 |
| 16:01 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold grabs the defensive rebound | 45-32 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Randy Sharp (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Boris Gorzynski (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Michael Carlos (fresh) 4 pts. PF - William Callahan (fresh) 2 reb. C - Stephen Harrold (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Kevin Prince (fresh) SG - Nathan Exley (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Paul Aragon (fresh) 8 pts. PF - Bobby Hartford (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - George Edwards (fresh) | |
| 15:49 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold misses the fadeaway from just outside the lane | 45-32 |
| 15:48 | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford gets the rebound | 45-32 |
| 15:29 | Northern Iowa | Paul Aragon scores on a 3 pointer from straight away on a nice dish by Nathan Exley | 45-35 |
| 15:12 | Michigan State | William Callahan hits a jump hook from close range on a nice dish by Stephen Harrold and he's fouled by George Edwards - foul #2 on George Edwards, team foul #1 | 47-35 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Russell Towne (PG), John Witherell (SG) Randy Sharp, Boris Gorzynski | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 15:12 | Michigan State | William Callahan makes the free throw | 48-35 |
| 14:55 | Northern Iowa | Nathan Exley misses badly on a 3pt attempt from straight away but he's fouled by John Witherell - foul #2 on John Witherell, team foul #3 | 48-35 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kwakou Albarazi (C) Stephen Harrold | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 14:55 | Northern Iowa | Nathan Exley makes the 1st free throw | 48-36 |
| 14:55 | Northern Iowa | Nathan Exley makes the 2nd free throw | 48-37 |
| 14:55 | Northern Iowa | Nathan Exley makes the 3rd free throw | 48-38 |
| 14:41 | Michigan State | John Witherell connects on the jumper from the left side on a nice dish by Russell Towne | 50-38 |
| 14:22 | Northern Iowa | John Witherell picks off the pass by Nathan Exley | 50-38 |
| 14:18 | Michigan State | Russell Towne misses the dunk attempt | 50-38 |
| 14:17 | Michigan State | Kwakou Albarazi snags the offensive board | 50-38 |
| 14:03 | Michigan State | Russell Towne misses the 3 from straight away | 50-38 |
| 14:02 | Northern Iowa | The rebound goes to George Edwards | 50-38 |
| 13:58 | Northern Iowa | Paul Aragon can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 50-38 |
| 13:57 | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford gets the offensive rebound | 50-38 |
| 13:40 | Northern Iowa | Nathan Exley is denied on a layup by Kwakou Albarazi | 50-38 |
| 13:38 | Northern Iowa | George Edwards hits the follow up shot | 50-40 |
| 13:21 | Michigan State | William Callahan is called for a moving pick - foul #1 on William Callahan, team foul #4 | 50-40 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Johanson (SF), John Mikula (PF) Michael Carlos, William Callahan | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Jerry Nyquist (PG), Dennis Watts (SF), Charles Bell (PF), Johnny Heap (C) Kevin Prince, Nathan Exley, Bobby Hartford, George Edwards | |
| 12:55 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell blows the layup but he's hacked by Russell Towne - foul #3 on Russell Towne, team foul #5 | 50-40 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold (C) Kwakou Albarazi | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 12:55 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell makes the 1st free throw | 50-41 |
| 12:55 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell makes the 2nd free throw | 50-42 |
| 12:36 | Michigan State | James Johanson banks in the layup on a nice dish by John Witherell and he's hacked by Dennis Watts - foul #3 on Dennis Watts, team foul #2 | 52-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford (SG) Paul Aragon | |
| 12:36 | Michigan State | James Johanson makes the free throw | 53-42 |
| 12:13 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Heap misses badly on a fadeaway from the free throw line but the foul's on John Mikula - foul #3 on John Mikula, team foul #6 | 53-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Boris Gorzynski (SG) John Witherell | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 12:13 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Heap misses the 1st free throw | 53-42 |
| 12:13 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Heap misses the 2nd free throw | 53-42 |
| 12:13 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold grabs the defensive rebound | 53-42 |
| 11:54 | Michigan State | Russell Towne hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 53-42 |
| 11:53 | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford pulls down the rebound | 53-42 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Russell Towne (fresh) 11 pts. 4 ast. 3 pf. SG - Boris Gorzynski (fresh) 1 ast. SF - James Johanson (fresh) 8 pts. 3 pf. PF - John Mikula (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. 2 stl. 3 pf. C - Stephen Harrold (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Jerry Nyquist (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Bobby Hartford (fresh) 2 pts. 7 reb. SF - Dennis Watts (fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. PF - Charles Bell (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. 3 stl. C - Johnny Heap (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 11:47 | Northern Iowa | Jerry Nyquist scores on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 53-45 |
| 11:35 | Michigan State | John Mikula makes the driving attempt from the baseline set up by Boris Gorzynski | 55-45 |
