| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 8 pts. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fresh) PF - Steve Chicoine (fresh) C - Terry Welch (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Ellis Molden (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - William Hope (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Wayne Benavides (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Timothy Talbot (fresh) 8 pts. 6 reb. C - Marco Colombo (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton inbounds the ball | 21-25 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 19:31 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine's pass is intercepted by Wayne Benavides | 21-25 |
| 19:05 | Michigan State | Wayne Benavides clanks a 3pt shot from the left wing but he's hacked by Ernie Stoughton - foul #1 on Ernie Stoughton, team foul #1 | 21-25 |
| 19:05 | Michigan State | Wayne Benavides makes the 1st free throw | 21-26 |
| 19:05 | Michigan State | Wayne Benavides makes the 2nd free throw | 21-27 |
| 19:05 | Michigan State | Wayne Benavides misses the 3rd free throw | 21-27 |
| 19:05 | Northwestern | Terry Welch grabs the board | 21-27 |
| 18:46 | Northwestern | Terry Welch comes up short on the jump hook from the left block | 21-27 |
| 18:44 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo grabs the board | 21-27 |
| 18:32 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden makes the pull-up jumper from the left wing on a great pass from William Hope | 21-29 |
| 18:28 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses badly on a jump hook near the basket | 21-29 |
| 18:26 | Michigan State | William Hope snags the defensive board | 21-29 |
| 18:01 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo scores on a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Wayne Benavides | 21-31 |
| 17:36 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 21-31 |
| 17:35 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo pulls down the rebound | 21-31 |
| 17:10 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the runner near the basket but he's hacked by Steve Chicoine - foul #2 on Steve Chicoine, team foul #2 | 21-31 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Carter (C) Marco Colombo | |
| 17:10 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot makes the 1st free throw | 21-32 |
| 17:10 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot makes the 2nd free throw | 21-33 |
| 17:00 | Northwestern | Terry Welch knocks in the jumper in the lane set up by Ernie Stoughton | 23-33 |
| 16:39 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden is hacked by Ernie Stoughton - foul #2 on Ernie Stoughton, team foul #3 | 23-33 |
| Subs | Northwestern | John McCullars (PF) Steve Chicoine | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 16:27 | Michigan State | John McCullars steals the ball from William Hope | 23-33 |
| 16:25 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 23-33 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo (SG), Mark Olguin (C) Stephen Dantzler, Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Daniel Jones (PF) Timothy Talbot | |
| 16:07 | Michigan State | Daniel Jones is fouled on the floor by Lloyd Vallo - foul #1 on Lloyd Vallo, team foul #4 | 23-33 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Alford (SF) Ernie Stoughton | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Anthony Cron (PG) William Hope | |
| 15:49 | Michigan State | Anthony Cron scores on a 3 pointer from the right corner on a nice dish by Daniel Jones | 23-36 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Lloyd Vallo (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Robert Alford (fresh) PF - John McCullars (fresh) 2 reb. C - Mark Olguin (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Anthony Cron (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Ellis Molden (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Wayne Benavides (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. PF - Daniel Jones (fresh) C - William Carter (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 15:23 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent misses badly on a 3 pointer from the left wing | 23-36 |
| 15:21 | Northwestern | Robert Alford snags the offensive board | 23-36 |
| 14:58 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent knocks in the 3pt shot from the left wing on a nice dish by Robert Alford | 26-36 |
| 14:29 | Michigan State | Anthony Cron connects on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane and the foul's on Johnny Parent - foul #1 on Johnny Parent, team foul #5 | 26-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG), Stephen Dantzler (SG), Ernie Stoughton (SF), Steve Chicoine (PF), Terry Welch (C) Johnny Parent, Lloyd Vallo, Robert Alford, John McCullars, Mark Olguin | |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Hope (SG), Mike Terrell (SF), Timothy Talbot (PF), Marco Colombo (C) Ellis Molden, Wayne Benavides, Daniel Jones, William Carter | |
| 14:29 | Michigan State | Anthony Cron misses the free throw | 26-38 |
| 14:29 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Terry Welch | 26-38 |
| 14:06 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses the pull-up jumper from the free throw line but he's hacked by Mike Terrell - foul #2 on Mike Terrell, team foul #1 | 26-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Ellis Molden (PG) Anthony Cron | |
| 14:06 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler makes the 1st free throw | 27-38 |
| 14:06 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler makes the 2nd free throw | 28-38 |
| 13:46 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden misses long on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 28-38 |
| 13:45 | Northwestern | Terry Welch pulls down the rebound | 28-38 |
| 13:17 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton throws a bad pass out of bounds | 28-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG) Edgar Foster | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 13:01 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot loses the dribble to Stephen Dantzler | 28-38 |
