| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leandro Romano (fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SG - Paul Knudson (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SF - Gene Bell (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. PF - Jeffrey Twyman (fresh) 8 pts. 4 reb. C - Frank Patrick (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - David Smith (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Patrick Webber (fresh) 10 pts. SF - James Carey (fresh) 2 reb. 3 stl. PF - William Carter (fresh) 2 pts. C - Scott Stemple (fresh) 4 pts. | |
| 20:00 | Northwestern | James Carey inbounds the ball | 43-30 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 19:49 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber misses the 3 pointer from straight away | 43-30 |
| 19:47 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick grabs the board | 43-30 |
| 19:43 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 43-30 |
| 19:35 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left corner | 43-30 |
| 19:34 | Northwestern | William Carter hits the follow up shot | 43-32 |
| 19:15 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the left side | 43-32 |
| 19:14 | Northwestern | William Carter pulls down the rebound | 43-32 |
| 19:01 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple misses badly on a runner in the lane but he's hacked by Paul Knudson - foul #2 on Paul Knudson, team foul #1 | 43-32 |
| 19:01 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple makes the 1st free throw | 43-33 |
| 19:01 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple makes the 2nd free throw | 43-34 |
| 18:42 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman comes up short on the jump hook from the right block | 43-34 |
| 18:40 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to William Carter | 43-34 |
| 18:37 | Northwestern | David Smith double dribbles in the backcourt | 43-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Smith (PF) William Carter | |
| 18:18 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson clanks a 3pt shot from the right corner | 43-34 |
| 18:16 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick grabs the offensive rebound | 43-34 |
| 18:02 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson throws a bad pass out of bounds | 43-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Bacher (SG), John Watson (SF), Shawn Haddock (PF), Mason Littrell (C) Paul Knudson, Gene Bell, Jeffrey Twyman, Frank Patrick | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (PG), David Appling (SG), Robert Damron (SF), Peter Hines (C) David Smith, Patrick Webber, James Carey, Scott Stemple | |
| 17:48 | Northwestern | Michael Foster works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 pointer from the left corner | 43-34 |
| 17:47 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to John Watson | 43-34 |
| 17:41 | Michigan State | Peter Hines steps in front of the Shawn Haddock pass | 43-34 |
| 17:30 | Northwestern | Michael Foster evades the doubleteam but misses long on a 3 from straight away | 43-34 |
| 17:28 | Michigan State | Shawn Haddock gets the rebound | 43-34 |
| 17:26 | Michigan State | James Bacher's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 43-34 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | William Carter (PF) Thomas Smith | |
| 17:13 | Northwestern | Shawn Haddock picks off the pass by Robert Damron | 43-34 |
| 16:50 | Michigan State | John Watson's fadeaway is rejected by Peter Hines | 43-34 |
| 16:48 | Northwestern | William Carter snags the defensive board | 43-34 |
| 16:36 | Northwestern | Peter Hines hits a wide open fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Michael Foster out of a doubleteam | 43-36 |
| 16:17 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell connects on the jumper from the right block | 45-36 |
| 15:56 | Northwestern | Peter Hines clanks a turnaround in the lane but he's fouled by John Watson - foul #2 on John Watson, team foul #2 | 45-36 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Paul Knudson (SG), Gene Bell (SF), Jeffrey Twyman (PF), Frank Patrick (C) James Bacher, John Watson, Shawn Haddock, Mason Littrell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Smith (PG), Patrick Webber (SG), James Carey (SF), Scott Stemple (C) Michael Foster, David Appling, Robert Damron, William Carter | |
| 15:56 | Northwestern | Peter Hines makes the 1st free throw | 45-37 |
| 15:56 | Northwestern | Peter Hines misses the 2nd free throw | 45-37 |
| 15:56 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman pulls down the rebound | 45-37 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leandro Romano (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 3 ast. SG - Paul Knudson (fresh) 8 pts. 2 ast. SF - Gene Bell (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. 3 pf. PF - Jeffrey Twyman (fresh) 8 pts. 5 reb. C - Frank Patrick (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - David Smith (fresh) 2 pts. 2 ast. SG - Patrick Webber (fresh) 10 pts. SF - James Carey (fresh) 2 reb. 3 stl. PF - Peter Hines (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 2 reb. 3 stl. C - Scott Stemple (fresh) 6 pts. | |
