| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Donald Melville (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Lawrence Bell (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 6 reb. C - Frank Harn (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Lawrence Smith (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Mark Fulton (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Spencer Hutcherson (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 3 stl. PF - Tyler Galaz (fresh) 3 pts. C - Alphonso Bianchi (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson inbounds the ball | 31-32 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 19:38 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton clanks a 3 pointer from the left corner | 31-32 |
| 19:36 | Michigan State | Frank Harn grabs the defensive rebound | 31-32 |
| 19:16 | Michigan State | Frank Harn is open and buries a floater near the basket on a great pass from Reginald Smith | 33-32 |
| 18:57 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton is called for traveling | 33-32 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG), Jeffrey Boykins (C) Donald Melville, Frank Harn | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 18:31 | Michigan State | Alphonso Bianchi steals the ball from Lawrence Bell | 33-32 |
| 18:09 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith connects on the pull-up jumper from the left wing | 33-34 |
| 17:44 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith hits the front of the rim on the wide open turnaround from the right block but he's fouled by Tyler Galaz - foul #2 on Tyler Galaz, team foul #1 | 33-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG), Marshall Bleau (SF), Calvin Saldana (PF), Frank Harn (C) Rocky Esposito, Lawrence Bell, Lewis Whitley, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marshall Baker (PG), Alfred Fong (SG), Patrick Simmons (SF), Robert McGavock (PF), David Smith (C) Lawrence Smith, Mark Fulton, Spencer Hutcherson, Tyler Galaz, Alphonso Bianchi | |
| 17:44 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith makes the 1st free throw | 34-34 |
| 17:44 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 35-34 |
| 17:29 | Northwestern | Robert McGavock loses the dribble to Calvin Saldana | 35-34 |
| 17:27 | Michigan State | Robert McGavock is called for the reach on Calvin Saldana in the backcourt - foul #1 on Robert McGavock, team foul #2 | 35-34 |
| 16:58 | Michigan State | Frank Harn connects on the floater in the paint set up by Marshall Bleau | 37-34 |
| 16:45 | Northwestern | David Smith is called for a pushoff foul - foul #2 on David Smith, team foul #3 | 37-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG), Lawrence Bell (SF), Lewis Whitley (PF) Donald Melville, Marshall Bleau, Calvin Saldana | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 16:19 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith is open and buries a 3pt jumper from the left corner set up by Frank Harn | 40-34 |
| 15:50 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker can't connect on a fadeaway from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Lawrence Bell - foul #1 on Lawrence Bell, team foul #1 | 40-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG), Marshall Bleau (SF) Rocky Esposito, Lawrence Bell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Mark Fulton (SG), Spencer Hutcherson (SF), David Utter (PF), Alphonso Bianchi (C) Alfred Fong, Patrick Simmons, Robert McGavock, David Smith | |
| 15:50 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker misses the 1st free throw | 40-34 |
| 15:50 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 2nd free throw | 40-35 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (fairly fresh) 17 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Donald Melville (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Marshall Bleau (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. PF - Lewis Whitley (fresh) 6 reb. C - Frank Harn (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Marshall Baker (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SG - Mark Fulton (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Spencer Hutcherson (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 3 stl. PF - David Utter (fresh) C - Alphonso Bianchi (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 15:48 | Michigan State | Spencer Hutcherson steps in front of the Reginald Smith pass in the backcourt | 40-35 |
| 15:45 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker blows the layup | 40-35 |
| 15:44 | Michigan State | Frank Harn pulls down the rebound | 40-35 |
| 15:26 | Michigan State | Marshall Baker steps in front of the Donald Melville pass | 40-35 |
| 15:22 | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson misses the lay-in | 40-35 |
| 15:21 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley gets the rebound | 40-35 |
