| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - John Brown (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jonas Richardson (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Matthew Foret (fresh) 5 pts. 2 reb. PF - Leland Bopp (fresh) 10 pts. 2 reb. C - James Gregory (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Darrell Pate (fresh) 2 pts. 3 ast. SG - Martin Thompson (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. SF - Keith Asbury (fresh) 8 pts. 1 ast. PF - Cecil Oliveras (fresh) 6 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. C - Jonathan Yang (fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | Matthew Foret inbounds the ball | 27-32 |
| 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 (-1) | |
| 19:47 | Northwestern | James Gregory misses short on a fadeaway jumper from the right wing but he's hacked by Cecil Oliveras - foul #2 on Cecil Oliveras, team foul #1 | 27-32 |
| 19:47 | Northwestern | James Gregory makes the 1st free throw | 28-32 |
| 19:47 | Northwestern | James Gregory makes the 2nd free throw | 29-32 |
| 19:28 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang can't connect on a shot in the paint | 29-32 |
| 19:27 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate hits the follow up shot | 29-34 |
| 19:09 | Northwestern | John Brown knocks in the pull-up jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Leland Bopp | 31-34 |
| 18:47 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury splits the doubleteam and buries a jumpshot from the left wing | 31-36 |
| 18:28 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp scores on a floater from just outside the lane | 33-36 |
| 17:59 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate connects on the open fadeaway in the paint on a nice dish by Martin Thompson and the foul's on Jonas Richardson - foul #2 on Jonas Richardson, team foul #1 | 33-38 |
| 17:59 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate misses the free throw | 33-38 |
| 17:59 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson grabs the board | 33-38 |
| 17:46 | Northwestern | Matthew Foret throws a bad pass out of bounds | 33-38 |
| 17:28 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate is hacked by John Brown - foul #2 on John Brown, team foul #2 | 33-38 |
| 17:12 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury is fouled on the floor by James Gregory - foul #4 on James Gregory, team foul #3 | 33-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Carter (C) James Gregory | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alan Black (PF), Kermit Hedlund (C) Cecil Oliveras, Jonathan Yang | |
| 16:46 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund is called for 5 seconds | 33-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels (PG), George Hutchcraft (SF) John Brown, Matthew Foret | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Matthew Forte (SG), Arnold Johnson (SF) Darrell Pate, Martin Thompson | |
| 16:26 | Northwestern | Kermit Hedlund steals it from Leland Bopp | 33-38 |
| 15:57 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund misses the lay-in | 33-38 |
| 15:56 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp grabs the defensive rebound | 33-38 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Darryl Daniels (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jonas Richardson (fairly fresh) 6 pts. SF - George Hutchcraft (fresh) PF - Leland Bopp (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. C - James Carter (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Keith Asbury (fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. SG - Matthew Forte (fresh) SF - Arnold Johnson (fresh) PF - Alan Black (fresh) C - Kermit Hedlund (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 15:53 | Northwestern | Keith Asbury steals the ball from Darryl Daniels in the backcourt | 33-38 |
| 15:26 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 33-38 |
| 15:25 | Michigan State | Alan Black snags the offensive board | 33-38 |
| 15:05 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund comes up short on the floater in the lane | 33-38 |
| 15:04 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to George Hutchcraft | 33-38 |
| 14:48 | Northwestern | Kermit Hedlund is called for the reach on George Hutchcraft - foul #2 on Kermit Hedlund, team foul #2 | 33-38 |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Brown (PG), Lyle Carr (SG), Matthew Foret (SF) Darryl Daniels, Jonas Richardson, George Hutchcraft | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Darrell Pate (PG), Martin Thompson (SG), Cecil Oliveras (PF), Jonathan Yang (C) Matthew Forte, Arnold Johnson, Alan Black, Kermit Hedlund | |
| 14:31 | Northwestern | John Brown misses badly on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 33-38 |
| 14:29 | Northwestern | James Carter tips it in | 35-38 |
| 14:00 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang buries a runner from the left block on a great pass from Martin Thompson | 35-40 |
