| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Lewis Avery (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Larry Murray (fresh) 2 ast. SF - Jonathan Pannell (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Anthony Westhoff (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Jason Desilets (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Kenneth Pina (fresh) 5 pts. PF - George Walcott (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina inbounds the ball | 31-37 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a 2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| 19:31 | Michigan State | William Webster drills a 3pt jumper from the right wing | 31-40 |
| 19:07 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets comes up short on the driving attempt from the left block but he's fouled by Thomas Allen - foul #3 on Thomas Allen, team foul #1 | 31-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alvaro Mancini (PG), James Fullerton (SG), Roy Greene (PF) Lewis Avery, Larry Murray, Anthony Westhoff | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Danny Hall (C) Thomas Allen | |
| 19:07 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets makes the 1st free throw | 32-40 |
| 19:07 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets makes the 2nd free throw | 33-40 |
| 18:44 | Michigan State | George Walcott misses badly on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 33-40 |
| 18:43 | Michigan State | Danny Hall tips it but misses | 33-40 |
| 18:41 | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell pulls down the rebound | 33-40 |
| 18:24 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets buries a shot from the baseline set up by Alvaro Mancini | 35-40 |
| 17:55 | Michigan State | William Webster misses short on a 3 from the right corner but the foul's on Jason Desilets - foul #2 on Jason Desilets, team foul #1 | 35-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Larry Murray (SG), Kevin Debord (C) James Fullerton, Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 17:55 | Michigan State | William Webster makes the 1st free throw | 35-41 |
| 17:55 | Michigan State | William Webster misses the 2nd free throw | 35-41 |
| 17:55 | Michigan State | William Webster makes the 3rd free throw | 35-42 |
| 17:40 | Northwestern | Larry Murray drills a 3 pointer from the left wing on a nice dish by Alvaro Mancini | 38-42 |
| 17:30 | Michigan State | George Walcott is hacked by Roy Greene - foul #1 on Roy Greene, team foul #2 | 38-42 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Desilets (C) Kevin Debord | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 17:05 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina scores on a jumpshot from the left side | 38-44 |
| 16:46 | Northwestern | Alvaro Mancini clanks a pull-up jumper from the right side | 38-44 |
| 16:44 | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell snags the offensive board | 38-44 |
| 16:39 | Northwestern | Roy Greene can't connect on a jumper near the basket | 38-44 |
| 16:38 | Michigan State | William Webster grabs the defensive rebound | 38-44 |
| 16:09 | Michigan State | Danny Hall drills a fadeaway from the right side and the foul's on Jason Desilets - foul #3 on Jason Desilets, team foul #3 | 38-46 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lewis Avery (PG), Anthony Westhoff (PF), Kevin Debord (C) Alvaro Mancini, Jonathan Pannell, Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Stokes (PG), Keith Lee (SG), Ronald Scholl (SF), Bruce Deacon (PF) William Webster, Randall Archibald, Kenneth Pina, George Walcott | |
| 16:09 | Michigan State | Danny Hall makes the free throw | 38-47 |
| 15:56 | Northwestern | Roy Greene comes up short on the 3 pointer from the right corner | 38-47 |
| 15:55 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery hits the follow up shot | 40-47 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Lewis Avery (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Larry Murray (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Roy Greene (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Anthony Westhoff (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Kevin Debord (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Stokes (fresh) SG - Keith Lee (fresh) SF - Ronald Scholl (fresh) PF - Bruce Deacon (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Danny Hall (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 15:44 | Michigan State | Danny Hall's layup is rejected by Kevin Debord | 40-47 |
| 15:42 | Northwestern | Roy Greene grabs the defensive rebound | 40-47 |
| 15:38 | Northwestern | Larry Murray hits the front of the rim on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 40-47 |
| 15:36 | Northwestern | Kevin Debord tips it home | 42-47 |
| 15:09 | Michigan State | Larry Murray picks off the pass by Danny Hall | 42-47 |
| 15:05 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery misses the lay-in | 42-47 |
| 15:03 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Danny Hall | 42-47 |