| 15:03 | Michigan State | Alphonso Bianchi steps in front of the Donald Melville pass | 40-35 |
| 14:41 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton knocks in the shot from just outside the lane | 40-37 |
| 14:22 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith misses badly on a 3 from the right corner | 40-37 |
| 14:21 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton gets the rebound | 40-37 |
| 14:15 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker clanks a fadeaway near the basket but he's hacked by Marshall Bleau - foul #1 on Marshall Bleau, team foul #2 | 40-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG), Lawrence Bell (SF), Calvin Saldana (PF), Jeffrey Boykins (C) Donald Melville, Marshall Bleau, Lewis Whitley, Frank Harn | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith (PG), Alfred Fong (SG), Tyler Galaz (PF) Mark Fulton, Spencer Hutcherson, David Utter | |
| 14:15 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 1st free throw | 40-38 |
| 14:15 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker misses the 2nd free throw | 40-38 |
| 14:15 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Boykins snags the defensive board | 40-38 |
| 14:00 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith is called for a pushoff foul - foul #1 on Reginald Smith, team foul #3 | 40-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson (SF) Marshall Baker | |
| 13:56 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 40-38 |
| 13:38 | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito is hacked by Alfred Fong - foul #1 on Alfred Fong, team foul #4 | 40-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley (PF) Calvin Saldana | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Simmons (SF), Robert McGavock (C) Spencer Hutcherson, Alphonso Bianchi | |
| 13:23 | Michigan State | Lawrence Smith takes the ball from Jeffrey Boykins | 40-38 |
| 13:00 | Northwestern | Robert McGavock can't connect on a driving attempt in the paint | 40-38 |
| 12:58 | Michigan State | Lawrence Bell gets the rebound | 40-38 |
| 12:35 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith can't connect on an uncontested 3 from the left corner | 40-38 |
| 12:33 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Jeffrey Boykins | 40-38 |
| 12:12 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith clanks a jumper from the left wing | 40-38 |
| 12:10 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith snags the defensive board | 40-38 |
| 12:05 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith scores on a floater from the left wing | 40-40 |
| 11:45 | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito can't connect on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 40-40 |
| 11:44 | Northwestern | Robert McGavock snags the defensive board | 40-40 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (tiring) 17 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Rocky Esposito (fairly fresh) 1 pts. SF - Lawrence Bell (tiring) 2 pts. 2 reb. PF - Lewis Whitley (fairly fresh) 7 reb. C - Jeffrey Boykins (fairly fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Lawrence Smith (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Alfred Fong (fairly fresh) 5 pts. SF - Patrick Simmons (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. PF - Tyler Galaz (tiring) 3 pts. C - Robert McGavock (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 11:39 | Northwestern | Lewis Whitley steps in front of the Lawrence Smith pass | 40-40 |
| 11:37 | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito travels in the backcourt | 40-40 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG), Marshall Bleau (SF), Calvin Saldana (PF), Frank Harn (C) Rocky Esposito, Lawrence Bell, Lewis Whitley, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Mark Fulton (SG), Spencer Hutcherson (SF), David Smith (PF), Alphonso Bianchi (C) Alfred Fong, Patrick Simmons, Tyler Galaz, Robert McGavock | |
| 11:32 | Northwestern | David Smith misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 40-40 |
| 11:31 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton hits the follow up shot | 40-42 |
| 11:21 | Michigan State | Donald Melville is called for 10 seconds | 40-42 |
| 10:58 | Northwestern | Alphonso Bianchi knocks in the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 40-45 |
| 10:55 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 40-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG) Reginald Smith | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 10:41 | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson can't finish the layup | 40-45 |
| 10:40 | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito snags the defensive board | 40-45 |
| 10:15 | Michigan State | Donald Melville is open and scores on a runner in the lane | 42-45 |
