| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Michael Jackson (fresh) SG - Adrian Lee (fresh) SF - Randall Backus (fresh) PF - Kenneth Glade (fresh) C - George Novetsky (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Iowa | PG - Herschel Lucky (fresh) SG - Gary Marion (fresh) SF - David Bradley (fresh) PF - Scott Fischer (fresh) C - Luis Theriot (fresh) | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade wins the tip | 0-0 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Iowa | Iowa is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| 19:45 | Michigan State | Adrian Lee is wide open but clanks a fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 0-0 |
| 19:44 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson pulls down the offensive rebound | 0-0 |
| 19:37 | Michigan State | George Novetsky scores on a shot near the basket | 2-0 |
| 19:14 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky clanks a 3 from the right corner | 2-0 |
| 19:13 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Adrian Lee | 2-0 |
| 19:11 | Michigan State | Randall Backus's pass is intercepted by Herschel Lucky in the backcourt | 2-0 |
| 19:07 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky hits the finger roll | 2-2 |
| 18:53 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson can't connect on a shot from the right wing | 2-2 |
| 18:51 | Iowa | Luis Theriot grabs the defensive rebound | 2-2 |
| 18:25 | Iowa | Gary Marion buries a shot from the free throw line on a nice dish by David Bradley | 2-4 |
| 18:08 | Michigan State | George Novetsky is by himself and knocks in the pull-up jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Michael Jackson | 4-4 |
| 17:47 | Iowa | Adrian Lee steals it from Scott Fischer | 4-4 |
| 17:42 | Michigan State | Randall Backus slams it home on a nice dish by Adrian Lee | 6-4 |
| 17:15 | Iowa | David Bradley comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 6-4 |
| 17:13 | Michigan State | George Novetsky grabs the defensive rebound | 6-4 |
| 17:06 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson lays it up and in on a nice dish by Adrian Lee | 8-4 |
| 17:04 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky is hacked by Randall Backus in the backcourt - foul #1 on Randall Backus, team foul #1 | 8-4 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vernon Preston (SG), Duane Bumpers (SF), Rusty Nicolas (PF), Robert Gilbert (C) Michael Jackson, Adrian Lee, Kenneth Glade, George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Iowa | Robert Casanova (PG), Richard O'Bannon (SG), Mathew Ricca (SF), James Byers (PF), Fred Reichert (C) Herschel Lucky, Gary Marion, David Bradley, Scott Fischer, Luis Theriot | |
| 16:47 | Iowa | Rusty Nicolas is called for the reach on Mathew Ricca - foul #1 on Rusty Nicolas, team foul #2 | 8-4 |
| 16:32 | Iowa | James Byers hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the left wing | 8-4 |
| 16:30 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert gets the rebound | 8-4 |
| 16:23 | Michigan State | Rusty Nicolas clanks a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 8-4 |
| 16:21 | Iowa | The rebound goes to Richard O'Bannon | 8-4 |
| 16:16 | Iowa | Randall Backus picks off the pass by Richard O'Bannon in the backcourt | 8-4 |
| 16:11 | Michigan State | Vernon Preston scores on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 11-4 |
| 15:42 | Iowa | Randall Backus is called for the reach on Robert Casanova - foul #2 on Randall Backus, team foul #3 | 11-4 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Jackson (PG), Robert Pillar (SG), Jim Waid (SF), Kevin Tatham (PF), George Novetsky (C) Randall Backus, Vernon Preston, Duane Bumpers, Rusty Nicolas, Robert Gilbert | |
| Subs | Iowa | Herschel Lucky (PG), Gary Marion (SG), Joseph Northcutt (SF), Charles Jones (PF), Luis Theriot (C) Robert Casanova, Richard O'Bannon, Mathew Ricca, James Byers, Fred Reichert | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Michael Jackson (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Pillar (fresh) SF - Jim Waid (fresh) PF - Kevin Tatham (fresh) C - George Novetsky (fairly fresh) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Iowa | PG - Herschel Lucky (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - Gary Marion (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Joseph Northcutt (fresh) PF - Charles Jones (fresh) C - Luis Theriot (fresh) | |