| 13:45 | Northwestern | Lyle Carr drills a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 38-40 |
| 13:21 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang hits the front of the rim on the wide open jumper near the basket | 38-40 |
| 13:20 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson grabs the offensive board | 38-40 |
| 13:04 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson's pass is intercepted by Lyle Carr | 38-40 |
| 13:01 | Northwestern | John Brown misses the lay-in | 38-40 |
| 12:59 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras snags the defensive board | 38-40 |
| 12:39 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury misses long on a fadeaway from the left side but he's fouled by Lyle Carr - foul #1 on Lyle Carr, team foul #4 | 38-40 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson (SG), Alphonso Valdez (PF), James Gregory (C) Lyle Carr, Leland Bopp, James Carter | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 12:39 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury makes the 1st free throw | 38-41 |
| 12:39 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury misses the 2nd free throw | 38-41 |
| 12:39 | Northwestern | Matthew Foret grabs the defensive rebound | 38-41 |
| 12:22 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 38-41 |
| 12:20 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras gets the rebound | 38-41 |
| 12:06 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang drills a shot in the lane on a great pass from Darrell Pate | 38-43 |
| 11:47 | Northwestern | John Brown blows the dunk but he's hacked by Darrell Pate - foul #2 on Darrell Pate, team foul #3 | 38-43 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alan Black (PF), Kermit Hedlund (C) Cecil Oliveras, Jonathan Yang | |
| 11:47 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 1st free throw | 39-43 |
| 11:47 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 40-43 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - John Brown (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jonas Richardson (fresh) 6 pts. SF - Matthew Foret (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Alphonso Valdez (fresh) C - James Gregory (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Darrell Pate (fresh) 6 pts. 4 ast. SG - Martin Thompson (fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Keith Asbury (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. PF - Alan Black (fresh) C - Kermit Hedlund (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 11:20 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury is doubleteamed and throws a bad pass out of bounds | 40-43 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels (PG), George Hutchcraft (SF) John Brown, Matthew Foret | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Matthew Forte (SG), Arnold Johnson (SF) Darrell Pate, Martin Thompson | |
| 10:56 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 40-43 |
| 10:54 | Michigan State | Alan Black grabs the defensive rebound | 40-43 |
| 10:33 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury evades the doubleteam and hits a pull-up jumper from the right side set up by Matthew Forte | 40-45 |
| 10:12 | Northwestern | James Gregory buries a jumper from the left wing | 42-45 |
| 09:51 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 42-45 |
| 09:49 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Jonas Richardson | 42-45 |
| 09:34 | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels misses badly on the uncontested pull-up jumper from the right side | 42-45 |
| 09:32 | Michigan State | Alan Black pulls down the rebound | 42-45 |
| 09:03 | Michigan State | Arnold Johnson hits the front of the rim on the pull-up jumper from the right side | 42-45 |
| 09:02 | Northwestern | James Gregory pulls down the rebound | 42-45 |
| 08:36 | Northwestern | Matthew Forte steals it from Jonas Richardson | 42-45 |
| 08:12 | Michigan State | Kermit Hedlund is fouled on the floor by George Hutchcraft - foul #1 on George Hutchcraft, team foul #5 | 42-45 |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Brown (PG), Lyle Carr (SG), Matthew Foret (SF), Leland Bopp (PF), James Carter (C) Darryl Daniels, Jonas Richardson, George Hutchcraft, Alphonso Valdez, James Gregory | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Darrell Pate (PG), Martin Thompson (SG), Cecil Oliveras (PF), Jonathan Yang (C) Matthew Forte, Arnold Johnson, Alan Black, Kermit Hedlund | |
| 07:54 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang hits a fadeaway in the paint on a great pass from Keith Asbury and he's hacked by James Carter - foul #1 on James Carter, team foul #6 | 42-47 |
| 07:54 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang makes the free throw | 42-48 |