| 15:34 | Michigan State | Gene Bell hits a wide open runner from the right block set up by Leandro Romano and he's hacked by James Carey - foul #1 on James Carey, team foul #1 | 47-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Thomas Smith (PF) Peter Hines | |
| 15:34 | Michigan State | Gene Bell makes the free throw | 48-37 |
| 15:16 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber misses short on a jump hook in the lane | 48-37 |
| 15:15 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick grabs the board | 48-37 |
| 14:48 | Michigan State | Gene Bell misses long on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 48-37 |
| 14:46 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman can't tip it in | 48-37 |
| 14:44 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to James Carey | 48-37 |
| 14:40 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber misses long on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 48-37 |
| 14:39 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick pulls down the rebound | 48-37 |
| 14:16 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano misses short on a shot from just outside the lane | 48-37 |
| 14:14 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick pulls down the offensive rebound | 48-37 |
| 13:52 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman hits a shot in the lane | 50-37 |
| 13:40 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple misses badly on a shot from the left wing but the foul's on Paul Knudson - foul #3 on Paul Knudson, team foul #3 | 50-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Bacher (PG), John Watson (SF), Shawn Haddock (PF), Mason Littrell (C) Leandro Romano, Gene Bell, Jeffrey Twyman, Frank Patrick | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (PG), David Appling (SG), Robert Damron (SF), William Carter (PF) David Smith, Patrick Webber, James Carey, Thomas Smith | |
| 13:40 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple misses the 1st free throw | 50-37 |
| 13:40 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple makes the 2nd free throw | 50-38 |
| 13:38 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson travels in the backcourt | 50-38 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Peter Hines (C) Scott Stemple | |
| 13:33 | Northwestern | Robert Damron is hacked by Shawn Haddock - foul #1 on Shawn Haddock, team foul #4 | 50-38 |
| 13:27 | Northwestern | Peter Hines comes up short on the jumpshot from the free throw line | 50-38 |
| 13:26 | Northwestern | Michael Foster grabs the offensive rebound | 50-38 |
| 13:16 | Northwestern | Peter Hines loses the dribble to James Bacher | 50-38 |
| 13:07 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson misses long on a 3pt jumper from the right corner | 50-38 |
| 13:06 | Michigan State | John Watson gets the offensive rebound | 50-38 |
| 12:57 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson drills a 3pt attempt from the left corner on a great pass from John Watson | 53-38 |
| 12:37 | Northwestern | Peter Hines knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the free throw line | 53-40 |
| 12:34 | Michigan State | Michael Foster picks off the pass by James Bacher in the backcourt | 53-40 |
| 12:26 | Northwestern | Peter Hines comes up short on the shot from the baseline | 53-40 |
| 12:24 | Michigan State | Shawn Haddock pulls down the rebound | 53-40 |
| 11:56 | Michigan State | Mason Littrell comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the free throw line | 53-40 |
| 11:55 | Northwestern | Peter Hines snags the defensive board | 53-40 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - James Bacher (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SG - Paul Knudson (fairly fresh) 11 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - John Watson (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 3 reb. PF - Shawn Haddock (fairly fresh) 4 reb. C - Mason Littrell (fairly fresh) 7 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Michael Foster (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - David Appling (fairly fresh) 3 pts. SF - Robert Damron (fairly fresh) 1 ast. PF - William Carter (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. C - Peter Hines (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. 3 stl. | |
| 11:49 | Northwestern | Michael Foster misses the floater from the right side | 53-40 |
| 11:47 | Northwestern | David Appling tips it back up and in | 53-42 |
| 11:23 | Michigan State | Michael Foster steals the ball from Mason Littrell | 53-42 |
| 11:15 | Northwestern | Shawn Haddock steps in front of the William Carter pass | 53-42 |
| 10:55 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson is hacked by William Carter - foul #3 on William Carter, team foul #2 | 53-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Leandro Romano (PG), Gene Bell (SF), Jeffrey Twyman (PF), Frank Patrick (C) James Bacher, John Watson, Shawn Haddock, Mason Littrell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Smith (PG), Patrick Webber (SG), James Carey (SF), Thomas Smith (PF), Scott Stemple (C) Michael Foster, David Appling, Robert Damron, William Carter, Peter Hines | |
