| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Boone (fresh) 15 pts. 2 ast. SG - John Zumwalt (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SF - Earl Schirmer (fresh) 1 pts. PF - James Blair (fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. C - Fadey Zwack (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Richard Leflore (fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Floyd Grosse (fresh) 2 pts. SF - Randy Cabana (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. PF - Willard James (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. C - Marco Lee (fresh) 5 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Randy Cabana inbounds the ball | 38-35 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 19:42 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse's pass is intercepted by David Boone | 38-35 |
| 19:17 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt is fouled on the floor by Marco Lee - foul #2 on Marco Lee, team foul #1 | 38-35 |
| 18:56 | Michigan State | Marco Lee swats the shot by David Boone | 38-35 |
| 18:55 | Michigan State | Earl Schirmer tips it home | 40-35 |
| 18:37 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse hits the front of the rim on the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 40-35 |
| 18:36 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt gets the rebound | 40-35 |
| 18:30 | Michigan State | David Boone is open but comes up short on the 3 from the left corner | 40-35 |
| 18:28 | Michigan State | James Blair snags the offensive board | 40-35 |
| 18:15 | Michigan State | David Boone buries a 3 from the right wing on a great pass from Fadey Zwack | 43-35 |
| 17:57 | Northwestern | James Blair is called for the reach on Richard Leflore - foul #2 on James Blair, team foul #1 | 43-35 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Jury (SG), Harry Evans (SF), James Hampton (PF) John Zumwalt, Earl Schirmer, James Blair | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Luther Heller (PG), Herman Hinton (SG), Alexander Wall (SF), Kenneth Scott (PF), John Vick (C) Richard Leflore, Floyd Grosse, Randy Cabana, Willard James, Marco Lee | |
| 17:48 | Northwestern | Herman Hinton hits a 3 pointer from the left wing | 43-38 |
| 17:25 | Michigan State | David Boone hits a 3pt shot from the right corner on a nice dish by Harry Evans | 46-38 |
| 17:07 | Northwestern | Harry Evans picks off the pass by Kenneth Scott | 46-38 |
| 16:51 | Michigan State | James Hampton is hacked by Kenneth Scott - foul #1 on Kenneth Scott, team foul #2 | 46-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Zumwalt (SG), James Blair (PF) David Boone, Fadey Zwack | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 16:25 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt misses short on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 46-38 |
| 16:23 | Northwestern | Kenneth Scott grabs the defensive rebound | 46-38 |
| 16:17 | Northwestern | Kenneth Scott misses long on a 3 pointer from straight away | 46-38 |
| 16:15 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt gets the rebound | 46-38 |
| 15:46 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt misses long on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 46-38 |
| 15:44 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Kenneth Scott | 46-38 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Richard Jury (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Zumwalt (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SF - Harry Evans (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - James Blair (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 7 reb. C - James Hampton (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Luther Heller (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Herman Hinton (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Alexander Wall (fairly fresh) 2 pts. PF - Kenneth Scott (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. C - John Vick (fairly fresh) | |
| 15:20 | Northwestern | Luther Heller loses the ball out of bounds | 46-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Boone (PG), Earl Schirmer (SF), Bruce Banks (PF), Fadey Zwack (C) Richard Jury, Harry Evans, James Blair, James Hampton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Leflore (PG), Floyd Grosse (SG), Randy Cabana (SF), Willard James (PF), Marco Lee (C) Luther Heller, Herman Hinton, Alexander Wall, Kenneth Scott, John Vick | |
| 14:51 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt is open and buries a jumper from just outside the lane set up by Fadey Zwack | 48-38 |
| 14:40 | Northwestern | John Zumwalt steals it from Willard James | 48-38 |
| 14:38 | Michigan State | Richard Leflore is called for the reach on David Boone in the backcourt - foul #3 on Richard Leflore, team foul #3 | 48-38 |
| 14:15 | Michigan State | Earl Schirmer can't connect on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 48-38 |
| 14:14 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Willard James | 48-38 |
| 14:01 | Northwestern | Willard James comes up short on the jump hook in the lane | 48-38 |
