| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Mitchell (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SG - Ray Boyd (fresh) 15 pts. 2 ast. SF - Brian Shurtleff (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. PF - James Cecere (fresh) 2 pts. 7 reb. 2 blk. C - Mark Arnold (fresh) 2 pts. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Ray Anaya (fresh) 7 pts. 1 ast. SG - Robert Friedenthal (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SF - Roy Benninger (fresh) 1 pts. 1 ast. PF - Seth Weiss (fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. C - Anthony Dunkelberger (fresh) 6 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff inbounds the ball | 43-31 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| 19:57 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd loses the dribble to Robert Friedenthal in the backcourt | 43-31 |
| 19:56 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal lays it in | 43-33 |
| 19:54 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd is hacked by Ray Anaya in the backcourt - foul #2 on Ray Anaya, team foul #1 | 43-33 |
| 19:36 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd is hacked by Ray Anaya - foul #3 on Ray Anaya, team foul #2 | 43-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Goodwill (PG) Ray Anaya | |
| 19:21 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell is alone and drills a 3 from the right corner on a nice dish by Ray Boyd | 46-33 |
| 19:07 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal can't finish the layup | 46-33 |
| 19:05 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd grabs the defensive rebound | 46-33 |
| 18:57 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold misses the easy layup | 46-33 |
| 18:55 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff tips it in | 48-33 |
| 18:33 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal misses the floater from the right wing | 48-33 |
| 18:31 | Michigan State | James Cecere grabs the board | 48-33 |
| 18:10 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold makes the driving attempt near the basket set up by James Cecere | 50-33 |
| 17:55 | Northwestern | Anthony Dunkelberger misses the 3pt shot from the left corner | 50-33 |
| 17:53 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Brian Shurtleff | 50-33 |
| 17:39 | Michigan State | James Cecere connects on the shot from the free throw line set up by Mark Arnold | 52-33 |
| 17:33 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal comes up short on the runner in the paint but he's hacked by Charles Mitchell - foul #3 on Charles Mitchell, team foul #1 | 52-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Kenneth Swanson (SF), Lucas Ziek (PF), Marcus Lantz (C) Charles Mitchell, Brian Shurtleff, James Cecere, Mark Arnold | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary (SG), Mark Redman (SF), Jason Williams (PF), Mark Jones (C) John Goodwill, Roy Benninger, Seth Weiss, Anthony Dunkelberger | |
| 17:33 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal makes the 1st free throw | 52-34 |
| 17:33 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal misses the 2nd free throw | 52-34 |
| 17:33 | Michigan State | Marcus Lantz pulls down the rebound | 52-34 |
| 17:08 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd can't connect on a jumper from the free throw line | 52-34 |
| 17:07 | Northwestern | Jason Williams grabs the defensive rebound | 52-34 |
| 17:03 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal scores on a 3 from the left corner set up by Maurice Singletary | 52-37 |
| 16:59 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson is fouled in the backcourt by Mark Redman - foul #3 on Mark Redman, team foul #3 | 52-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff (SF) Ray Boyd | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Goodwill (PG), Roy Benninger (SF) Robert Friedenthal, Mark Redman | |
| 16:45 | Michigan State | Maurice Singletary takes the ball from Kenneth Swanson | 52-37 |
| 16:41 | Northwestern | Roy Benninger banks in the layup on a great pass from Maurice Singletary | 52-39 |
| 16:39 | Michigan State | David Burnett is hacked by John Goodwill in the backcourt - foul #1 on John Goodwill, team foul #4 | 52-39 |
| 16:17 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff comes up short on the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 52-39 |
| 16:15 | Northwestern | Roy Benninger snags the defensive board | 52-39 |