| 07:39 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 3 pointer from the right wing | 45-48 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - John Brown (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SG - Lyle Carr (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Matthew Foret (fresh) 5 pts. 3 reb. PF - Leland Bopp (fresh) 12 pts. 3 reb. C - James Carter (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Darrell Pate (fresh) 6 pts. 4 ast. SG - Martin Thompson (fresh) 6 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. SF - Keith Asbury (tiring) 13 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. PF - Cecil Oliveras (fresh) 6 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. C - Jonathan Yang (fresh) 15 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:24 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate misses short on a jumper from the right side | 45-48 |
| 07:22 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Lyle Carr | 45-48 |
| 07:04 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp misses short on a floater from close range | 45-48 |
| 07:02 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate grabs the defensive rebound | 45-48 |
| 06:35 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right wing | 45-48 |
| 06:33 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras grabs the offensive rebound | 45-48 |
| 06:19 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson works out of a doubleteam and scores on a 3 from the left wing set up by Darrell Pate and he's fouled by Lyle Carr - foul #2 on Lyle Carr, team foul #7 | 45-51 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson (SG), James Gregory (C) Lyle Carr, James Carter | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Arnold Johnson (SF) Keith Asbury | |
| 06:19 | Michigan State | Martin Thompson makes the free throw | 45-52 |
| 05:50 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp is called for a pushoff foul - foul #3 on Leland Bopp, team foul #8 | 45-52 |
| 05:31 | Michigan State | Arnold Johnson is open but comes up short on the floater from the free throw line | 45-52 |
| 05:30 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate gets the offensive rebound | 45-52 |
| 05:17 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang hits the front of the rim on the shot from the left block | 45-52 |
| 05:16 | Northwestern | Matthew Foret grabs the defensive rebound | 45-52 |
| 05:01 | Northwestern | James Gregory misses short on a jumpshot from the free throw line | 45-52 |
| 04:59 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson tips it home | 47-52 |
| 04:40 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras misses short on an open jumpshot from just outside the lane but the foul's on Matthew Foret - foul #1 on Matthew Foret, team foul #9 | 47-52 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Darryl Daniels (PG), George Hutchcraft (SF) John Brown, Matthew Foret | |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Johnson (PG), Matthew Forte (SG), Kermit Hedlund (C) Darrell Pate, Martin Thompson, Jonathan Yang | |
| 04:40 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras makes the 1st free throw | 47-53 |
| 04:40 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras misses the 2nd free throw | 47-53 |
| 04:40 | Northwestern | George Hutchcraft gets the rebound | 47-53 |
| 04:17 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson is hacked by Matthew Forte - foul #1 on Matthew Forte, team foul #4 | 47-53 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Keith Asbury (PG), Alan Black (PF) John Johnson, Cecil Oliveras | |
| 04:01 | Northwestern | George Hutchcraft hits the front of the rim on the turnaround from the baseline | 47-53 |
| 03:59 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury gets the rebound | 47-53 |
| 03:30 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury works out of a doubleteam and scores on a 3 from the right wing on a great pass from Alan Black | 47-56 |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Darryl Daniels (fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Jonas Richardson (fresh) 8 pts. SF - George Hutchcraft (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Leland Bopp (tiring) 12 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. C - James Gregory (fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. 4 pf. | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Keith Asbury (fairly fresh) 16 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - Matthew Forte (fresh) 1 ast. SF - Arnold Johnson (fairly fresh) PF - Alan Black (fresh) 3 reb. C - Kermit Hedlund (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| 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 (+1) | |
| 03:11 | Northwestern | James Gregory hits the finger roll on a great pass from Darryl Daniels | 49-56 |
| 02:49 | Michigan State | Matthew Forte throws a bad pass out of bounds | 49-56 |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Brown (PG), Matthew Foret (SF), Alphonso Valdez (PF), James Carter (C) Darryl Daniels, George Hutchcraft, Leland Bopp, James Gregory | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Darrell Pate (PG), Martin Thompson (SG), Jonathan Yang (C) Matthew Forte, Arnold Johnson, Kermit Hedlund | |