| 09:54 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton misses short on a shot from the right wing but he's fouled by Rocky Esposito - foul #1 on Rocky Esposito, team foul #4 | 42-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG), Lawrence Bell (SF), Lewis Whitley (PF) Rocky Esposito, Marshall Bleau, Calvin Saldana | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marshall Baker (PG), David Utter (PF) Lawrence Smith, David Smith | |
| 09:54 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton misses the 1st free throw | 42-45 |
| 09:54 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton makes the 2nd free throw | 42-46 |
| 09:49 | Michigan State | Spencer Hutcherson is called for the reach on Lawrence Bell in the backcourt - foul #2 on Spencer Hutcherson, team foul #5 | 42-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Boyle (SG) Mark Fulton | |
| 09:29 | Michigan State | Lawrence Bell hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Donald Melville and he's hacked by David Utter - foul #3 on David Utter, team foul #6 | 44-46 |
| 09:29 | Michigan State | Lawrence Bell misses the free throw | 44-46 |
| 09:29 | Northwestern | David Utter grabs the defensive rebound | 44-46 |
| 09:12 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 44-49 |
| 08:52 | Michigan State | David Utter denies the turnaround by Lawrence Bell | 44-49 |
| 08:51 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker grabs the board | 44-49 |
| 08:46 | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 44-49 |
| 08:44 | Michigan State | Frank Harn pulls down the rebound | 44-49 |
| 08:15 | Michigan State | Frank Harn scores on a shot in the paint on a nice dish by Donald Melville and the foul's on Alphonso Bianchi - foul #3 on Alphonso Bianchi, team foul #7 | 46-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG), Marshall Bleau (SF), Calvin Saldana (PF) Donald Melville, Lawrence Bell, Lewis Whitley | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Simmons (PG), Mark Fulton (SG), Alfred Fong (SF), Tyler Galaz (PF), Robert McGavock (C) Marshall Baker, William Boyle, Spencer Hutcherson, David Utter, Alphonso Bianchi | |
| 08:15 | Michigan State | Frank Harn misses the free throw | 46-49 |
| 08:15 | Northwestern | Patrick Simmons grabs the defensive rebound | 46-49 |
| 07:46 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton misses the lay-in but he's fouled by Rocky Esposito - foul #2 on Rocky Esposito, team foul #5 | 46-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley (PF) Calvin Saldana | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Smith (C) Tyler Galaz | |
| 07:46 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton makes the 1st free throw | 46-50 |
| 07:46 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton misses the 2nd free throw | 46-50 |
| 07:46 | Michigan State | Frank Harn grabs the board | 46-50 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (tired) 17 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Rocky Esposito (fairly fresh) 1 pts. SF - Marshall Bleau (fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. PF - Lewis Whitley (fairly fresh) 7 reb. C - Frank Harn (tiring) 11 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Patrick Simmons (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. SG - Mark Fulton (fresh) 11 pts. SF - Alfred Fong (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Robert McGavock (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - David Smith (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:21 | Michigan State | Robert McGavock blocks the jumper by Reginald Smith | 46-50 |
| 07:20 | Michigan State | Frank Harn gets the offensive rebound | 46-50 |
| 07:03 | Michigan State | Frank Harn clanks a jumper from close range | 46-50 |
| 07:02 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton gets the rebound | 46-50 |
| 06:58 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton misses short on a 3 from the right wing | 46-50 |
| 06:56 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley grabs the board | 46-50 |
| 06:33 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 46-50 |
| 06:31 | Michigan State | Frank Harn can't tip it in | 46-50 |
| 06:29 | Northwestern | David Smith gets the rebound | 46-50 |
| 06:23 | Northwestern | Patrick Simmons is fouled on the floor by Reginald Smith - foul #2 on Reginald Smith, team foul #6 | 46-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG), Lawrence Bell (SF), Calvin Saldana (PF), Jeffrey Boykins (C) Rocky Esposito, Marshall Bleau, Lewis Whitley, Frank Harn | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith (PG), William Boyle (SG), Marshall Baker (SF), Tyler Galaz (PF), Alphonso Bianchi (C) Patrick Simmons, Mark Fulton, Alfred Fong, Robert McGavock, David Smith | |
| 06:11 | Northwestern | William Boyle is called for a moving pick - foul #1 on William Boyle, team foul #8 | 46-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Utter (C) Alphonso Bianchi | |
