| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Sean Burton (fresh) 3 pts. SG - Eugene Pfeiffer (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Orville Lange (fresh) 2 pts. PF - James Blair (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. C - Terry Fleming (fresh) 1 pts. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Freddy Derryberry (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - George Poole (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SF - Thomas Betancourt (fresh) 2 pts. PF - Robert Warren (fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. C - Eugene Hale (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt inbounds the ball | 20-24 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (0) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-4) | |
| 19:35 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry misses badly on a fadeaway jumper from the left side | 20-24 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | James Blair pulls down the rebound | 20-24 |
| 19:24 | Northwestern | Sean Burton misses short on a fadeaway in the paint | 20-24 |
| 19:23 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming grabs the offensive board | 20-24 |
| 19:04 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer makes the jumper from close range on a nice dish by Sean Burton | 22-24 |
| 18:43 | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt hits a jump hook from the right block set up by Freddy Derryberry | 22-26 |
| 18:17 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer knocks in the jump hook from the right block set up by James Blair | 24-26 |
| 17:54 | Michigan State | George Poole misses the pull-up jumper from the right side | 24-26 |
| 17:53 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming grabs the board | 24-26 |
| 17:28 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming makes the fadeaway from the baseline on a great pass from James Blair and he's fouled by Thomas Betancourt - foul #3 on Thomas Betancourt, team foul #1 | 26-26 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (PG), Chuck Moore (SG), Timothy Williams (PF), Thomas Combs (C) Sean Burton, Eugene Pfeiffer, Orville Lange, James Blair | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Patin (SF) Thomas Betancourt | |
| 17:28 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming makes the free throw | 27-26 |
| 17:16 | Michigan State | George Poole makes the floater from the right wing on a nice dish by Robert Patin and he's hacked by Timothy Williams - foul #2 on Timothy Williams, team foul #1 | 27-28 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Orville Lange (SF) Terry Fleming | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Damian McComack (PF) Robert Warren | |
| 17:16 | Michigan State | George Poole misses the free throw | 27-28 |
| 17:16 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams grabs the defensive rebound | 27-28 |
| 16:55 | Northwestern | Chuck Moore misses short on a fadeaway from the right wing | 27-28 |
| 16:54 | Michigan State | Robert Patin pulls down the rebound | 27-28 |
| 16:37 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale misses the dunk | 27-28 |
| 16:36 | Northwestern | Thomas Combs pulls down the rebound | 27-28 |
| 16:18 | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen is fouled on the floor by Freddy Derryberry - foul #2 on Freddy Derryberry, team foul #2 | 27-28 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Blair (SF) Orville Lange | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy (PG) Freddy Derryberry | |
| 15:53 | Northwestern | Thomas Combs's floater is tipped away by Eugene Hale | 27-28 |
| 15:52 | Northwestern | Thomas Combs pulls down the offensive rebound | 27-28 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Jeffery Brannen (fresh) SG - Chuck Moore (fresh) SF - James Blair (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Timothy Williams (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Thomas Combs (fresh) 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murphy (fresh) 2 pts. SG - George Poole (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SF - Robert Patin (fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. PF - Damian McComack (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - Eugene Hale (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 15:30 | Northwestern | Damian McComack swats the layup by James Blair | 27-28 |
| 15:29 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale pulls down the rebound | 27-28 |
| 15:12 | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy clanks a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 27-28 |
| 15:11 | Northwestern | James Blair grabs the board | 27-28 |
| 14:53 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams misses the fadeaway jumper from the left wing | 27-28 |
| 14:52 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Damian McComack | 27-28 |
| 14:36 | Michigan State | Damian McComack connects on the shot from the right block on a nice dish by Joseph Murphy and he's fouled by Timothy Williams - foul #3 on Timothy Williams, team foul #2 | 27-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Sean Burton (SF) James Blair | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry (PG), Thomas Betancourt (SF) Joseph Murphy, Robert Patin | |
| 14:36 | Michigan State | Damian McComack misses the free throw | 27-30 |
| 14:36 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams gets the rebound | 27-30 |
| 14:09 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams drills a shot in the paint set up by Jeffery Brannen | 29-30 |
| 14:04 | Michigan State | George Poole hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from straight away | 29-30 |
| 14:02 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams grabs the board | 29-30 |
| 13:36 | Northwestern | Chuck Moore double dribbles | 29-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Charles Foster (PG), Eugene Pfeiffer (SG), Orville Lange (SF), Chas Reimann (PF) Jeffery Brannen, Chuck Moore, Sean Burton, Timothy Williams | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Warren (PF), Richard Waters (C) Damian McComack, Eugene Hale | |