| 15:29 | Iowa | Joseph Northcutt makes the jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Herschel Lucky | 11-6 |
| 15:21 | Michigan State | Jim Waid is fouled on the floor by Joseph Northcutt - foul #1 on Joseph Northcutt, team foul #1 | 11-6 |
| 15:12 | Michigan State | Robert Pillar throws a bad pass out of bounds | 11-6 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Iowa | Scott Fischer (PF) Luis Theriot | |
| 15:08 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 11-6 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Iowa | David Bradley (SF) Herschel Lucky | |
| 14:57 | Michigan State | George Novetsky hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway from the left block | 11-6 |
| 14:55 | Iowa | David Bradley grabs the board | 11-6 |
| 14:50 | Iowa | Gary Marion hits a fadeaway from the right wing on a nice dish by Joseph Northcutt | 11-8 |
| 14:46 | Michigan State | Jim Waid is whistled for traveling in the backcourt | 11-8 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Adrian Lee (SG), Duane Bumpers (SF), Kenneth Glade (PF) Robert Pillar, Jim Waid, Kevin Tatham | |
| Subs | Iowa | Luis Theriot (C) Charles Jones | |
| 14:36 | Iowa | Gary Marion loses the ball out of bounds | 11-8 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Iowa | Herschel Lucky (PG) Joseph Northcutt | |
| 14:20 | Michigan State | George Novetsky loses the dribble to Herschel Lucky | 11-8 |
| 13:57 | Iowa | Luis Theriot hits the finger roll and the foul's on George Novetsky - foul #1 on George Novetsky, team foul #4 | 11-10 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vernon Preston (SG), Robert Gilbert (PF) Adrian Lee, George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Iowa | Robert Casanova (PG), Richard O'Bannon (SG), Mathew Ricca (SF), James Byers (PF) Herschel Lucky, Gary Marion, David Bradley, Scott Fischer | |
| 13:57 | Iowa | Luis Theriot misses the free throw | 11-10 |
| 13:57 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert grabs the defensive rebound | 11-10 |
| 13:53 | Michigan State | Vernon Preston is hacked by Robert Casanova in the backcourt - foul #1 on Robert Casanova, team foul #2 | 11-10 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Pillar (SF), Rusty Nicolas (PF) Duane Bumpers, Kenneth Glade | |
| Subs | Iowa | | |
| 13:37 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson scores on a 3 pointer from straight away on a great pass from Robert Pillar | 14-10 |
| 13:23 | Iowa | Robert Casanova misses the 3pt shot from the left wing | 14-10 |
| 13:22 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Vernon Preston | 14-10 |
| 13:17 | Michigan State | Robert Pillar is by himself and knocks in the floater from the left block on a great pass from Michael Jackson | 16-10 |
| 12:54 | Iowa | Robert Casanova is alone and drills a shot from the baseline | 16-12 |
| 12:50 | Michigan State | Richard O'Bannon takes the ball from Rusty Nicolas | 16-12 |
| 12:46 | Iowa | James Byers throws it down set up by Richard O'Bannon | 16-14 |
| 12:27 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert misses short on a jumpshot from the left wing but he's hacked by Richard O'Bannon - foul #1 on Richard O'Bannon, team foul #3 | 16-14 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Adrian Lee (SG), Jim Waid (SF), Kevin Tatham (PF) Vernon Preston, Robert Pillar, Rusty Nicolas | |
| Subs | Iowa | Herschel Lucky (PG), Gary Marion (SG), Joseph Northcutt (SF), Charles Jones (PF), Fred Reichert (C) Robert Casanova, Richard O'Bannon, Mathew Ricca, James Byers, Luis Theriot | |
| 12:27 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert misses the 1st free throw | 16-14 |
| 12:27 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert makes the 2nd free throw | 17-14 |
| 12:04 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky is wide open but clanks a jump hook near the basket | 17-14 |