| 10:36 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano travels with the ball | 53-42 |
| 10:18 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple knocks in the 3pt shot from the left wing set up by James Carey | 53-45 |
| 09:58 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano clanks a jumper from the right wing | 53-45 |
| 09:56 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Patrick Webber | 53-45 |
| 09:51 | Northwestern | James Carey misses short on a fadeaway jumper from just outside the lane | 53-45 |
| 09:50 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Frank Patrick | 53-45 |
| 09:27 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson can't connect on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 53-45 |
| 09:25 | Northwestern | David Smith grabs the board | 53-45 |
| 09:20 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber makes the contested 3 pointer from the left wing | 53-48 |
| 08:56 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson is wide open but clanks a 3pt shot from the left corner | 53-48 |
| 08:54 | Michigan State | Gene Bell tips it home | 55-48 |
| 08:35 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple hits a jumper from the free throw line | 55-50 |
| 08:08 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson clanks a jumpshot from the right wing | 55-50 |
| 08:07 | Northwestern | David Smith pulls down the rebound | 55-50 |
| 07:48 | Northwestern | David Smith makes the floater in the lane set up by James Carey | 55-52 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leandro Romano (tiring) 7 pts. 4 ast. SG - Paul Knudson (tired) 11 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Gene Bell (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. PF - Jeffrey Twyman (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 6 reb. C - Frank Patrick (tiring) 2 pts. 9 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - David Smith (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Patrick Webber (fairly fresh) 13 pts. SF - James Carey (fairly fresh) 3 reb. 3 stl. PF - Thomas Smith (fairly fresh) C - Scott Stemple (fairly fresh) 12 pts. | |
| 07:28 | Michigan State | Scott Stemple steals it from Leandro Romano | 55-52 |
| 07:10 | Northwestern | Frank Patrick swats the shot by Scott Stemple | 55-52 |
| 07:08 | Michigan State | Gene Bell snags the defensive board | 55-52 |
| 06:43 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson hits the front of the rim on the wide open 3pt attempt from the left wing | 55-52 |
| 06:42 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple gets the rebound | 55-52 |
| 06:28 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple hits a shot from the left block | 55-54 |
| 06:01 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano is hacked by Thomas Smith - foul #1 on Thomas Smith, team foul #3 | 55-54 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Bacher (SG), John Watson (SF), Shawn Haddock (PF), Mason Littrell (C) Paul Knudson, Gene Bell, Jeffrey Twyman, Frank Patrick | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (PG), David Appling (SG), Robert Damron (SF), William Carter (PF), Peter Hines (C) David Smith, Patrick Webber, James Carey, Thomas Smith, Scott Stemple | |
| 05:45 | Michigan State | Shawn Haddock scores on a shot in the lane on a great pass from Mason Littrell and he's fouled by Michael Foster - foul #2 on Michael Foster, team foul #4 | 57-54 |
| 05:45 | Michigan State | Shawn Haddock misses the free throw | 57-54 |
| 05:45 | Northwestern | Peter Hines gets the rebound | 57-54 |
| 05:37 | Northwestern | Michael Foster shoots over the doubleteam and knocks in the jumper from just outside the lane | 57-56 |
| 05:33 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano is hacked by Michael Foster in the backcourt - foul #3 on Michael Foster, team foul #5 | 57-56 |
| 05:15 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano's floater is tipped away by Peter Hines | 57-56 |
| 05:13 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Peter Hines | 57-56 |
| 04:55 | Northwestern | Peter Hines is open and lays it up and in on a great pass from Michael Foster out of a doubleteam | 57-58 |
| 04:28 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano clanks a 3 pointer from the left wing | 57-58 |
| 04:26 | Northwestern | David Appling snags the defensive board | 57-58 |
| 04:17 | Northwestern | Peter Hines knocks in the turnaround from the left block on a nice dish by Robert Damron | 57-60 |
| 04:11 | Michigan State | Robert Damron is called for the reach on Mason Littrell in the backcourt - foul #2 on Robert Damron, team foul #6 | 57-60 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Gene Bell (SF), Jeffrey Twyman (PF) John Watson, Shawn Haddock | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Smith (PG), James Carey (SF), Joe Zarate (C) David Appling, Robert Damron, Peter Hines | |
| 03:53 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano is open and buries a fadeaway from the right side | 59-60 |