| 15:59 | Northwestern | John Goodwill makes the floater from the left wing | 52-41 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Burnett (fresh) 6 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Kenneth Swanson (fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. SF - Brian Shurtleff (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 6 reb. PF - Lucas Ziek (fairly fresh) 4 reb. C - Marcus Lantz (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - John Goodwill (fairly fresh) 2 pts. SG - Maurice Singletary (fairly fresh) 2 ast. SF - Roy Benninger (fairly fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. PF - Jason Williams (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Mark Jones (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 15:48 | Michigan State | David Burnett comes up short on the shot from the right side | 52-41 |
| 15:47 | Michigan State | Marcus Lantz tips it but misses | 52-41 |
| 15:45 | Michigan State | Lucas Ziek grabs the offensive rebound | 52-41 |
| 15:24 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 52-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG), Ray Boyd (SG), James Cecere (PF), Mark Arnold (C) David Burnett, Kenneth Swanson, Lucas Ziek, Marcus Lantz | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ray Anaya (PG), Robert Friedenthal (SG), Mark Redman (SF), Seth Weiss (PF), David Negrete (C) John Goodwill, Maurice Singletary, Roy Benninger, Jason Williams, Mark Jones | |
| 15:07 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal buries a jumper from the free throw line | 52-43 |
| 14:54 | Michigan State | Ray Anaya steps in front of the James Cecere pass | 52-43 |
| 14:37 | Northwestern | Ray Anaya connects on the 3 pointer from straight away on a great pass from Seth Weiss | 52-46 |
| 14:15 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold's pass is intercepted by Robert Friedenthal | 52-46 |
| 14:10 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal lays it in | 52-48 |
| 13:58 | Michigan State | James Cecere is hacked by Robert Friedenthal - foul #2 on Robert Friedenthal, team foul #5 | 52-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (SF), Wilbur Griffin (C) Brian Shurtleff, Mark Arnold | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary (SG), Roy Benninger (SF), Anthony Dunkelberger (C) Robert Friedenthal, Mark Redman, David Negrete | |
| 13:44 | Michigan State | Seth Weiss steals the ball from Wilbur Griffin | 52-48 |
| 13:26 | Northwestern | Ray Anaya comes up short on the 3pt jumper from the left corner | 52-48 |
| 13:24 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Wilbur Griffin | 52-48 |
| 12:55 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell misses badly on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 52-48 |
| 12:53 | Northwestern | Anthony Dunkelberger pulls down the rebound | 52-48 |
| 12:48 | Northwestern | Roy Benninger is called for traveling | 52-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Marcus Lantz (C) Charles Mitchell, James Cecere | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal (SG), Mark Redman (SF), Jason Williams (PF) Maurice Singletary, Roy Benninger, Seth Weiss | |
| 12:37 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd hits a 3pt jumper from the left corner on a nice dish by Wilbur Griffin | 55-48 |
| 12:18 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal hits the front of the rim on the floater from the left wing | 55-48 |
| 12:16 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Ray Boyd | 55-48 |
| 11:59 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd misses short on a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 55-48 |
| 11:58 | Northwestern | Mark Redman gets the rebound | 55-48 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Burnett (fresh) 6 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Ray Boyd (tiring) 18 pts. 3 ast. SF - Kenneth Swanson (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 1 ast. PF - Wilbur Griffin (fairly fresh) C - Marcus Lantz (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Ray Anaya (fairly fresh) 10 pts. 1 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - Robert Friedenthal (tiring) 14 pts. 1 ast. 3 stl. SF - Mark Redman (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 3 pf. PF - Jason Williams (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Anthony Dunkelberger (fairly fresh) 6 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 11:53 | Northwestern | Wilbur Griffin is called for the reach on Ray Anaya - foul #1 on Wilbur Griffin, team foul #2 | 55-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff (SF), Lucas Ziek (PF), Mark Arnold (C) Kenneth Swanson, Wilbur Griffin, Marcus Lantz | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Mark Jones (C) Anthony Dunkelberger | |
| 11:41 | Northwestern | Jason Williams hits the front of the rim on the shot in the lane but he's fouled by Lucas Ziek - foul #2 on Lucas Ziek, team foul #3 | 55-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG), James Cecere (PF) Ray Boyd, Lucas Ziek | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary (SG), Roy Benninger (SF) Robert Friedenthal, Mark Redman | |