| 14:00 | Northwestern | Marco Lee snags the offensive board | 48-38 |
| 13:36 | Northwestern | Richard Leflore loses the dribble to Bruce Banks | 48-38 |
| 13:22 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt misses long on a shot from just outside the lane but he's hacked by Floyd Grosse - foul #3 on Floyd Grosse, team foul #4 | 48-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Jury (PG), James Blair (PF), James Hampton (C) David Boone, Bruce Banks, Fadey Zwack | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Luther Heller (PG), Herman Hinton (SG), Craig Anderson (SF) Richard Leflore, Floyd Grosse, Randy Cabana | |
| 13:22 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt makes the 1st free throw | 49-38 |
| 13:22 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt makes the 2nd free throw | 50-38 |
| 12:58 | Northwestern | Marco Lee drills a runner near the basket set up by Willard James | 50-40 |
| 12:31 | Michigan State | James Hampton connects on the jumper from the baseline set up by John Zumwalt | 52-40 |
| 12:13 | Northwestern | Craig Anderson comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the left wing | 52-40 |
| 12:11 | Michigan State | James Blair snags the defensive board | 52-40 |
| 11:47 | Michigan State | James Blair knocks in the fadeaway from the right side on a great pass from Earl Schirmer | 54-40 |
| 11:25 | Northwestern | Willard James scores on a runner in the paint on a nice dish by Herman Hinton | 54-42 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Richard Jury (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Zumwalt (tiring) 11 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Earl Schirmer (fairly fresh) 3 pts. PF - James Blair (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 8 reb. C - James Hampton (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Luther Heller (fairly fresh) 1 ast. SG - Herman Hinton (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Craig Anderson (fairly fresh) PF - Willard James (tiring) 8 pts. 3 reb. C - Marco Lee (tiring) 7 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 11:03 | Michigan State | James Hampton double dribbles | 54-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Boone (PG), Harry Evans (SF), Bruce Banks (PF), Fadey Zwack (C) John Zumwalt, Earl Schirmer, James Blair, James Hampton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Leflore (PG), Floyd Grosse (SG), Randy Cabana (SF), Kenneth Scott (PF), John Vick (C) Luther Heller, Herman Hinton, Craig Anderson, Willard James, Marco Lee | |
| 10:47 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse misses short on a jumper in the paint | 54-42 |
| 10:45 | Northwestern | John Vick tips it in | 54-44 |
| 10:42 | Michigan State | John Vick steals the ball from Richard Jury in the backcourt | 54-44 |
| 10:21 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse hits the front of the rim on the shot from the left side | 54-44 |
| 10:19 | Northwestern | Richard Leflore gets the offensive rebound | 54-44 |
| 09:54 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse misses the 3pt jumper from straight away | 54-44 |
| 09:52 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack grabs the defensive rebound | 54-44 |
| 09:25 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack comes up short on the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane | 54-44 |
| 09:23 | Northwestern | Randy Cabana snags the defensive board | 54-44 |
| 09:16 | Northwestern | Richard Leflore makes the 3pt shot from straight away on a great pass from Randy Cabana | 54-47 |
| 08:49 | Michigan State | David Boone buries a 3 from the right wing set up by Richard Jury | 57-47 |
| 08:44 | Northwestern | Richard Leflore comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the left side | 57-47 |
| 08:42 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack gets the rebound | 57-47 |
| 08:16 | Michigan State | David Boone comes up short on the 3 pointer from straight away | 57-47 |
| 08:15 | Northwestern | Randy Cabana grabs the board | 57-47 |
| 08:09 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse clanks a floater from the right side but the foul's on Fadey Zwack - foul #3 on Fadey Zwack, team foul #2 | 57-47 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Zumwalt (SG), Earl Schirmer (SF), James Blair (PF), James Hampton (C) Richard Jury, Harry Evans, Bruce Banks, Fadey Zwack | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Luther Heller (PG), Herman Hinton (SF), Willard James (PF), Alexander Wall (C) Richard Leflore, Randy Cabana, Kenneth Scott, John Vick | |
| 08:09 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse misses the 1st free throw | 57-47 |
| 08:09 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse makes the 2nd free throw | 57-48 |
| 07:41 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt loses the ball out of bounds | 57-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marco Lee (C) Floyd Grosse | |