| 12:40 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine is hacked by Marco Colombo - foul #3 on Marco Colombo, team foul #2 | 28-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Wayne Benavides (SF) Mike Terrell | |
| 12:20 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine hits the finger roll | 30-38 |
| 12:00 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo misses the fadeaway from the left side | 30-38 |
| 11:59 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot tips it back up and in | 30-40 |
| 11:35 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent buries a floater from the left side and he's hacked by Ellis Molden - foul #2 on Ellis Molden, team foul #3 | 32-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Carter (C) Marco Colombo | |
| 11:35 | Northwestern | Johnny Parent misses the free throw | 32-40 |
| 11:35 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to William Carter | 32-40 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 10 pts. SF - Ernie Stoughton (fresh) PF - Steve Chicoine (fresh) 2 pts. C - Terry Welch (fresh) 6 pts. 7 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Ellis Molden (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - William Hope (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Wayne Benavides (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. PF - Timothy Talbot (fresh) 12 pts. 7 reb. C - William Carter (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 11:11 | Michigan State | Wayne Benavides is fouled on the floor by Terry Welch - foul #2 on Terry Welch, team foul #6 | 32-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | John McCullars (PF) Steve Chicoine | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 10:43 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot hits the finger roll against a doubleteam on a great pass from Ellis Molden | 32-42 |
| 10:25 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton knocks in the 3 from the left wing on a great pass from John McCullars | 35-42 |
| 09:56 | Michigan State | The jump hook by William Carter is blocked by Terry Welch | 35-42 |
| 09:54 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler snags the defensive board | 35-42 |
| 09:38 | Northwestern | John McCullars scores on a runner in the lane on a nice dish by Terry Welch | 37-42 |
| 09:19 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden makes the 3pt jumper from the right corner on a great pass from William Carter | 37-45 |
| 08:52 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler misses the runner from close range but the foul's on Wayne Benavides - foul #1 on Wayne Benavides, team foul #4 | 37-45 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG), Robert Alford (SF), Steve Chicoine (PF), Mark Olguin (C) Johnny Parent, Ernie Stoughton, John McCullars, Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Anthony Cron (PG), Mike Terrell (SF), Daniel Jones (PF), Marco Colombo (C) Ellis Molden, Wayne Benavides, Timothy Talbot, William Carter | |
| 08:52 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler makes the 1st free throw | 38-45 |
| 08:52 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler makes the 2nd free throw | 39-45 |
| 08:30 | Michigan State | Anthony Cron clanks a 3 from the left corner | 39-45 |
| 08:29 | Michigan State | William Hope hits the follow up shot | 39-47 |
| 08:12 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine connects on the shot near the basket and he's fouled by Daniel Jones - foul #1 on Daniel Jones, team foul #5 | 41-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo (SG) Stephen Dantzler | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 08:12 | Northwestern | Steve Chicoine makes the free throw | 42-47 |
| 07:47 | Michigan State | Edgar Foster takes the ball from Anthony Cron | 42-47 |
| 07:18 | Northwestern | Mark Olguin misses the fadeaway from the left side | 42-47 |
| 07:16 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo grabs the offensive rebound | 42-47 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Edgar Foster (fresh) SG - Lloyd Vallo (fresh) 4 pts. SF - Robert Alford (fresh) PF - Steve Chicoine (fresh) 5 pts. C - Mark Olguin (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Anthony Cron (fresh) 5 pts. SG - William Hope (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Mike Terrell (fresh) PF - Daniel Jones (fresh) C - Marco Colombo (fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 06:59 | Northwestern | Mark Olguin can't finish the layup | 42-47 |
| 06:58 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo grabs the board | 42-47 |
| 06:36 | Michigan State | Mike Terrell is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #3 on Mike Terrell, team foul #6 | 42-47 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Johnny Parent (PG), Ernie Stoughton (SF), Terry Welch (C) Edgar Foster, Robert Alford, Mark Olguin | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Ellis Molden (SG), Wayne Benavides (SF), Timothy Talbot (PF) William Hope, Mike Terrell, Daniel Jones | |
| 06:13 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton's floater is tipped away by Timothy Talbot | 42-47 |
| 06:11 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot pulls down the rebound | 42-47 |
| 05:47 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden is open and buries a shot from the left side on a great pass from Anthony Cron | 42-49 |
| 05:18 | Northwestern | Lloyd Vallo is called for a charge - foul #2 on Lloyd Vallo, team foul #7 | 42-49 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler (SG), John McCullars (PF) Lloyd Vallo, Steve Chicoine | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Mike Terrell (SG), William Carter (C) Anthony Cron, Marco Colombo | |
| 04:53 | Michigan State | William Carter scores on a driving attempt from close range on a nice dish by Timothy Talbot | 42-51 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 04:31 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler clanks a pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 42-51 |