| 11:41 | Northwestern | Jason Williams makes the 1st free throw | 55-49 |
| 11:41 | Northwestern | Jason Williams makes the 2nd free throw | 55-50 |
| 11:39 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff is fouled in the backcourt by Roy Benninger - foul #2 on Roy Benninger, team foul #6 | 55-50 |
| 11:24 | Michigan State | David Burnett is fouled on the floor by Maurice Singletary - foul #2 on Maurice Singletary, team foul #7 | 55-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Goodwill (PG), David Negrete (PF) Ray Anaya, Jason Williams | |
| 11:24 | Michigan State | David Burnett makes the 1st free throw | 56-50 |
| 11:24 | Michigan State | David Burnett makes the 2nd free throw | 57-50 |
| 11:12 | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary makes the 3pt jumper from the right wing set up by John Goodwill | 57-53 |
| 11:09 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell is whistled for traveling in the backcourt | 57-53 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (SG) David Burnett | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Seth Weiss (PF) David Negrete | |
| 11:04 | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary drills a driving attempt near the basket and he's fouled by Mark Arnold - foul #3 on Mark Arnold, team foul #4 | 57-55 |
| 11:04 | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary makes the free throw | 57-56 |
| 10:36 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell knocks in the 3pt shot from straight away on a nice dish by James Cecere | 60-56 |
| 10:31 | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary misses long on a 3pt jumper from straight away | 60-56 |
| 10:30 | Northwestern | Roy Benninger hits the follow up shot | 60-58 |
| 10:16 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell buries a turnaround from close range on a great pass from Brian Shurtleff | 62-58 |
| 09:58 | Northwestern | John Goodwill clanks a 3 from the right corner | 62-58 |
| 09:57 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold pulls down the rebound | 62-58 |
| 09:44 | Michigan State | Mark Arnold buries a jump hook from the right block on a great pass from Kenneth Swanson | 64-58 |
| 09:39 | Northwestern | John Goodwill's pass is intercepted by Mark Arnold | 64-58 |
| 09:37 | Michigan State | John Goodwill is called for the reach on Charles Mitchell in the backcourt - foul #2 on John Goodwill, team foul #8 | 64-58 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Ray Boyd (SG), David Burnett (SF), Lucas Ziek (PF), Marcus Lantz (C) Kenneth Swanson, Brian Shurtleff, James Cecere, Mark Arnold | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ray Anaya (PG), Robert Friedenthal (SG), Mark Redman (SF), Jason Williams (PF), Anthony Dunkelberger (C) John Goodwill, Maurice Singletary, Roy Benninger, Seth Weiss, Mark Jones | |
| 09:37 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 1st free throw | 65-58 |
| 09:37 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell makes the 2nd free throw | 66-58 |
| 09:19 | Northwestern | Anthony Dunkelberger scores on a jumper from the baseline set up by Ray Anaya | 66-60 |
| 09:14 | Michigan State | Robert Friedenthal steals it from Ray Boyd in the backcourt | 66-60 |
| 09:11 | Northwestern | Ray Anaya throws it down on a great pass from Robert Friedenthal | 66-62 |
| 08:47 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell comes up short on the 3pt shot from straight away | 66-62 |
| 08:46 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Jason Williams | 66-62 |
| 08:39 | Northwestern | Ray Anaya hits a jumper from the left wing | 66-64 |
| 08:34 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd is called for traveling | 66-64 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff (SF) Charles Mitchell | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Negrete (C) Anthony Dunkelberger | |
| 08:10 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal hits a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane on a great pass from Ray Anaya | 66-66 |
| 07:52 | Michigan State | Lucas Ziek is fouled on the floor by Jason Williams - foul #2 on Jason Williams, team foul #9 | 66-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (SF), James Cecere (PF) Brian Shurtleff, Marcus Lantz | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Roy Benninger (SF), Seth Weiss (PF) Mark Redman, Jason Williams | |
| 07:52 | Michigan State | Lucas Ziek makes the 1st free throw | 67-66 |
| 07:52 | Michigan State | Lucas Ziek misses the 2nd free throw | 67-66 |