| 14:40 | Michigan State | Charles Stokes is called for a moving pick - foul #2 on Charles Stokes, team foul #2 | 42-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alvaro Mancini (PG), James Fullerton (SG), Jonathan Pannell (SF), Jason Desilets (C) Lewis Avery, Larry Murray, Anthony Westhoff, Kevin Debord | |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Webster (PG), Kenneth Pina (SF), Thomas Allen (C) Keith Lee, Ronald Scholl, Danny Hall | |
| 14:25 | Northwestern | James Fullerton connects on the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line on a nice dish by Alvaro Mancini | 44-47 |
| 14:04 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina drills a 3 from the left corner on a great pass from William Webster | 44-50 |
| 13:44 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets hits the front of the rim on the floater from the baseline | 44-50 |
| 13:42 | Northwestern | Roy Greene grabs the offensive board | 44-50 |
| 13:22 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets banks in the layup | 46-50 |
| 12:58 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina misses long on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 46-50 |
| 12:57 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen tips it back up and in | 46-52 |
| 12:39 | Northwestern | Roy Greene connects on the 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Alvaro Mancini | 49-52 |
| 12:23 | Michigan State | Alvaro Mancini steps in front of the Thomas Allen pass | 49-52 |
| 12:10 | Northwestern | Roy Greene can't connect on a shot from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Bruce Deacon - foul #2 on Bruce Deacon, team foul #3 | 49-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lewis Avery (PG), Larry Murray (SG), Anthony Westhoff (PF), Kevin Debord (C) Alvaro Mancini, James Fullerton, Jonathan Pannell, Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Randall Archibald (SG), Keith Lee (SF), George Walcott (PF), Danny Hall (C) Charles Stokes, Kenneth Pina, Bruce Deacon, Thomas Allen | |
| 12:10 | Northwestern | Roy Greene makes the 1st free throw | 50-52 |
| 12:10 | Northwestern | Roy Greene makes the 2nd free throw | 51-52 |
| 12:06 | Michigan State | William Webster's pass is intercepted by Lewis Avery in the backcourt | 51-52 |
| 11:46 | Northwestern | Kevin Debord's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 51-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell (SF), Jason Desilets (C) Roy Greene, Kevin Debord | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Lewis Avery (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - Larry Murray (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Jonathan Pannell (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. PF - Anthony Westhoff (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Jason Desilets (fresh) 14 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fresh) 17 pts. 3 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Keith Lee (fresh) PF - George Walcott (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. C - Danny Hall (fresh) 3 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 11:27 | Michigan State | William Webster misses badly on a 3 from the left corner | 51-52 |
| 11:26 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Larry Murray | 51-52 |
| 11:16 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets makes the floater near the basket | 53-52 |
| 10:48 | Michigan State | Danny Hall's fadeaway is rejected by Jason Desilets | 53-52 |
| 10:46 | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell grabs the board | 53-52 |
| 10:30 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets's floater is tipped away by Keith Lee | 53-52 |
| 10:29 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets grabs the offensive rebound | 53-52 |
| 10:13 | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right corner | 53-52 |
| 10:12 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets tips it back up and in | 55-52 |
| 09:51 | Michigan State | Danny Hall is called for a backcourt violation | 55-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Kevin Debord (C) Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Stokes (PG), Kenneth Pina (SF), Thomas Allen (C) William Webster, Keith Lee, Danny Hall | |
| 09:35 | Northwestern | Kevin Debord clanks a floater from the left wing | 55-52 |
| 09:34 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Kenneth Pina | 55-52 |
| 09:10 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 55-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alvaro Mancini (PG), Roy Greene (PF) Lewis Avery, Anthony Westhoff | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Keith Lee (SG), Bruce Deacon (PF) Randall Archibald, George Walcott | |
| 08:46 | Northwestern | Alvaro Mancini misses short on a floater from the free throw line | 55-52 |
| 08:45 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Bruce Deacon | 55-52 |
| 08:16 | Michigan State | Larry Murray steals the ball from Bruce Deacon | 55-52 |
| 08:11 | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell hits the finger roll on a great pass from Larry Murray | 57-52 |