| 13:18 | Michigan State | George Poole is whistled for traveling | 29-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (SG) Eugene Pfeiffer | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 12:52 | Northwestern | Orville Lange knocks in the pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Charles Foster | 31-30 |
| 12:33 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry is fouled on the floor by Chas Reimann - foul #2 on Chas Reimann, team foul #3 | 31-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer (SG), Sean Burton (SF), Timothy Williams (PF), Terry Fleming (C) Jeffery Brannen, Orville Lange, Chas Reimann, Thomas Combs | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Scot Mastin (SG) George Poole | |
| 12:18 | Michigan State | Scot Mastin is called for the illegal screen - foul #1 on Scot Mastin, team foul #3 | 31-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Chas Reimann (PF) Timothy Williams | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy (PG) Freddy Derryberry | |
| 11:52 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming makes the fadeaway near the basket on a nice dish by Chas Reimann | 33-30 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Charles Foster (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Eugene Pfeiffer (fresh) 7 pts. SF - Sean Burton (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. PF - Chas Reimann (fresh) C - Terry Fleming (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murphy (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Scot Mastin (fresh) SF - Thomas Betancourt (fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. PF - Robert Warren (fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. C - Richard Waters (fresh) | |
| 11:36 | Michigan State | The short jumper by Robert Warren is denied by Terry Fleming | 33-30 |
| 11:34 | Northwestern | Chas Reimann snags the defensive board | 33-30 |
| 11:05 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer connects on the shot from the left side on a nice dish by Charles Foster | 35-30 |
| 10:58 | Michigan State | Robert Warren misses the lay-in | 35-30 |
| 10:56 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer pulls down the rebound | 35-30 |
| 10:52 | Northwestern | Sean Burton is hacked by Richard Waters - foul #1 on Richard Waters, team foul #4 | 35-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (SG), James Blair (SF), Timothy Williams (PF), Thomas Combs (C) Eugene Pfeiffer, Sean Burton, Chas Reimann, Terry Fleming | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry (PG), George Poole (SG), Robert Patin (SF), Damian McComack (PF), Eugene Hale (C) Joseph Murphy, Scot Mastin, Thomas Betancourt, Robert Warren, Richard Waters | |
| 10:40 | Northwestern | Robert Patin is called for the reach on James Blair - foul #2 on Robert Patin, team foul #5 | 35-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Orville Lange (SF) James Blair | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 10:17 | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen is fouled on the floor by Freddy Derryberry - foul #3 on Freddy Derryberry, team foul #6 | 35-30 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Blair (SF) Orville Lange | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 10:01 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams slams it home | 37-30 |
| 09:38 | Michigan State | The short jumper by George Poole is denied by Thomas Combs | 37-30 |
| 09:36 | Northwestern | Thomas Combs snags the defensive board | 37-30 |
| 09:12 | Northwestern | Damian McComack swats the short shot by Timothy Williams | 37-30 |
| 09:11 | Michigan State | Robert Patin grabs the defensive rebound | 37-30 |
| 08:50 | Michigan State | Robert Patin makes the jumper from the right block set up by Freddy Derryberry | 37-32 |
| 08:21 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams misses short on a floater from close range but he's fouled by Damian McComack - foul #3 on Damian McComack, team foul #7 | 37-32 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Sean Burton (PG), Eugene Pfeiffer (SG), Orville Lange (SF), Terry Fleming (C) Charles Foster, Jeffery Brannen, James Blair, Thomas Combs | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy (PG), Scot Mastin (SG), Thomas Betancourt (SF), Robert Warren (PF) Freddy Derryberry, George Poole, Robert Patin, Damian McComack | |
| 08:21 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams makes the 1st free throw | 38-32 |
| 08:21 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams makes the 2nd free throw | 39-32 |
| 07:59 | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy misses short on a 3 from the left wing | 39-32 |
| 07:58 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale tips it but misses | 39-32 |
| 07:57 | Northwestern | Sean Burton snags the defensive board | 39-32 |
| 07:35 | Northwestern | The jump hook by Terry Fleming is blocked by Robert Warren | 39-32 |
| 07:33 | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy grabs the board | 39-32 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Sean Burton (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Eugene Pfeiffer (fresh) 9 pts. SF - Orville Lange (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Timothy Williams (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. C - Terry Fleming (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Joseph Murphy (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Scot Mastin (fresh) SF - Thomas Betancourt (fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. PF - Robert Warren (fresh) 7 pts. 6 reb. 2 blk. C - Eugene Hale (tiring) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 07:30 | Michigan State | Joseph Murphy is hacked by Sean Burton in the backcourt - foul #2 on Sean Burton, team foul #4 | 39-32 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Chas Reimann (PF) Timothy Williams | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Waters (C) Eugene Hale | |
| 07:15 | Michigan State | Scot Mastin makes the runner in the paint | 39-34 |
| 06:53 | Northwestern | Eugene Pfeiffer misses the floater near the basket | 39-34 |
| 06:51 | Michigan State | Robert Warren snags the defensive board | 39-34 |
| 06:41 | Michigan State | Robert Warren connects on the runner from the baseline set up by Scot Mastin | 39-36 |