| 07:52 | Northwestern | Seth Weiss grabs the defensive rebound | 67-66 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - David Burnett (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. SG - Ray Boyd (tiring) 18 pts. 3 ast. SF - Kenneth Swanson (fairly fresh) 9 pts. 2 ast. PF - James Cecere (fresh) 4 pts. 8 reb. 2 blk. C - Lucas Ziek (fairly fresh) 1 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Ray Anaya (fairly fresh) 14 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - Robert Friedenthal (tiring) 16 pts. 2 ast. 4 stl. SF - Roy Benninger (tiring) 5 pts. 1 ast. PF - Seth Weiss (fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. C - David Negrete (fresh) 4 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 07:36 | Northwestern | Ray Boyd is called for the reach on Robert Friedenthal - foul #1 on Ray Boyd, team foul #5 | 67-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Wilbur Griffin (C) Lucas Ziek | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary (SG) Robert Friedenthal | |
| 07:20 | Northwestern | Roy Benninger is hacked by Wilbur Griffin - foul #2 on Wilbur Griffin, team foul #6 | 67-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG), Brian Shurtleff (SF), Mark Arnold (C) David Burnett, Ray Boyd, Wilbur Griffin | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Anthony Dunkelberger (C) David Negrete | |
| 07:06 | Northwestern | Brian Shurtleff is called for the reach on Ray Anaya - foul #1 on Brian Shurtleff, team foul #7 | 67-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Mark Redman (SF) Roy Benninger | |
| 07:06 | Northwestern | Ray Anaya makes the 1st free throw | 67-67 |
| 07:06 | Northwestern | Ray Anaya makes the 2nd free throw | 67-68 |
| 06:42 | Michigan State | Mark Redman takes the ball from James Cecere | 67-68 |
| 06:16 | Northwestern | Charles Mitchell steps in front of the Mark Redman pass | 67-68 |
| 06:12 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson lays it in on a great pass from Charles Mitchell | 69-68 |
| 05:56 | Northwestern | Brian Shurtleff is called for the reach on Mark Redman - foul #2 on Brian Shurtleff, team foul #8 | 69-68 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Ray Boyd (SG), Wilbur Griffin (PF), Marcus Lantz (C) Charles Mitchell, Brian Shurtleff, James Cecere, Mark Arnold | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Goodwill (PG), Robert Friedenthal (SG), Jason Williams (PF), Mark Jones (C) Ray Anaya, Maurice Singletary, Seth Weiss, Anthony Dunkelberger | |
| 05:56 | Northwestern | Mark Redman makes the 1st free throw | 69-69 |
| 05:56 | Northwestern | Mark Redman misses the 2nd free throw | 69-69 |
| 05:56 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Ray Boyd | 69-69 |
| 05:45 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson misses long on a shot from the right wing but the foul's on Mark Redman - foul #4 on Mark Redman, team foul #10 | 69-69 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Roy Benninger (SF) Mark Redman | |
| 05:45 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson makes the 1st free throw | 70-69 |
| 05:45 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson makes the 2nd free throw | 71-69 |
| 05:31 | Northwestern | Roy Benninger buries a runner from the right block on a great pass from Jason Williams | 71-71 |
| 05:09 | Michigan State | Wilbur Griffin is hacked by Mark Jones - foul #1 on Mark Jones, team foul #11 | 71-71 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff (SF) Kenneth Swanson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | David Negrete (PF) Jason Williams | |
| 05:09 | Michigan State | Wilbur Griffin makes the 1st free throw | 72-71 |
| 05:09 | Michigan State | Wilbur Griffin makes the 2nd free throw | 73-71 |
| 04:56 | Northwestern | John Goodwill misses long on a shot from the right side but the foul's on David Burnett - foul #1 on David Burnett, team foul #9 | 73-71 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Cecere (PF), Lucas Ziek (C) Wilbur Griffin, Marcus Lantz | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Seth Weiss (PF) David Negrete | |
| 04:56 | Northwestern | John Goodwill makes the 1st free throw | 73-72 |
| 04:56 | Northwestern | John Goodwill misses the 2nd free throw | 73-72 |
| 04:56 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Lucas Ziek | 73-72 |
| 04:54 | Michigan State | John Goodwill takes the ball from Ray Boyd in the backcourt | 73-72 |
| 04:53 | Northwestern | John Goodwill hits the finger roll | 73-74 |
| 04:32 | Michigan State | James Cecere misses long on a fadeaway from the free throw line but the foul's on Seth Weiss - foul #2 on Seth Weiss, team foul #12 | 73-74 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG) David Burnett | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Maurice Singletary (SG), David Negrete (C) Robert Friedenthal, Mark Jones | |