| 07:46 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina travels with the ball | 57-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lewis Avery (PG), James Fullerton (SG), Anthony Westhoff (PF), Jason Desilets (C) Alvaro Mancini, Larry Murray, Jonathan Pannell, Kevin Debord | |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Webster (PG), Randall Archibald (SG), George Walcott (PF) Charles Stokes, Keith Lee, Bruce Deacon | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Lewis Avery (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - James Fullerton (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Roy Greene (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. PF - Anthony Westhoff (fresh) 1 pts. 2 reb. C - Jason Desilets (fresh) 18 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fresh) 17 pts. 3 ast. SG - Randall Archibald (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Kenneth Pina (fresh) 10 pts. PF - George Walcott (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 07:19 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery comes up short on the floater from the free throw line | 57-52 |
| 07:17 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Thomas Allen | 57-52 |
| 07:11 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 57-52 |
| 07:09 | Michigan State | George Walcott grabs the offensive board | 57-52 |
| 06:46 | Michigan State | George Walcott misses long on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 57-52 |
| 06:44 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets snags the defensive board | 57-52 |
| 06:40 | Northwestern | Roy Greene's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 57-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Larry Murray (SG), Jonathan Pannell (SF) James Fullerton, Roy Greene | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Keith Lee (SF), Danny Hall (C) Kenneth Pina, Thomas Allen | |
| 06:15 | Michigan State | George Walcott throws it down on a great pass from Keith Lee | 57-54 |
| 05:52 | Northwestern | Larry Murray misses short on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 57-54 |
| 05:50 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery gets the offensive rebound | 57-54 |
| 05:41 | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell clanks a 3 pointer from the right wing | 57-54 |
| 05:39 | Michigan State | Danny Hall grabs the board | 57-54 |
| 05:22 | Michigan State | Danny Hall comes up short on the jumpshot from the right wing | 57-54 |
| 05:21 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets grabs the board | 57-54 |
| 05:08 | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell knocks in the 3 from the left corner set up by Larry Murray | 60-54 |
| 04:49 | Michigan State | Danny Hall connects on the jumper from close range set up by William Webster | 60-56 |
| 04:38 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery loses the ball out of bounds | 60-56 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alvaro Mancini (PG), James Fullerton (SG), Roy Greene (PF), Kevin Debord (C) Lewis Avery, Larry Murray, Anthony Westhoff, Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Stokes (SG), Kenneth Pina (SF), Bruce Deacon (PF) Randall Archibald, Keith Lee, George Walcott | |
| 04:21 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon hits the front of the rim on the runner from close range but he's fouled by Roy Greene - foul #2 on Roy Greene, team foul #4 | 60-56 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Larry Murray (SG), Jason Desilets (C) James Fullerton, Kevin Debord | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Allen (C) Danny Hall | |
| 04:21 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon makes the 1st free throw | 60-57 |
| 04:21 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon misses the 2nd free throw | 60-57 |
| 04:21 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets grabs the defensive rebound | 60-57 |
| 04:07 | Northwestern | Larry Murray buries a 3pt attempt from the left wing on a nice dish by Jonathan Pannell | 63-57 |
| 03:46 | Michigan State | Bruce Deacon knocks in the jump hook in the paint on a nice dish by Charles Stokes | 63-59 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Alvaro Mancini (fresh) 5 pts. 7 ast. SG - Larry Murray (fresh) 6 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Jonathan Pannell (fresh) 10 pts. 5 reb. PF - Roy Greene (fresh) 10 pts. 3 reb. C - Jason Desilets (fresh) 18 pts. 7 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - William Webster (fresh) 17 pts. 4 ast. SG - Charles Stokes (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Kenneth Pina (fresh) 10 pts. PF - Bruce Deacon (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. C - Thomas Allen (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 03:24 | Northwestern | Larry Murray is whistled for traveling | 63-59 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Fullerton (SG), Kevin Debord (C) Larry Murray, Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Keith Lee (SG) William Webster | |
| 03:02 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina misses short on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 63-59 |