| 11:13 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell is hacked by John Mikula - foul #4 on John Mikula, team foul #7 | 55-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randy Sharp (PG), John Witherell (SG), Michael Carlos (SF), William Callahan (PF), Kwakou Albarazi (C) Russell Towne, Boris Gorzynski, James Johanson, John Mikula, Stephen Harrold | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Paul Aragon (PG), Nathan Exley (SG) Jerry Nyquist, Johnny Heap | |
| 11:13 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell makes the 1st free throw | 55-46 |
| 11:13 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell makes the 2nd free throw | 55-47 |
| 10:55 | Michigan State | William Callahan misses badly on a driving attempt in the lane | 55-47 |
| 10:54 | Northern Iowa | Paul Aragon pulls down the rebound | 55-47 |
| 10:33 | Northern Iowa | William Callahan steals it from Nathan Exley | 55-47 |
| 10:17 | Michigan State | Michael Carlos hits a floater from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Randy Sharp and he's fouled by Charles Bell - foul #3 on Charles Bell, team foul #3 | 57-47 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Russell Towne (PG) Randy Sharp | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Kevin Prince (PG), George Edwards (PF), Roy Posada (C) Dennis Watts, Charles Bell, Bobby Hartford | |
| 10:17 | Michigan State | Michael Carlos misses the free throw | 57-47 |
| 10:17 | Northern Iowa | George Edwards grabs the defensive rebound | 57-47 |
| 10:06 | Northern Iowa | Nathan Exley drills a shot from the free throw line | 57-49 |
| 09:55 | Michigan State | John Witherell buries a jumper in the paint on a nice dish by Russell Towne | 59-49 |
| 09:42 | Northern Iowa | Roy Posada scores on a turnaround from the baseline | 59-51 |
| 09:27 | Michigan State | William Callahan can't connect on a jump hook in the lane | 59-51 |
| 09:25 | Michigan State | Michael Carlos gets the offensive rebound | 59-51 |
| 09:14 | Michigan State | Michael Carlos hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 59-51 |
| 09:12 | Michigan State | Kwakou Albarazi can't tip it in | 59-51 |
| 09:11 | Michigan State | Kwakou Albarazi gets the offensive rebound | 59-51 |
| 08:57 | Michigan State | William Callahan connects on the floater from the baseline set up by Russell Towne | 61-51 |
| 08:34 | Northern Iowa | Nathan Exley clanks a 3 pointer from the right wing | 61-51 |
| 08:32 | Michigan State | John Witherell grabs the board | 61-51 |
| 08:27 | Michigan State | John Witherell buries a jump hook from the left block on a nice dish by Russell Towne | 63-51 |
| 08:01 | Northern Iowa | Kevin Prince lays it up and in on a great pass from Nathan Exley | 63-53 |
| 07:42 | Michigan State | Russell Towne makes the 3 from the right wing on a nice dish by William Callahan | 66-53 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Russell Towne (fairly fresh) 14 pts. 7 ast. 3 pf. SG - John Witherell (fairly fresh) 20 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Michael Carlos (fairly fresh) 6 pts. PF - William Callahan (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Kwakou Albarazi (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 10 reb. 4 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Kevin Prince (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Nathan Exley (fairly fresh) 7 pts. SF - Paul Aragon (fairly fresh) 11 pts. PF - George Edwards (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Roy Posada (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 07:22 | Northern Iowa | Kevin Prince's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 66-53 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randy Sharp (PG), Boris Gorzynski (SG), James Johanson (SF), John Mikula (PF), Stephen Harrold (C) Russell Towne, John Witherell, Michael Carlos, William Callahan, Kwakou Albarazi | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Jerry Nyquist (PG), Geoffrey Mancha (SG), Dennis Watts (SF), Charles Bell (PF), Johnny Heap (C) Kevin Prince, Nathan Exley, Paul Aragon, George Edwards, Roy Posada | |
| 07:03 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold misses badly on a floater from the free throw line but he's hacked by Dennis Watts - foul #4 on Dennis Watts, team foul #4 | 66-53 |
| 07:03 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold misses the 1st free throw | 66-53 |
| 07:03 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold makes the 2nd free throw | 67-53 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 06:44 | Northern Iowa | Geoffrey Mancha drills a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 67-56 |
| 06:32 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold misses the fadeaway jumper from the right side | 67-56 |
| 06:30 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell grabs the board | 67-56 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 06:26 | Northern Iowa | John Mikula takes the ball from Charles Bell | 67-56 |
| 06:09 | Michigan State | John Mikula misses short on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 67-56 |
| 06:07 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Heap grabs the board | 67-56 |
| 05:50 | Northern Iowa | Geoffrey Mancha loses the ball out of bounds | 67-56 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Russell Towne (PG), John Witherell (SG), Kwakou Albarazi (C) Randy Sharp, Boris Gorzynski, Stephen Harrold | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 05:38 | Michigan State | James Johanson can't connect on a shot from the free throw line | 67-56 |
| 05:36 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Heap grabs the defensive rebound | 67-56 |
| 05:20 | Northern Iowa | The jump hook by Johnny Heap is blocked by John Mikula | 67-56 |
| 05:19 | Michigan State | John Mikula snags the defensive board | 67-56 |