| 07:23 | Northwestern | Alexander Wall's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 57-48 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Boone (fairly fresh) 24 pts. 2 ast. SG - John Zumwalt (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SF - Earl Schirmer (fairly fresh) 3 pts. PF - James Blair (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 8 reb. C - James Hampton (fresh) 6 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Luther Heller (fresh) 1 ast. SG - Herman Hinton (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Alexander Wall (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Willard James (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. C - Marco Lee (tiring) 7 pts. 6 reb. | |
| 06:54 | Michigan State | James Blair is whistled for a carry | 57-48 |
| 06:47 | Northwestern | Herman Hinton is fouled on the floor by James Blair - foul #3 on James Blair, team foul #3 | 57-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Craig Anderson (SF) Alexander Wall | |
| 06:36 | Northwestern | Luther Heller misses badly on a jumper from the free throw line | 57-48 |
| 06:35 | Michigan State | James Blair grabs the defensive rebound | 57-48 |
| 06:06 | Michigan State | David Boone can't finish the layup | 57-48 |
| 06:05 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt snags the offensive board | 57-48 |
| 05:48 | Michigan State | Luther Heller takes the ball from James Blair | 57-48 |
| 05:42 | Northwestern | Willard James misses the driving attempt near the basket but he's hacked by James Hampton - foul #2 on James Hampton, team foul #4 | 57-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack (C) James Hampton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Bob Brannigan (PG), Randy Cabana (SF), Alexander Wall (C) Luther Heller, Herman Hinton, Marco Lee | |
| 05:42 | Northwestern | Willard James makes the 1st free throw | 57-49 |
| 05:42 | Northwestern | Willard James misses the 2nd free throw | 57-49 |
| 05:42 | Michigan State | James Blair gets the rebound | 57-49 |
| 05:15 | Michigan State | James Blair clanks a turnaround in the paint but he's hacked by Craig Anderson - foul #1 on Craig Anderson, team foul #5 | 57-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Jury (SG) John Zumwalt | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Leflore (PG), Floyd Grosse (SG), Kenneth Scott (C) Bob Brannigan, Craig Anderson, Willard James | |
| 05:15 | Michigan State | James Blair makes the 1st free throw | 58-49 |
| 05:15 | Michigan State | James Blair makes the 2nd free throw | 59-49 |
| 05:01 | Northwestern | Alexander Wall clanks a pull-up jumper from the free throw line but he's hacked by Fadey Zwack - foul #4 on Fadey Zwack, team foul #5 | 59-49 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bruce Banks (PF) James Blair | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 05:01 | Northwestern | Alexander Wall misses the 1st free throw | 59-49 |
| 05:01 | Northwestern | Alexander Wall makes the 2nd free throw | 59-50 |
| 04:41 | Michigan State | Bruce Banks buries a turnaround near the basket set up by Richard Jury and he's fouled by Richard Leflore - foul #4 on Richard Leflore, team foul #6 | 61-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Harry Evans (SF) Earl Schirmer | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Willard James (PF) Alexander Wall | |
| 04:41 | Michigan State | Bruce Banks misses the free throw | 61-50 |
| 04:41 | Northwestern | Willard James grabs the board | 61-50 |
| 04:23 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse scores on a jumpshot from the right side | 61-52 |
| 03:59 | Michigan State | Willard James picks off the pass by Bruce Banks | 61-52 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 03:44 | Northwestern | Fadey Zwack blocks the short jumper by Randy Cabana | 61-52 |
| 03:43 | Northwestern | Kenneth Scott hits the follow up shot | 61-54 |
| 03:22 | Michigan State | David Boone clanks a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 61-54 |
| 03:20 | Northwestern | Willard James pulls down the rebound | 61-54 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Boone (tiring) 24 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Jury (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 ast. SF - Harry Evans (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. PF - Bruce Banks (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. C - Fadey Zwack (tiring) 2 reb. 2 blk. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Richard Leflore (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. 4 pf. SG - Floyd Grosse (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 3 pf. SF - Randy Cabana (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. PF - Willard James (tiring) 9 pts. 5 reb. C - Kenneth Scott (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 03:15 | Northwestern | Randy Cabana can't connect on a runner from the right block | 61-54 |
| 03:13 | Northwestern | Kenneth Scott snags the offensive board | 61-54 |
