| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robin Franklin (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Martin Anderson (fresh) 9 pts. SF - James Gale (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Robert Jackson (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. 2 stl. C - Ross Hamm (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - William Allen (fresh) 3 pts. 3 ast. SG - James Taylor (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - William Hensley (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Tommy Jaramillo (fresh) C - Joseph White (fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | William Hensley inbounds the ball | 31-31 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 19:40 | Northwestern | William Allen is called for the illegal screen - foul #3 on William Allen, team foul #1 | 31-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Bell (PG) William Allen | |
| 19:17 | Michigan State | Robert Jackson makes the jump hook from the right block on a nice dish by Martin Anderson | 33-31 |
| 19:01 | Northwestern | Joseph White comes up short on the runner in the paint but he's fouled by Martin Anderson - foul #3 on Martin Anderson, team foul #1 | 33-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jason Valentine (SG) Martin Anderson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 19:01 | Northwestern | Joseph White misses the 1st free throw | 33-31 |
| 19:01 | Northwestern | Joseph White misses the 2nd free throw | 33-31 |
| 19:01 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Robert Jackson | 33-31 |
| 18:46 | Michigan State | Jason Valentine throws a bad pass out of bounds | 33-31 |
| 18:20 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo's fadeaway is rejected by Robert Jackson | 33-31 |
| 18:18 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo tips it back up and in | 33-33 |
| 18:07 | Michigan State | Jason Valentine is fouled on the floor by James Taylor - foul #2 on James Taylor, team foul #2 | 33-33 |
| 17:59 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin knocks in the 3pt attempt from straight away | 36-33 |
| 17:46 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo clanks a fadeaway from just outside the lane but he's fouled by Robert Jackson - foul #2 on Robert Jackson, team foul #2 | 36-33 |
| 17:46 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo misses the 1st free throw | 36-33 |
| 17:46 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo makes the 2nd free throw | 36-34 |
| 17:32 | Michigan State | Jason Valentine comes up short on the jumper from the right wing | 36-34 |
| 17:30 | Michigan State | James Gale pulls down the offensive rebound | 36-34 |
| 17:18 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin misses badly on a jumpshot from just outside the lane | 36-34 |
| 17:16 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo gets the rebound | 36-34 |
| 16:55 | Northwestern | James Taylor knocks in the 3pt attempt from the left corner on a great pass from Michael Bell | 36-37 |
| 16:37 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm comes up short on the shot from the right wing | 36-37 |
| 16:36 | Northwestern | Joseph White snags the defensive board | 36-37 |
| 16:07 | Northwestern | Joseph White clanks a fadeaway from the free throw line | 36-37 |
| 16:06 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Ross Hamm | 36-37 |
| 16:02 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin misses badly on a jumpshot from the free throw line but he's hacked by Michael Bell - foul #1 on Michael Bell, team foul #3 | 36-37 |
| 16:02 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin makes the 1st free throw | 37-37 |
| 16:02 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin makes the 2nd free throw | 38-37 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robin Franklin (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 ast. SG - Jason Valentine (fresh) 8 pts. SF - James Gale (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Robert Jackson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 2 stl. C - Ross Hamm (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Michael Bell (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. SG - James Taylor (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - William Hensley (fairly fresh) 4 pts. PF - Tommy Jaramillo (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. C - Joseph White (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 15:43 | Northwestern | Joseph White connects on the jumper near the basket | 38-39 |
| 15:21 | Michigan State | James Gale connects on the 3 pointer from the right corner set up by Robin Franklin | 41-39 |
| 15:03 | Northwestern | William Hensley is fouled on the floor by James Gale - foul #1 on James Gale, team foul #3 | 41-39 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Mark Britton (PG), Martin Anderson (SG) Robin Franklin, Jason Valentine | |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Allen (PG) Michael Bell | |