| 04:58 | Michigan State | Charles Bell is called for the reach on John Mikula - foul #4 on Charles Bell, team foul #5 | 67-56 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Carlos (SF) James Johanson | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Kevin Prince (PG), Paul Aragon (SF), Bobby Hartford (PF), George Edwards (C) Jerry Nyquist, Dennis Watts, Charles Bell, Johnny Heap | |
| 04:51 | Michigan State | John Witherell connects on the shot in the lane on a nice dish by Russell Towne and the foul's on Paul Aragon - foul #3 on Paul Aragon, team foul #6 | 69-56 |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Callahan (PF) John Mikula | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | | |
| 04:51 | Michigan State | John Witherell makes the free throw | 70-56 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 04:40 | Northern Iowa | Geoffrey Mancha hits a 3 from the left corner | 70-59 |
| 04:31 | Michigan State | George Edwards steals it from Michael Carlos | 70-59 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| 04:24 | Northern Iowa | Kevin Prince clanks a driving attempt in the lane | 70-59 |
| 04:22 | Michigan State | Kwakou Albarazi snags the defensive board | 70-59 |
| 04:17 | Michigan State | Russell Towne buries a 3 from straight away set up by John Witherell | 73-59 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| 04:01 | Northern Iowa | Geoffrey Mancha misses badly on a 3 from the right corner | 73-59 |
| 04:00 | Michigan State | William Callahan grabs the board | 73-59 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 03:40 | Michigan State | Kwakou Albarazi's pass is intercepted by Paul Aragon | 73-59 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Russell Towne (fresh) 17 pts. 8 ast. 3 pf. SG - John Witherell (fresh) 23 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Michael Carlos (fresh) 6 pts. PF - William Callahan (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. C - Kwakou Albarazi (fresh) 9 pts. 11 reb. 4 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northern Iowa | PG - Kevin Prince (fresh) 2 pts. SG - Geoffrey Mancha (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - Paul Aragon (fresh) 11 pts. 3 pf. PF - Bobby Hartford (fresh) 2 pts. 7 reb. C - George Edwards (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 03:28 | Northern Iowa | Paul Aragon misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 73-59 |
| 03:27 | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford tips it home | 73-61 |
| 03:18 | Michigan State | William Callahan clanks a shot near the basket but the foul's on Bobby Hartford - foul #1 on Bobby Hartford, team foul #7 | 73-61 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Johanson (SF), Stephen Harrold (C) Michael Carlos, Kwakou Albarazi | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Jerry Nyquist (PG), Dennis Watts (SF), Charles Bell (PF), Johnny Heap (C) Kevin Prince, Geoffrey Mancha, Bobby Hartford, George Edwards | |
| 03:18 | Michigan State | William Callahan makes the 1st free throw | 74-61 |
| 03:18 | Michigan State | William Callahan makes the 2nd free throw | 75-61 |
| 03:07 | Northern Iowa | Johnny Heap misses short on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 75-61 |
| 03:05 | Michigan State | William Callahan snags the defensive board | 75-61 |
| 02:51 | Michigan State | James Johanson is hacked by Dennis Watts - foul #5 on Dennis Watts, team foul #8 | 75-61 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Mikula (PF) William Callahan | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford (SF) Dennis Watts | |
| 02:51 | Michigan State | James Johanson makes the 1st free throw | 76-61 |
| 02:51 | Michigan State | James Johanson makes the 2nd free throw | 77-61 |
| 02:38 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell's floater is tipped away by Stephen Harrold | 77-61 |
| 02:36 | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford gets the offensive rebound | 77-61 |
| 02:31 | Northern Iowa | Paul Aragon scores on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 77-64 |
| 02:18 | Michigan State | Johnny Heap steals it from Russell Towne | 77-64 |
| 02:05 | Northern Iowa | Paul Aragon can't connect on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 77-64 |
| 02:03 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold snags the defensive board | 77-64 |
| 01:48 | Michigan State | John Witherell's floater is tipped away by Charles Bell | 77-64 |
| 01:46 | Northern Iowa | Paul Aragon grabs the defensive rebound | 77-64 |
| 01:25 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell makes the floater from the right wing | 77-66 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:56 | Michigan State | Russell Towne misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 77-66 |
| 00:54 | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford grabs the defensive rebound | 77-66 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:47 | Northern Iowa | Charles Bell misses long on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 77-66 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold grabs the board | 77-66 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:22 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold makes the driving attempt from close range on a nice dish by John Witherell and he's hacked by Charles Bell - foul #5 on Charles Bell, team foul #9 | 79-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randy Sharp (PG), Boris Gorzynski (SG), Michael Carlos (SF), William Callahan (PF) Russell Towne, John Witherell, James Johanson, John Mikula | |
| Subs | Northern Iowa | Kevin Prince (PG), Nathan Exley (SG), George Edwards (C) Jerry Nyquist, Charles Bell, Johnny Heap | |
| 00:22 | Michigan State | Stephen Harrold makes the free throw | 80-66 |
| 00:17 | Northern Iowa | Bobby Hartford scores on a 3 pointer from straight away | 80-69 |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Randy Sharp runs out the clock | 80-69 |