| 05:49 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith buries a 3pt jumper from the left corner on a great pass from Jeffrey Boykins | 49-50 |
| 05:45 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith is called for traveling in the backcourt | 49-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley (PF), Frank Harn (C) Calvin Saldana, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson (SF), Alphonso Bianchi (C) Lawrence Smith, Tyler Galaz | |
| 05:32 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley lays it in on a nice dish by Reginald Smith | 51-50 |
| 05:16 | Northwestern | William Boyle makes the pull-up jumper from the right side | 51-52 |
| 05:10 | Michigan State | William Boyle is called for the reach on Lewis Whitley in the backcourt - foul #2 on William Boyle, team foul #9 | 51-52 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG) Reginald Smith | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alfred Fong (SG), Tyler Galaz (PF) William Boyle, David Utter | |
| 05:10 | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley misses the 1st free throw | 51-52 |
| 05:10 | Northwestern | Alphonso Bianchi grabs the board | 51-52 |
| 04:57 | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson knocks in the driving attempt from the right block and he's hacked by Frank Harn - foul #2 on Frank Harn, team foul #7 | 51-54 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Calvin Saldana (PF) Lewis Whitley | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 04:57 | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson makes the free throw | 51-55 |
| 04:31 | Michigan State | Donald Melville misses the jump hook in the lane but the foul's on Marshall Baker - foul #2 on Marshall Baker, team foul #10 | 51-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Reginald Smith (PG), Marshall Bleau (SF), Lewis Whitley (PF), Jeffrey Boykins (C) Rocky Esposito, Lawrence Bell, Calvin Saldana, Frank Harn | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith (PG), Mark Fulton (SG) Marshall Baker, Spencer Hutcherson | |
| 04:31 | Michigan State | Donald Melville misses the 1st free throw | 51-55 |
| 04:31 | Michigan State | Donald Melville makes the 2nd free throw | 52-55 |
| 04:16 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton scores on a 3 pointer from the right corner set up by Tyler Galaz | 52-58 |
| 03:53 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith connects on the 3 pointer from the left wing set up by Jeffrey Boykins | 55-58 |
| 03:25 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton connects on the 3pt jumper from the right corner | 55-61 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Reginald Smith (tired) 23 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SG - Donald Melville (tiring) 9 pts. 2 ast. SF - Marshall Bleau (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 stl. PF - Lewis Whitley (tiring) 2 pts. 8 reb. C - Jeffrey Boykins (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Lawrence Smith (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SG - Mark Fulton (fresh) 17 pts. SF - Alfred Fong (fairly fresh) 5 pts. PF - Tyler Galaz (tiring) 3 pts. C - Alphonso Bianchi (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. 3 pf. | |
| 03:00 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Boykins makes the driving attempt in the lane and the foul's on Alfred Fong - foul #2 on Alfred Fong, team foul #11 | 57-61 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG), Lawrence Bell (SF), Calvin Saldana (PF) Donald Melville, Marshall Bleau, Lewis Whitley | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Simmons (PG), Marshall Baker (SG), Spencer Hutcherson (SF), Robert McGavock (PF), David Smith (C) Lawrence Smith, Mark Fulton, Alfred Fong, Tyler Galaz, Alphonso Bianchi | |
| 03:00 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Boykins misses the free throw | 57-61 |
| 03:00 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker grabs the board | 57-61 |
| 03:00 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 57-61 |
| 02:46 | Northwestern | David Smith comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 57-61 |
| 02:44 | Northwestern | Robert McGavock tips it but misses | 57-61 |
| 02:42 | Northwestern | David Smith gets the offensive rebound | 57-61 |
| 02:37 | Northwestern | Spencer Hutcherson buries a 3pt attempt from the left wing set up by Patrick Simmons | 57-64 |
| 02:08 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith misses the 3pt shot from the left corner | 57-64 |
| 02:06 | Northwestern | Robert McGavock grabs the board | 57-64 |
| 02:06 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 57-64 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Lewis Whitley (PF), Frank Harn (C) Calvin Saldana, Jeffrey Boykins | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith (PG), Mark Fulton (SG), Alphonso Bianchi (C) Patrick Simmons, Marshall Baker, David Smith | |