| 14:34 | Northwestern | William Allen buries a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 41-42 |
| 14:10 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm buries a shot from close range | 43-42 |
| 13:51 | Northwestern | Robert Jackson blocks the 3 pointer from the left wing by William Allen | 43-42 |
| 13:49 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm grabs the board | 43-42 |
| 13:45 | Michigan State | James Gale misses short on a 3 pointer from the right wing | 43-42 |
| 13:43 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm pulls down the offensive rebound | 43-42 |
| 13:30 | Michigan State | James Gale clanks a 3pt jumper from the left corner but he's hacked by William Hensley - foul #3 on William Hensley, team foul #4 | 43-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Timothy Dittmer (PF) Robert Jackson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Bell (SF), Tom Berry (PF) William Hensley, Tommy Jaramillo | |
| 13:30 | Michigan State | James Gale makes the 1st free throw | 44-42 |
| 13:30 | Michigan State | James Gale makes the 2nd free throw | 45-42 |
| 13:30 | Michigan State | James Gale misses the 3rd free throw | 45-42 |
| 13:30 | Northwestern | Tom Berry snags the defensive board | 45-42 |
| 13:04 | Northwestern | Michael Bell knocks in the 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by Tom Berry | 45-45 |
| 12:39 | Michigan State | James Gale scores on a fadeaway from the right wing on a nice dish by Mark Britton | 47-45 |
| 12:10 | Northwestern | Tom Berry is fouled on the floor by Martin Anderson - foul #4 on Martin Anderson, team foul #4 | 47-45 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robin Franklin (PG), Jason Valentine (SG), Robert Jackson (PF) Mark Britton, Martin Anderson, Ross Hamm | |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Hensley (SF), Tommy Jaramillo (PF) Michael Bell, Joseph White | |
| 11:48 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo scores on a shot from the baseline on a nice dish by William Hensley and he's fouled by Robert Jackson - foul #3 on Robert Jackson, team foul #5 | 47-47 |
| 11:48 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo makes the free throw | 47-48 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robin Franklin (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SG - Jason Valentine (fresh) 8 pts. SF - James Gale (tiring) 12 pts. 2 reb. PF - Robert Jackson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. 3 pf. C - Timothy Dittmer (fresh) 4 reb. 2 stl. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - William Allen (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. 3 pf. SG - James Taylor (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - William Hensley (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 3 pf. PF - Tommy Jaramillo (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. C - Tom Berry (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 11:28 | Michigan State | James Gale misses badly on a driving attempt from the baseline | 47-48 |
| 11:27 | Northwestern | William Hensley grabs the board | 47-48 |
| 11:09 | Northwestern | Jason Valentine steals it from Tom Berry | 47-48 |
| 11:05 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin hits the finger roll on a nice dish by Jason Valentine | 49-48 |
| 10:38 | Northwestern | Tom Berry is called for traveling | 49-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Ross Hamm (C) Timothy Dittmer | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Bell (SG), Clarence Gay (SF), Edward Midgette (C) James Taylor, William Hensley, Tommy Jaramillo | |
| 10:27 | Michigan State | James Gale lays it up and in on a great pass from Jason Valentine | 51-48 |
| 10:11 | Northwestern | Edward Midgette is open and buries a jumper in the lane on a great pass from Michael Bell | 51-50 |
| 09:53 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin makes the shot in the lane on a great pass from James Gale | 53-50 |
| 09:33 | Northwestern | William Allen can't connect on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 53-50 |
| 09:32 | Michigan State | Robert Jackson gets the rebound | 53-50 |
| 09:26 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm is hacked by Edward Midgette - foul #1 on Edward Midgette, team foul #5 | 53-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Timothy Dittmer (PF) Robert Jackson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Taylor (SG), William Hensley (SF), Tommy Jaramillo (PF), Joseph White (C) Michael Bell, Clarence Gay, Tom Berry, Edward Midgette | |
| 09:21 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin makes the pull-up jumper from the right wing | 55-50 |
| 08:57 | Northwestern | William Hensley connects on the jump hook in the paint | 55-52 |
| 08:51 | Michigan State | James Taylor is called for the reach on Timothy Dittmer - foul #3 on James Taylor, team foul #6 | 55-52 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Mark Britton (PG), Thomas Lancaster (SF) Robin Franklin, Jason Valentine | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 08:39 | Michigan State | Timothy Dittmer is called for a moving pick - foul #3 on Timothy Dittmer, team foul #6 | 55-52 |