| 12:02 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky hits the follow up shot | 17-16 |
| 11:59 | Michigan State | Jim Waid is fouled in the backcourt by Joseph Northcutt - foul #2 on Joseph Northcutt, team foul #4 | 17-16 |
| Subs | Michigan State | George Novetsky (C) Robert Gilbert | |
| Subs | Iowa | David Bradley (SF) Joseph Northcutt | |
| 11:49 | Michigan State | George Novetsky hits the front of the rim on the shot from the left side | 17-16 |
| 11:47 | Iowa | Gary Marion grabs the defensive rebound | 17-16 |
| 11:23 | Iowa | David Bradley scores on a shot from the right side set up by Herschel Lucky | 17-18 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Michael Jackson (tired) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Adrian Lee (tiring) 2 ast. SF - Jim Waid (fairly fresh) PF - Kevin Tatham (fairly fresh) C - George Novetsky (tiring) 4 pts. | |
| Lineup | Iowa | PG - Herschel Lucky (tiring) 4 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Gary Marion (tiring) 4 pts. SF - David Bradley (tiring) 2 pts. PF - Charles Jones (fairly fresh) C - Fred Reichert (fairly fresh) | |
| 11:08 | Michigan State | George Novetsky is fouled on the floor by Fred Reichert - foul #1 on Fred Reichert, team foul #5 | 17-18 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vernon Preston (PG), Duane Bumpers (SF), Kenneth Glade (PF) Michael Jackson, Jim Waid, Kevin Tatham | |
| Subs | Iowa | Scott Fischer (PF), Luis Theriot (C) Charles Jones, Fred Reichert | |
| 10:58 | Michigan State | Herschel Lucky steals it from Vernon Preston | 17-18 |
| 10:53 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky hits the finger roll | 17-20 |
| 10:34 | Michigan State | David Bradley is called for the reach on Duane Bumpers - foul #1 on David Bradley, team foul #6 | 17-20 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Iowa | Robert Casanova (PG), Richard O'Bannon (SG), Mathew Ricca (SF) Herschel Lucky, Gary Marion, David Bradley | |
| 10:29 | Michigan State | The pull-up jumper by George Novetsky is blocked by Scott Fischer | 17-20 |
| 10:28 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade hits the follow up shot | 19-20 |
| 10:09 | Iowa | Robert Casanova is fouled on the floor by Vernon Preston - foul #1 on Vernon Preston, team foul #5 | 19-20 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Jackson (PG), Rusty Nicolas (C) Adrian Lee, George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Iowa | Fred Reichert (C) Luis Theriot | |
| 09:55 | Iowa | Robert Casanova drills a jumpshot from the left side on a nice dish by Mathew Ricca and he's fouled by Duane Bumpers - foul #1 on Duane Bumpers, team foul #6 | 19-22 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Pillar (SG) Vernon Preston | |
| Subs | Iowa | James Byers (PF) Scott Fischer | |
| 09:55 | Iowa | Robert Casanova makes the free throw | 19-23 |
| 09:47 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade misses badly on a jumper near the basket | 19-23 |
| 09:45 | Michigan State | Robert Pillar tips it home | 21-23 |
| 09:42 | Iowa | Richard O'Bannon is hacked by Robert Pillar in the backcourt - foul #1 on Robert Pillar, team foul #7 | 21-23 |
| 09:42 | Iowa | Richard O'Bannon misses the 1st free throw | 21-23 |
| 09:42 | Michigan State | Rusty Nicolas pulls down the rebound | 21-23 |
| 09:31 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade misses badly on a jumpshot from the left side | 21-23 |
| 09:29 | Michigan State | Rusty Nicolas tips it home | 23-23 |
| 09:04 | Iowa | Richard O'Bannon clanks a pull-up jumper from the left side | 23-23 |
| 09:03 | Iowa | The offensive rebound goes to Richard O'Bannon | 23-23 |
| 08:35 | Iowa | Fred Reichert knocks in the runner from close range on a nice dish by Richard O'Bannon | 23-25 |
| 08:32 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 23-25 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Vernon Preston (PG), Adrian Lee (SG), Jim Waid (SF), George Novetsky (C) Michael Jackson, Robert Pillar, Duane Bumpers, Rusty Nicolas | |
| Subs | Iowa | Herschel Lucky (PG), Gary Marion (SG), David Bradley (SF), Scott Fischer (PF), Luis Theriot (C) Robert Casanova, Richard O'Bannon, Mathew Ricca, James Byers, Fred Reichert | |