| 01:52 | Northwestern | Mark Fulton comes up short on the 3pt shot from the right corner | 57-64 |
| 01:50 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Spencer Hutcherson | 57-64 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 01:33 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith connects on the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 57-67 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| 01:04 | Michigan State | Reginald Smith misses badly on a 3 pointer from straight away | 57-67 |
| 01:03 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Rocky Esposito | 57-67 |
| 00:55 | Michigan State | Frank Harn connects on the fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 59-67 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| 00:52 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith is hacked by Reginald Smith in the backcourt - foul #3 on Reginald Smith, team foul #8 | 59-67 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Donald Melville (SG) Rocky Esposito | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marshall Baker (SF), David Smith (C) Spencer Hutcherson, Alphonso Bianchi | |
| 00:52 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith makes the 1st free throw | 59-68 |
| 00:52 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 59-69 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| 00:49 | Michigan State | Donald Melville is fouled in the backcourt by Mark Fulton - foul #2 on Mark Fulton, team foul #12 | 59-69 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alfred Fong (SG), Patrick Simmons (SF) Lawrence Smith, Mark Fulton | |
| 00:49 | Michigan State | Donald Melville makes the 1st free throw | 60-69 |
| 00:49 | Michigan State | Donald Melville makes the 2nd free throw | 61-69 |
| 00:47 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker is hacked by Reginald Smith in the backcourt - foul #4 on Reginald Smith, team foul #9 | 61-69 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith (PG), Mark Fulton (SG) Alfred Fong, Patrick Simmons | |
| 00:47 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 1st free throw | 61-70 |
| 00:47 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 2nd free throw | 61-71 |
| 00:43 | Michigan State | Frank Harn knocks in the fadeaway near the basket | 63-71 |
| 00:43 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 1 full remaining) | 63-71 |
| 00:42 | Northwestern | Reginald Smith is called for the reach on Lawrence Smith in the backcourt - foul #5 on Reginald Smith, team foul #10 | 63-71 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito (SG) Reginald Smith | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 00:42 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith makes the 1st free throw | 63-72 |
| 00:42 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 63-73 |
| 00:37 | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito hits a 3 pointer from straight away | 66-73 |
| 00:36 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker is fouled in the backcourt by Rocky Esposito - foul #3 on Rocky Esposito, team foul #11 | 66-73 |
| 00:36 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 1st free throw | 66-74 |
| 00:36 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 2nd free throw | 66-75 |
| 00:30 | Michigan State | Rocky Esposito's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 66-75 |
| 00:29 | Northwestern | Donald Melville is called for the reach on Robert McGavock in the backcourt - foul #1 on Donald Melville, team foul #12 | 66-75 |
| 00:29 | Northwestern | Robert McGavock misses the 1st free throw | 66-75 |
| 00:29 | Northwestern | Robert McGavock makes the 2nd free throw | 66-76 |
| 00:22 | Michigan State | Donald Melville is fouled on the floor by Robert McGavock - foul #2 on Robert McGavock, team foul #13 | 66-76 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Alfred Fong (SG), Patrick Simmons (SF) Lawrence Smith, Mark Fulton | |
| 00:22 | Michigan State | Donald Melville misses the 1st free throw | 66-76 |
| 00:22 | Michigan State | Donald Melville makes the 2nd free throw | 67-76 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker is fouled in the backcourt by Donald Melville - foul #2 on Donald Melville, team foul #13 | 67-76 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith (PG), Mark Fulton (SG) Alfred Fong, Patrick Simmons | |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 1st free throw | 67-77 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker makes the 2nd free throw | 67-78 |
| 00:15 | Michigan State | Lawrence Bell can't finish the layup | 67-78 |
| 00:14 | Northwestern | Marshall Baker grabs the defensive rebound | 67-78 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Lawrence Smith runs out the clock | 67-78 |