| 03:01 | Northwestern | Roy Greene pulls down the rebound | 63-59 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | James Fullerton loses the ball out of bounds | 63-59 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lewis Avery (PG), Larry Murray (SG), Anthony Westhoff (PF), Jason Desilets (C) Alvaro Mancini, James Fullerton, Roy Greene, Kevin Debord | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Danny Hall (C) Thomas Allen | |
| 02:48 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 63-59 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Webster (PG), Randall Archibald (SG), George Walcott (PF), Thomas Allen (C) Charles Stokes, Keith Lee, Bruce Deacon, Danny Hall | |
| 02:23 | Michigan State | George Walcott is fouled on the floor by Anthony Westhoff - foul #2 on Anthony Westhoff, team foul #5 | 63-59 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alvaro Mancini (PG), Roy Greene (PF), Kevin Debord (C) Lewis Avery, Anthony Westhoff, Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 02:10 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald clanks a jumper from the free throw line but he's fouled by Alvaro Mancini - foul #1 on Alvaro Mancini, team foul #6 | 63-59 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Fullerton (SG), Anthony Westhoff (PF), Jason Desilets (C) Larry Murray, Jonathan Pannell, Kevin Debord | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 02:10 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald makes the 1st free throw | 63-60 |
| 02:10 | Michigan State | Randall Archibald makes the 2nd free throw | 63-61 |
| 01:50 | Northwestern | James Fullerton buries a 3 from the right wing | 66-61 |
| 01:21 | Michigan State | Thomas Allen buries a jumper from the left block | 66-63 |
| 01:10 | Northwestern | Thomas Allen is called for the reach on Roy Greene - foul #4 on Thomas Allen, team foul #4 | 66-63 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lewis Avery (PG), Larry Murray (SG), Jonathan Pannell (SF) Alvaro Mancini, James Fullerton, Roy Greene | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 00:46 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery misses badly on a 3 from straight away | 66-63 |
| 00:45 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets tips it in | 68-63 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a 2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (0) | |
| 00:39 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 68-63 |
| 00:37 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets pulls down the rebound | 68-63 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:34 | Northwestern | Jason Desilets is fouled in the backcourt by William Webster - foul #1 on William Webster, team foul #5 | 68-63 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Pavel Luczynski (SF), Roy Greene (PF), Kevin Debord (C) Jonathan Pannell, Anthony Westhoff, Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 00:32 | Northwestern | Kenneth Pina is called for the reach on Pavel Luczynski - foul #1 on Kenneth Pina, team foul #6 | 68-63 |
| 00:29 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery is fouled on the floor by William Webster - foul #2 on William Webster, team foul #7 | 68-63 |
| 00:29 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery makes the 1st free throw | 69-63 |
| 00:29 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery makes the 2nd free throw | 70-63 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:24 | Michigan State | William Webster drills a 3 pointer from the right wing set up by Thomas Allen | 70-66 |
| 00:21 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery is hacked by William Webster in the backcourt - foul #3 on William Webster, team foul #8 | 70-66 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jonathan Pannell (SF), Anthony Westhoff (PF), Jason Desilets (C) Pavel Luczynski, Roy Greene, Kevin Debord | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 00:21 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery makes the 1st free throw | 71-66 |
| 00:21 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery makes the 2nd free throw | 72-66 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:15 | Michigan State | Kenneth Pina loses the ball out of bounds | 72-66 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Pavel Luczynski (SF), Roy Greene (PF), Kevin Debord (C) Jonathan Pannell, Anthony Westhoff, Jason Desilets | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:14 | Northwestern | Randall Archibald is called for the reach on Roy Greene in the backcourt - foul #1 on Randall Archibald, team foul #9 | 72-66 |
| 00:14 | Northwestern | Roy Greene makes the 1st free throw | 73-66 |
| 00:14 | Northwestern | Roy Greene makes the 2nd free throw | 74-66 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | William Webster misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 74-66 |
| 00:07 | Northwestern | Kevin Debord pulls down the rebound | 74-66 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a 2-3 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Lewis Avery runs out the clock | 74-66 |