| 06:16 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming is fouled on the floor by Richard Waters - foul #2 on Richard Waters, team foul #8 | 39-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (PG), James Blair (SF) Sean Burton, Orville Lange | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry (PG), George Poole (SG) Joseph Murphy, Scot Mastin | |
| 06:16 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming makes the 1st free throw | 40-36 |
| 06:16 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming makes the 2nd free throw | 41-36 |
| 06:02 | Michigan State | Terry Fleming picks off the pass by Thomas Betancourt | 41-36 |
| 05:39 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming misses the easy layup but he's hacked by Richard Waters - foul #3 on Richard Waters, team foul #9 | 41-36 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Sean Burton (PG), Chuck Moore (SG), Orville Lange (SF) Jeffery Brannen, Eugene Pfeiffer, James Blair | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Patin (SF), Damian McComack (PF), Eugene Hale (C) Thomas Betancourt, Robert Warren, Richard Waters | |
| 05:39 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming misses the 1st free throw | 41-36 |
| 05:39 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming makes the 2nd free throw | 42-36 |
| 05:11 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry clanks a 3pt shot from the right wing | 42-36 |
| 05:10 | Michigan State | George Poole grabs the offensive board | 42-36 |
| 04:55 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry misses badly on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 42-36 |
| 04:54 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming snags the defensive board | 42-36 |
| 04:25 | Northwestern | Sean Burton loses the dribble to Eugene Hale | 42-36 |
| 03:59 | Michigan State | George Poole makes the jumpshot from the free throw line on a great pass from Freddy Derryberry | 42-38 |
| 03:35 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming drills a floater in the paint | 44-38 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Sean Burton (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SG - Chuck Moore (fresh) SF - Orville Lange (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Chas Reimann (fairly fresh) 2 reb. C - Terry Fleming (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 4 reb. 3 blk. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Freddy Derryberry (fresh) 3 pts. 4 ast. 3 pf. SG - George Poole (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SF - Robert Patin (fresh) 5 pts. 4 reb. PF - Damian McComack (fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. 3 pf. C - Eugene Hale (tiring) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 03:18 | Michigan State | Robert Patin drills a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 44-41 |
| 03:12 | Northwestern | Sean Burton can't connect on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 44-41 |
| 03:10 | Michigan State | Damian McComack pulls down the rebound | 44-41 |
| 03:10 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 44-41 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jeffery Brannen (PG), Eugene Pfeiffer (SG), James Blair (SF), Timothy Williams (PF), Thomas Combs (C) Sean Burton, Chuck Moore, Orville Lange, Chas Reimann, Terry Fleming | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Betancourt (SF), Robert Warren (PF) Robert Patin, Damian McComack | |
| 02:53 | Michigan State | George Poole travels with the ball | 44-41 |
| 02:35 | Northwestern | Timothy Williams is whistled for an offensive foul - foul #4 on Timothy Williams, team foul #5 | 44-41 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Charles Foster (PG) Jeffery Brannen | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 02:11 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry makes the 3pt shot from the left corner set up by George Poole | 44-44 |
| 01:48 | Northwestern | Charles Foster is fouled on the floor by Freddy Derryberry - foul #4 on Freddy Derryberry, team foul #10 | 44-44 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Orville Lange (SF), Terry Fleming (C) Timothy Williams, Thomas Combs | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 01:48 | Northwestern | Charles Foster makes the 1st free throw | 45-44 |
| 01:48 | Northwestern | Charles Foster makes the 2nd free throw | 46-44 |
| 01:30 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale loses the dribble to Eugene Pfeiffer | 46-44 |
| 01:11 | Northwestern | Terry Fleming double dribbles | 46-44 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Sean Burton (PG) Charles Foster | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 01:02 | Michigan State | Freddy Derryberry buries a 3 from the right corner | 46-47 |
| 00:37 | Northwestern | Sean Burton hits the front of the rim on the 3 from straight away | 46-47 |
| 00:36 | Michigan State | Robert Warren grabs the defensive rebound | 46-47 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 00:35 | Michigan State | Robert Warren is hacked by Eugene Pfeiffer in the backcourt - foul #1 on Eugene Pfeiffer, team foul #6 | 46-47 |
| 00:33 | Michigan State | Robert Warren is hacked by James Blair - foul #1 on James Blair, team foul #7 | 46-47 |
| 00:33 | Michigan State | Robert Warren makes the 1st free throw | 46-48 |
| 00:33 | Michigan State | Robert Warren makes the 2nd free throw | 46-49 |
| 00:09 | Northwestern | Sean Burton misses short on a 3 from the left corner | 46-49 |
| 00:08 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale grabs the defensive rebound | 46-49 |
| 00:07 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale is hacked by Eugene Pfeiffer in the backcourt - foul #2 on Eugene Pfeiffer, team foul #8 | 46-49 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Patin (SF) Thomas Betancourt | |
| 00:07 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale makes the 1st free throw | 46-50 |
| 00:07 | Michigan State | Eugene Hale makes the 2nd free throw | 46-51 |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (-4) | |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Sean Burton connects on the 3 from the left wing | 49-51 |