| 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 (-1) | |
| 02:46 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 49-56 |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Gregory (C) James Carter | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras (PF) Alan Black | |
| 02:29 | Northwestern | Alphonso Valdez lays it in on a great pass from John Brown | 51-56 |
| 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 (-1) | |
| 02:05 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang buries a fadeaway from the free throw line on a nice dish by a doubleteamed Martin Thompson | 51-58 |
| 01:48 | Northwestern | John Brown misses long on a pull-up jumper from the left wing | 51-58 |
| 01:47 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury pulls down the rebound | 51-58 |
| 01:43 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate misses long on an open shot from just outside the lane | 51-58 |
| 01:41 | Northwestern | James Gregory grabs the defensive rebound | 51-58 |
| 01:35 | Northwestern | John Brown misses short on a jumper from the right wing but he's fouled by Cecil Oliveras - foul #3 on Cecil Oliveras, team foul #5 | 51-58 |
| Subs | Northwestern | Leland Bopp (PF) Alphonso Valdez | |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| 01:35 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 1st free throw | 52-58 |
| 01:35 | Northwestern | John Brown makes the 2nd free throw | 53-58 |
| 01:13 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang misses long on a jumpshot from the left wing | 53-58 |
| 01:11 | Northwestern | James Gregory grabs the defensive rebound | 53-58 |
| 01:06 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson drills a 3pt attempt from straight away | 56-58 |
| 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 (-1) | |
| 00:46 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras makes the jumpshot from just outside the lane on a great pass from Keith Asbury | 56-60 |
| 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 triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-1) | |
| 00:39 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson misses badly on a 3 pointer from the left corner | 56-60 |
| 00:37 | Northwestern | John Brown misses the tip | 56-60 |
| 00:36 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate gets the rebound | 56-60 |
| 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 (-1) | |
| 00:35 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate is fouled in the backcourt by John Brown - foul #3 on John Brown, team foul #10 | 56-60 |
| 00:35 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate makes the 1st free throw | 56-61 |
| 00:35 | Michigan State | Darrell Pate misses the 2nd free throw | 56-61 |
| 00:35 | Northwestern | John Brown snags the defensive board | 56-61 |
| 00:29 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson makes the jumper from the right side on a nice dish by Leland Bopp | 58-61 |
| 00:27 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury is hacked by Jonas Richardson in the backcourt - foul #3 on Jonas Richardson, team foul #11 | 58-61 |
| 00:27 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury makes the 1st free throw | 58-62 |
| 00:27 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury misses the 2nd free throw | 58-62 |
| 00:27 | Northwestern | Leland Bopp grabs the board | 58-62 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Jonas Richardson misses the 3 from straight away | 58-62 |
| 00:19 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Jonathan Yang | 58-62 |
| 00:18 | Michigan State | John Brown is called for the reach on Jonathan Yang in the backcourt - foul #4 on John Brown, team foul #12 | 58-62 |
| 00:18 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang makes the 1st free throw | 58-63 |
| 00:18 | Michigan State | Jonathan Yang makes the 2nd free throw | 58-64 |
| 00:11 | Northwestern | John Brown loses the dribble to Martin Thompson | 58-64 |
| 00:10 | Michigan State | Jonas Richardson is called for the reach on Keith Asbury in the backcourt - foul #4 on Jonas Richardson, team foul #13 | 58-64 |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Subs | Michigan State | Arnold Johnson (SF) Darrell Pate | |
| 00:10 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury makes the 1st free throw | 58-65 |
| 00:10 | Michigan State | Keith Asbury makes the 2nd free throw | 58-66 |
| 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 (+1) | |
| 00:03 | Northwestern | John Brown misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right corner | 58-66 |
| 00:02 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras grabs the defensive rebound | 58-66 |
| 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 (+1) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Cecil Oliveras runs out the clock | 58-66 |