| 04:30 | Michigan State | William Carter gets the rebound | 42-51 |
| 04:16 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the jumpshot from the left wing | 42-51 |
| 04:14 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton gets the rebound | 42-51 |
| 04:07 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton can't connect on a fadeaway from the left wing but the foul's on William Carter - foul #3 on William Carter, team foul #7 | 42-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Daniel Jones (PF) Timothy Talbot | |
| 04:07 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton misses the 1st free throw | 42-51 |
| 04:07 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton makes the 2nd free throw | 43-51 |
| 03:45 | Michigan State | William Carter hits the front of the rim on the shot from the right side | 43-51 |
| 03:43 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler grabs the defensive rebound | 43-51 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 03:27 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton scores on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing set up by John McCullars | 45-51 |
| 03:04 | Michigan State | William Carter misses the fadeaway from the free throw line but the foul's on Johnny Parent - foul #2 on Johnny Parent, team foul #8 | 45-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Alford (SF), Steve Chicoine (PF), Mark Olguin (C) Ernie Stoughton, John McCullars, Terry Welch | |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Hope (SG), Timothy Talbot (PF) Mike Terrell, Daniel Jones | |
| 03:04 | Michigan State | William Carter misses the 1st free throw | 45-51 |
| 03:04 | Michigan State | William Carter makes the 2nd free throw | 45-52 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Johnny Parent (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Stephen Dantzler (fresh) 12 pts. SF - Robert Alford (fresh) PF - Steve Chicoine (fresh) 5 pts. C - Mark Olguin (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Ellis Molden (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. SG - William Hope (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Wayne Benavides (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. PF - Timothy Talbot (fresh) 14 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. C - William Carter (fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| 02:57 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 45-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton (SF), Terry Welch (C) Robert Alford, Mark Olguin | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Marco Colombo (C) William Carter | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 02:43 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton hits the front of the rim on the shot from the free throw line | 45-52 |
| 02:41 | Michigan State | William Hope grabs the board | 45-52 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 02:19 | Michigan State | Timothy Talbot hits the finger roll against a doubleteam on a nice dish by Ellis Molden | 45-54 |
| 02:05 | Northwestern | Wayne Benavides blocks the short jumper by Stephen Dantzler | 45-54 |
| 02:03 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Marco Colombo | 45-54 |
| 01:47 | Michigan State | Johnny Parent is called for the reach on Ellis Molden - foul #3 on Johnny Parent, team foul #9 | 45-54 |
| 01:47 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden makes the 1st free throw | 45-55 |
| 01:47 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden makes the 2nd free throw | 45-56 |
| 01:28 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler drills a shot from the left wing on a nice dish by Ernie Stoughton | 47-56 |
| 01:05 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden knocks in the shot from the free throw line set up by Timothy Talbot | 47-58 |
| 00:57 | Northwestern | Terry Welch connects on the floater in the lane set up by Ernie Stoughton and he's fouled by William Hope - foul #1 on William Hope, team foul #8 | 49-58 |
| 00:57 | Northwestern | Terry Welch makes the free throw | 50-58 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:54 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden is hacked by Johnny Parent in the backcourt - foul #4 on Johnny Parent, team foul #10 | 50-58 |
| 00:54 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden makes the 1st free throw | 50-59 |
| 00:54 | Michigan State | Ellis Molden makes the 2nd free throw | 50-60 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler can't connect on a 3 from the left corner | 50-60 |
| 00:48 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo grabs the board | 50-60 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo is fouled in the backcourt by Johnny Parent - foul #5 on Johnny Parent, team foul #11 | 50-60 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Edgar Foster (PG) Johnny Parent | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Anthony Cron (PG), Mike Terrell (SG), Daniel Jones (SF), William Carter (PF) Ellis Molden, William Hope, Wayne Benavides, Timothy Talbot | |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo misses the 1st free throw | 50-60 |
| 00:45 | Michigan State | Marco Colombo misses the 2nd free throw | 50-60 |
| 00:45 | Northwestern | Stephen Dantzler grabs the board | 50-60 |
| 00:38 | Northwestern | Terry Welch misses the dunk attempt | 50-60 |
| 00:36 | Northwestern | Terry Welch can't tip it in | 50-60 |
| 00:34 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Daniel Jones | 50-60 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 00:12 | Michigan State | Mike Terrell hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from the left side | 50-60 |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Steve Chicoine | 50-60 |
| 00:05 | Northwestern | Ernie Stoughton misses badly on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 50-60 |
| 00:03 | Michigan State | William Carter snags the defensive board | 50-60 |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Anthony Cron runs out the clock | 50-60 |