| 03:38 | Northwestern | James Carey's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 59-60 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Patrick Webber (SG) Michael Foster | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Leandro Romano (tiring) 9 pts. 4 ast. SG - James Bacher (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 1 ast. SF - Gene Bell (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 5 reb. 3 pf. PF - Jeffrey Twyman (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 6 reb. C - Mason Littrell (fairly fresh) 7 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - David Smith (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 ast. SG - Patrick Webber (fairly fresh) 13 pts. SF - James Carey (fairly fresh) 3 reb. 3 stl. PF - William Carter (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 4 reb. 3 pf. C - Joe Zarate (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 03:15 | Michigan State | James Bacher is hacked by William Carter - foul #4 on William Carter, team foul #7 | 59-60 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Frank Patrick (C) Mason Littrell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 03:15 | Michigan State | James Bacher misses the 1st free throw | 59-60 |
| 03:15 | Northwestern | James Carey gets the rebound | 59-60 |
| 03:02 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber shoots over the doubleteam but comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the left wing | 59-60 |
| 03:01 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman gets the rebound | 59-60 |
| 02:32 | Michigan State | William Carter swats the short shot by Frank Patrick | 59-60 |
| 02:30 | Northwestern | James Carey snags the defensive board | 59-60 |
| 02:13 | Northwestern | William Carter's pass is intercepted by Jeffrey Twyman | 59-60 |
| 01:55 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman buries a fadeaway jumper from the right wing | 61-60 |
| 01:38 | Northwestern | Patrick Webber makes the contested 3 from straight away set up by David Smith | 61-63 |
| 01:11 | Michigan State | Gene Bell misses long on a 3pt shot from the left wing | 61-63 |
| 01:10 | Northwestern | James Carey grabs the defensive rebound | 61-63 |
| 01:04 | Northwestern | James Bacher is called for the reach on Patrick Webber - foul #1 on James Bacher, team foul #5 | 61-63 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Paul Knudson (SG) James Bacher | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Scott Stemple (C) Joe Zarate | |
| 00:49 | Northwestern | David Smith scores on a 3pt shot from the right wing on a great pass from Patrick Webber | 61-66 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a man to man (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 00:28 | Michigan State | Jeffrey Twyman's fadeaway is rejected by Scott Stemple | 61-66 |
| 00:26 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple pulls down the rebound | 61-66 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 00:23 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple is hacked by Leandro Romano in the backcourt - foul #1 on Leandro Romano, team foul #6 | 61-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Michael Foster (PG), David Appling (SF), Thomas Smith (PF) David Smith, James Carey, William Carter | |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Michael Foster is fouled on the floor by Leandro Romano - foul #2 on Leandro Romano, team foul #7 | 61-66 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Michael Foster makes the 1st free throw | 61-67 |
| 00:20 | Northwestern | Michael Foster misses the 2nd free throw | 61-67 |
| 00:20 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick pulls down the rebound | 61-67 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 00:14 | Michigan State | Paul Knudson hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from the right corner | 61-67 |
| 00:13 | Michigan State | Gene Bell snags the offensive board | 61-67 |
| 00:11 | Michigan State | Gene Bell misses long on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 61-67 |
| 00:09 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple pulls down the rebound | 61-67 |
| 00:08 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple is hacked by Leandro Romano in the backcourt - foul #3 on Leandro Romano, team foul #8 | 61-67 |
| 00:08 | Northwestern | Scott Stemple misses the 1st free throw | 61-67 |
| 00:08 | Michigan State | Frank Patrick snags the defensive board | 61-67 |
| 00:03 | Michigan State | Gene Bell hits a 3 from the right corner | 64-67 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (+2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+3) | |
| 00:02 | Northwestern | Leandro Romano is called for the reach on Michael Foster in the backcourt - foul #4 on Leandro Romano, team foul #9 | 64-67 |
| 00:02 | Northwestern | Michael Foster misses the 1st free throw | 64-67 |
| 00:02 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Frank Patrick | 64-67 |
| 00:02 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 4 full remaining) | 64-67 |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Leandro Romano misses the fullcourt shot | 64-67 |