| 02:56 | Northwestern | Randy Cabana misses short on a shot from the free throw line but he's fouled by Harry Evans - foul #1 on Harry Evans, team foul #6 | 61-54 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Zumwalt (SG), Earl Schirmer (SF), James Blair (PF), James Hampton (C) David Boone, Harry Evans, Bruce Banks, Fadey Zwack | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Luther Heller (PG), Herman Hinton (SG), Alexander Wall (PF), John Vick (C) Richard Leflore, Floyd Grosse, Willard James, Kenneth Scott | |
| 02:56 | Northwestern | Randy Cabana misses the 1st free throw | 61-54 |
| 02:56 | Northwestern | Randy Cabana makes the 2nd free throw | 61-55 |
| 02:54 | Michigan State | Herman Hinton is called for the reach on Earl Schirmer in the backcourt - foul #2 on Herman Hinton, team foul #7 | 61-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Craig Anderson (SF) Randy Cabana | |
| 02:54 | Michigan State | Earl Schirmer misses the 1st free throw | 61-55 |
| 02:54 | Northwestern | John Vick snags the defensive board | 61-55 |
| 02:54 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 61-55 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | Luther Heller is hacked by Richard Jury in the backcourt - foul #3 on Richard Jury, team foul #7 | 61-55 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | Luther Heller makes the 1st free throw | 61-56 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | Luther Heller makes the 2nd free throw | 61-57 |
| 02:34 | Michigan State | Earl Schirmer is hacked by Craig Anderson - foul #2 on Craig Anderson, team foul #8 | 61-57 |
| 02:34 | Michigan State | Earl Schirmer makes the 1st free throw | 62-57 |
| 02:34 | Michigan State | Earl Schirmer makes the 2nd free throw | 63-57 |
| 02:17 | Northwestern | Luther Heller hits a fadeaway from the left side on a great pass from Herman Hinton | 63-59 |
| 01:51 | Michigan State | Richard Jury comes up short on the fadeaway jumper from the left side | 63-59 |
| 01:50 | Northwestern | Craig Anderson grabs the board | 63-59 |
| 01:50 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 63-59 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Boone (PG), Fadey Zwack (C) Richard Jury, James Hampton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Leflore (PG), Floyd Grosse (SG), Randy Cabana (SF), Willard James (PF), Marco Lee (C) Luther Heller, Herman Hinton, Craig Anderson, Alexander Wall, John Vick | |
| 01:33 | Northwestern | Willard James's fadeaway is rejected by Fadey Zwack | 63-59 |
| 01:32 | Michigan State | James Blair gets the rebound | 63-59 |
| 01:10 | Michigan State | Marco Lee is called for the reach on Fadey Zwack - foul #3 on Marco Lee, team foul #9 | 63-59 |
| 01:10 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack makes the 1st free throw | 64-59 |
| 01:10 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack makes the 2nd free throw | 65-59 |
| 00:56 | Northwestern | Willard James is hacked by James Blair - foul #4 on James Blair, team foul #8 | 65-59 |
| 00:56 | Northwestern | Willard James makes the 1st free throw | 65-60 |
| 00:56 | Northwestern | Willard James misses the 2nd free throw | 65-60 |
| 00:56 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack grabs the board | 65-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 00:30 | Michigan State | John Zumwalt makes the pull-up jumper from the left side set up by Fadey Zwack | 67-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 00:24 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse misses the 3 from the left wing | 67-60 |
| 00:22 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack grabs the defensive rebound | 67-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:19 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack is hacked by Richard Leflore in the backcourt - foul #5 on Richard Leflore, team foul #10 | 67-60 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Jury (SG) John Zumwalt | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Luther Heller (PG) Richard Leflore | |
| 00:19 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack makes the 1st free throw | 68-60 |
| 00:19 | Michigan State | Fadey Zwack makes the 2nd free throw | 69-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| 00:13 | Northwestern | Luther Heller hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 69-60 |
| 00:12 | Northwestern | Randy Cabana grabs the offensive board | 69-60 |
| 00:10 | Northwestern | Willard James loses the dribble to Earl Schirmer | 69-60 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Floyd Grosse is called for the reach on Richard Jury in the backcourt - foul #4 on Floyd Grosse, team foul #11 | 69-60 |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Richard Jury makes the 1st free throw | 70-60 |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Richard Jury misses the 2nd free throw | 70-60 |
| 00:09 | Northwestern | Marco Lee snags the defensive board | 70-60 |
| 00:04 | Northwestern | Floyd Grosse hits a 3pt attempt from the left corner on a nice dish by Luther Heller | 70-63 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-2) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | David Boone runs out the clock | 70-63 |