| 08:19 | Northwestern | William Allen drills a 3 from straight away set up by William Hensley | 55-55 |
| 08:13 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm loses the dribble to William Allen | 55-55 |
| 07:52 | Northwestern | William Hensley hits the front of the rim on the driving attempt from close range | 55-55 |
| 07:51 | Northwestern | William Hensley snags the offensive board | 55-55 |
| 07:30 | Northwestern | James Taylor makes the fadeaway jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Tommy Jaramillo | 55-57 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Mark Britton (fresh) 2 ast. SG - James Gale (tiring) 14 pts. 2 reb. SF - Thomas Lancaster (fresh) PF - Timothy Dittmer (fairly fresh) 4 reb. 2 stl. 3 pf. C - Ross Hamm (tiring) 4 pts. 8 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - William Allen (tiring) 9 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - James Taylor (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. 3 pf. SF - William Hensley (tiring) 6 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. PF - Tommy Jaramillo (tiring) 6 pts. 3 reb. C - Joseph White (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 07:14 | Michigan State | James Gale scores on a fadeaway from the free throw line on a nice dish by Mark Britton | 57-57 |
| 06:46 | Northwestern | James Taylor misses badly on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 57-57 |
| 06:45 | Michigan State | Thomas Lancaster gets the rebound | 57-57 |
| 06:39 | Michigan State | James Gale misses short on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 57-57 |
| 06:37 | Northwestern | William Allen grabs the board | 57-57 |
| 06:12 | Northwestern | William Allen misses badly on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 57-57 |
| 06:11 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm snags the defensive board | 57-57 |
| 06:07 | Michigan State | James Gale banks in the layup set up by Thomas Lancaster and he's fouled by James Taylor - foul #4 on James Taylor, team foul #7 | 59-57 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robin Franklin (PG), Martin Anderson (SG), Robert Jackson (PF) Mark Britton, Thomas Lancaster, Ross Hamm | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Bell (PG), Woodrow Carlson (SG), Clarence Gay (SF), Tom Berry (PF), Edward Midgette (C) William Allen, James Taylor, William Hensley, Tommy Jaramillo, Joseph White | |
| 06:07 | Michigan State | James Gale makes the free throw | 60-57 |
| 05:49 | Northwestern | Woodrow Carlson's pass is intercepted by Timothy Dittmer | 60-57 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 05:44 | Michigan State | Tom Berry steps in front of the James Gale pass | 60-57 |
| 05:19 | Northwestern | Tom Berry double dribbles | 60-57 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Thomas Lancaster (SF) James Gale | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 05:04 | Michigan State | Martin Anderson hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the right corner | 60-57 |
| 05:02 | Northwestern | Tom Berry snags the defensive board | 60-57 |
| 04:55 | Northwestern | Tom Berry hits the front of the rim on the floater from the left block but he's fouled by Robert Jackson - foul #4 on Robert Jackson, team foul #7 | 60-57 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Taylor (SG), Joseph White (C) Woodrow Carlson, Edward Midgette | |
| 04:55 | Northwestern | Tom Berry makes the 1st free throw | 60-58 |
| 04:55 | Northwestern | Tom Berry makes the 2nd free throw | 60-59 |
| 04:47 | Michigan State | Martin Anderson buries a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Robin Franklin | 62-59 |
| 04:26 | Northwestern | Joseph White can't finish the layup | 62-59 |
| 04:25 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin gets the rebound | 62-59 |
| 04:20 | Michigan State | Thomas Lancaster throws a bad pass out of bounds | 62-59 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Michael Hooks (C) Timothy Dittmer | |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Allen (PG) Clarence Gay | |
| 03:51 | Northwestern | William Allen clanks a 3pt shot from the right wing | 62-59 |
| 03:49 | Michigan State | Thomas Lancaster grabs the defensive rebound | 62-59 |
| 03:45 | Michigan State | Martin Anderson misses long on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 62-59 |
| 03:44 | Northwestern | Michael Bell gets the rebound | 62-59 |
| 03:34 | Northwestern | Michael Bell misses long on an open jumpshot from the left side | 62-59 |