| 08:14 | Iowa | Gary Marion misses badly on the uncontested 3 from the left wing | 23-25 |
| 08:13 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky grabs the offensive rebound | 23-25 |
| 07:52 | Iowa | Vernon Preston is called for the reach on David Bradley - foul #2 on Vernon Preston, team foul #8 | 23-25 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Jackson (PG), Kevin Tatham (PF), Robert Gilbert (C) Vernon Preston, Kenneth Glade, George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Iowa | Charles Jones (C) Luis Theriot | |
| 07:52 | Iowa | David Bradley misses the 1st free throw | 23-25 |
| 07:52 | Michigan State | Kevin Tatham grabs the defensive rebound | 23-25 |
| 07:47 | Michigan State | Jim Waid comes up short on the jumper from the right wing but the foul's on Charles Jones - foul #1 on Charles Jones, team foul #7 | 23-25 |
| 07:47 | Michigan State | Jim Waid misses the 1st free throw | 23-25 |
| 07:47 | Michigan State | Jim Waid makes the 2nd free throw | 24-25 |
| 07:44 | Iowa | Gary Marion throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 24-25 |
| 07:33 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson travels with the ball | 24-25 |
| 07:04 | Iowa | Scott Fischer hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Gary Marion | 24-27 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Michael Jackson (very tired) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - Adrian Lee (tired) 2 ast. SF - Jim Waid (fairly fresh) 1 pts. PF - Kevin Tatham (fairly fresh) C - Robert Gilbert (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Iowa | PG - Herschel Lucky (tiring) 6 pts. 2 ast. 3 stl. SG - Gary Marion (tiring) 4 pts. SF - David Bradley (tiring) 2 pts. PF - Scott Fischer (tiring) 2 pts. C - Charles Jones (fairly fresh) | |
| 07:02 | Michigan State | David Bradley picks off the pass by Robert Gilbert in the backcourt | 24-27 |
| 06:38 | Iowa | Scott Fischer hits the front of the rim on the jumper from the left block | 24-27 |
| 06:36 | Iowa | Scott Fischer snags the offensive board | 24-27 |
| 06:36 | Iowa | Iowa calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 24-27 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Pillar (PG), Vernon Preston (SG), Randall Backus (SF), George Novetsky (C) Michael Jackson, Adrian Lee, Jim Waid, Kevin Tatham | |
| Subs | Iowa | Robert Casanova (PG), Mathew Ricca (SF), James Byers (PF), Luis Theriot (C) Herschel Lucky, David Bradley, Scott Fischer, Charles Jones | |
| 06:20 | Iowa | James Byers comes up short on the shot from the left block | 24-27 |
| 06:19 | Michigan State | Randall Backus grabs the board | 24-27 |
| 06:13 | Michigan State | George Novetsky makes the runner in the lane set up by Vernon Preston | 26-27 |
| 05:51 | Iowa | Luis Theriot buries a fadeaway near the basket set up by Mathew Ricca | 26-29 |
| 05:34 | Michigan State | George Novetsky is whistled for a carry | 26-29 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Duane Bumpers (SF), Rusty Nicolas (PF) Robert Pillar, Robert Gilbert | |
| Subs | Iowa | Herschel Lucky (PG), Richard O'Bannon (SG), Scott Fischer (PF) Robert Casanova, Gary Marion, James Byers | |
| 05:31 | Iowa | Richard O'Bannon is called for a charge in the backcourt - foul #2 on Richard O'Bannon, team foul #8 | 26-29 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Iowa | Gary Marion (SG) Richard O'Bannon | |
| 05:24 | Michigan State | Randall Backus misses long on a 3 pointer from straight away | 26-29 |
| 05:23 | Iowa | The rebound goes to Scott Fischer | 26-29 |
| 05:03 | Iowa | Gary Marion misses the jumper from the right side | 26-29 |
| 05:01 | Iowa | Scott Fischer grabs the offensive board | 26-29 |
| 04:44 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky misses badly on a jumper from just outside the lane | 26-29 |
| 04:43 | Iowa | Luis Theriot can't tip it in | 26-29 |
| 04:41 | Michigan State | George Novetsky pulls down the rebound | 26-29 |
| 04:35 | Michigan State | Randall Backus misses the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 26-29 |
| 04:33 | Iowa | Scott Fischer gets the rebound | 26-29 |