| 03:33 | Michigan State | Michael Hooks snags the defensive board | 62-59 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robin Franklin (fresh) 13 pts. 4 ast. SG - Martin Anderson (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. 4 pf. SF - Thomas Lancaster (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Robert Jackson (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 4 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. 4 pf. C - Michael Hooks (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - William Allen (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - James Taylor (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. 4 pf. SF - Michael Bell (fresh) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - Tom Berry (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 5 reb. C - Joseph White (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 03:26 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin misses the lay-in but he's fouled by Tom Berry - foul #2 on Tom Berry, team foul #8 | 62-59 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jason Valentine (SG), James Gale (SF), Ross Hamm (C) Martin Anderson, Thomas Lancaster, Michael Hooks | |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Hensley (SF), Tommy Jaramillo (PF) Michael Bell, Tom Berry | |
| 03:26 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin makes the 1st free throw | 63-59 |
| 03:26 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin misses the 2nd free throw | 63-59 |
| 03:26 | Northwestern | Joseph White pulls down the rebound | 63-59 |
| 03:01 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo's pass is intercepted by James Gale | 63-59 |
| 02:57 | Michigan State | Jason Valentine banks in the layup set up by James Gale | 65-59 |
| 02:32 | Northwestern | Joseph White blows the dunk | 65-59 |
| 02:31 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo can't tip it in | 65-59 |
| 02:30 | Northwestern | Joseph White hits the follow up shot | 65-61 |
| 02:13 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm clanks a fadeaway in the lane but the foul's on Tommy Jaramillo - foul #3 on Tommy Jaramillo, team foul #9 | 65-61 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Mark Britton (PG) Robin Franklin | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Bell (PG), Woodrow Carlson (SG), Tom Berry (C) William Allen, James Taylor, Joseph White | |
| 02:13 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm makes the 1st free throw | 66-61 |
| 02:13 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm makes the 2nd free throw | 67-61 |
| 02:11 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 67-61 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Martin Anderson (SG) Jason Valentine | |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Allen (PG), James Taylor (SG) Michael Bell, Woodrow Carlson | |
| 01:53 | Northwestern | William Allen clanks a fadeaway from the left side but the foul's on Mark Britton - foul #1 on Mark Britton, team foul #8 | 67-61 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robin Franklin (PG) Mark Britton | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Joseph White (C) Tom Berry | |
| 01:53 | Northwestern | William Allen makes the 1st free throw | 67-62 |
| 01:53 | Northwestern | William Allen misses the 2nd free throw | 67-62 |
| 01:53 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm snags the defensive board | 67-62 |
| 01:46 | Michigan State | William Allen steps in front of the Robert Jackson pass | 67-62 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 01:23 | Northwestern | William Allen hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from straight away | 67-62 |
| 01:21 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm pulls down the rebound | 67-62 |
| 01:13 | Michigan State | James Gale can't connect on a driving attempt from the left block | 67-62 |
| 01:11 | Northwestern | Tommy Jaramillo pulls down the rebound | 67-62 |
| 00:45 | Northwestern | William Allen connects on the 3 pointer from the right wing | 67-65 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 00:39 | Michigan State | Robin Franklin misses long on a shot from the right wing | 67-65 |
| 00:37 | Northwestern | William Allen grabs the defensive rebound | 67-65 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a 3-2 zone (0) | |
| 00:16 | Northwestern | William Hensley misses short on a jumper from the right side | 67-65 |
| 00:15 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm grabs the defensive rebound | 67-65 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:12 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm is fouled in the backcourt by William Allen - foul #4 on William Allen, team foul #10 | 67-65 |
| 00:12 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm makes the 1st free throw | 68-65 |
| 00:12 | Michigan State | Ross Hamm makes the 2nd free throw | 69-65 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a halfcourt press/3-2 zone (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:04 | Northwestern | James Taylor clanks a 3pt shot from the right wing | 69-65 |
| 00:03 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to James Taylor | 69-65 |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Martin Anderson takes the ball from William Hensley | 69-65 |