| 04:04 | Iowa | Gary Marion is wide open but clanks a 3 pointer from the left corner | 26-29 |
| 04:02 | Michigan State | Randall Backus gets the rebound | 26-29 |
| 03:58 | Michigan State | Vernon Preston travels in the backcourt | 26-29 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Pillar (SG), Jim Waid (SF), Kevin Tatham (PF), Kenneth Glade (C) Vernon Preston, Duane Bumpers, Rusty Nicolas, George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Iowa | Joseph Northcutt (PG), Richard O'Bannon (SG), David Bradley (SF), James Byers (PF), Fred Reichert (C) Herschel Lucky, Gary Marion, Mathew Ricca, Scott Fischer, Luis Theriot | |
| 03:41 | Iowa | David Bradley misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left wing but he's hacked by Jim Waid - foul #1 on Jim Waid, team foul #9 | 26-29 |
| 03:41 | Iowa | David Bradley misses the 1st free throw | 26-29 |
| 03:41 | Iowa | David Bradley makes the 2nd free throw | 26-30 |
| 03:41 | Iowa | David Bradley makes the 3rd free throw | 26-31 |
| 03:20 | Michigan State | Kevin Tatham is open but misses the lay-in | 26-31 |
| 03:18 | Michigan State | Robert Pillar grabs the offensive rebound | 26-31 |
| 03:03 | Michigan State | Kevin Tatham comes up short on the jump hook from the left block | 26-31 |
| 03:01 | Iowa | Richard O'Bannon grabs the defensive rebound | 26-31 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Randall Backus (tiring) 2 pts. SG - Robert Pillar (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Jim Waid (fairly fresh) 1 pts. PF - Kevin Tatham (fairly fresh) C - Kenneth Glade (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Iowa | PG - Joseph Northcutt (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Richard O'Bannon (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SF - David Bradley (tiring) 4 pts. PF - James Byers (fairly fresh) 2 pts. C - Fred Reichert (fairly fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 02:32 | Iowa | David Bradley hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt near the basket but he's hacked by Jim Waid - foul #2 on Jim Waid, team foul #10 | 26-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Jackson (PG), Adrian Lee (SG), Robert Gilbert (PF) Robert Pillar, Jim Waid, Kevin Tatham | |
| Subs | Iowa | Robert Casanova (PG), Scott Fischer (PF), Charles Jones (C) Joseph Northcutt, James Byers, Fred Reichert | |
| 02:32 | Iowa | David Bradley makes the 1st free throw | 26-32 |
| 02:32 | Iowa | David Bradley misses the 2nd free throw | 26-32 |
| 02:32 | Michigan State | Robert Gilbert gets the rebound | 26-32 |
| 02:03 | Michigan State | Kenneth Glade makes the driving attempt from close range on a nice dish by Michael Jackson | 28-32 |
| 01:36 | Iowa | The short jumper by David Bradley is denied by Robert Gilbert | 28-32 |
| 01:34 | Iowa | Charles Jones grabs the offensive rebound | 28-32 |
| 01:13 | Iowa | Kenneth Glade picks off the pass by Charles Jones | 28-32 |
| 00:58 | Michigan State | Michael Jackson is whistled for a carry | 28-32 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Duane Bumpers (SF), Rusty Nicolas (PF), George Novetsky (C) Adrian Lee, Robert Gilbert, Kenneth Glade | |
| Subs | Iowa | Herschel Lucky (PG), Joseph Northcutt (SG), Mathew Ricca (SF), James Byers (PF), Luis Theriot (C) Robert Casanova, Richard O'Bannon, David Bradley, Scott Fischer, Charles Jones | |
| 00:39 | Iowa | Mathew Ricca misses the floater from just outside the lane | 28-32 |
| 00:37 | Iowa | Luis Theriot tips it back up and in | 28-34 |
| 00:31 | Michigan State | The 3pt attempt by Duane Bumpers is denied by Mathew Ricca | 28-34 |
| 00:30 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky grabs the defensive rebound | 28-34 |
| 00:01 | Iowa | Herschel Lucky dunks the ball | 28-36 |
| 00:01 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 28-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Pillar (PG), Vernon Preston (SG), Robert Gilbert (C) Michael Jackson, Randall Backus, George Novetsky | |
| Subs | Iowa | Robert Casanova (PG), Gary Marion (SG), Fred Reichert (C) Herschel Lucky, Mathew Ricca, Luis Theriot | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Duane Bumpers comes up short on the halfcourt shot | 28-36 |