| 04:32 | Michigan State | James Cecere makes the 1st free throw | 74-74 |
| 04:32 | Michigan State | James Cecere makes the 2nd free throw | 75-74 |
| 04:20 | Northwestern | Roy Benninger's fadeaway is rejected by Lucas Ziek | 75-74 |
| 04:18 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Maurice Singletary | 75-74 |
| 03:57 | Northwestern | John Goodwill buries a 3pt shot from the right wing set up by Roy Benninger | 75-77 |
| 03:55 | Michigan State | James Cecere is hacked by John Goodwill in the backcourt - foul #3 on John Goodwill, team foul #13 | 75-77 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson (SF), Mark Arnold (C) Brian Shurtleff, Lucas Ziek | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ray Anaya (PG), Mark Redman (SF), Jason Williams (PF), Anthony Dunkelberger (C) John Goodwill, Roy Benninger, Seth Weiss, David Negrete | |
| 03:55 | Michigan State | James Cecere misses the 1st free throw | 75-77 |
| 03:55 | Michigan State | James Cecere makes the 2nd free throw | 76-77 |
| 03:37 | Northwestern | Kenneth Swanson blocks the short jumper by Anthony Dunkelberger | 76-77 |
| 03:35 | Michigan State | James Cecere gets the rebound | 76-77 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Charles Mitchell (tiring) 15 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - Ray Boyd (tiring) 18 pts. 3 ast. SF - Kenneth Swanson (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 2 ast. PF - James Cecere (fairly fresh) 7 pts. 9 reb. 2 blk. C - Mark Arnold (fresh) 6 pts. 2 stl. 3 pf. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Ray Anaya (fairly fresh) 16 pts. 3 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SG - Maurice Singletary (tiring) 6 pts. 2 ast. SF - Mark Redman (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 pf. PF - Jason Williams (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Anthony Dunkelberger (fresh) 8 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 03:19 | Michigan State | James Cecere misses the dunk | 76-77 |
| 03:17 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd snags the offensive board | 76-77 |
| 03:10 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell misses short on a 3 from the right corner | 76-77 |
| 03:09 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Anthony Dunkelberger | 76-77 |
| 02:54 | Northwestern | Anthony Dunkelberger buries a jumper from the right wing on a great pass from Maurice Singletary | 76-79 |
| 02:51 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson is fouled in the backcourt by Mark Redman - foul #5 on Mark Redman, team foul #14 | 76-79 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Burnett (PG), Brian Shurtleff (SF), Wilbur Griffin (PF), Marcus Lantz (C) Charles Mitchell, Ray Boyd, James Cecere, Mark Arnold | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal (SG), Roy Benninger (SF), Seth Weiss (PF), Mark Jones (C) Maurice Singletary, Mark Redman, Jason Williams, Anthony Dunkelberger | |
| 02:51 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson misses the 1st free throw | 76-79 |
| 02:51 | Michigan State | Kenneth Swanson misses the 2nd free throw | 76-79 |
| 02:51 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Mark Jones | 76-79 |
| 02:35 | Northwestern | Marcus Lantz is called for the reach on Mark Jones - foul #2 on Marcus Lantz, team foul #10 | 76-79 |
| 02:35 | Northwestern | Mark Jones makes the 1st free throw | 76-80 |
| 02:35 | Northwestern | Mark Jones makes the 2nd free throw | 76-81 |
| 02:33 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 76-81 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Cecere (PF), Mark Arnold (C) Wilbur Griffin, Marcus Lantz | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Goodwill (PG), Anthony Dunkelberger (C) Ray Anaya, Mark Jones | |
| 02:26 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff makes the floater in the lane on a great pass from David Burnett | 78-81 |
| 02:04 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal throws a bad pass out of bounds | 78-81 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Ray Boyd (SG) Kenneth Swanson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 01:42 | Michigan State | James Cecere misses the shot from the free throw line | 78-81 |
| 01:40 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff pulls down the offensive rebound | 78-81 |
| 01:23 | Michigan State | Brian Shurtleff misses short on a shot from the left wing | 78-81 |
| 01:22 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Anthony Dunkelberger | 78-81 |
| 01:15 | Northwestern | Roy Benninger's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 78-81 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell (PG) David Burnett | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ray Anaya (PG) John Goodwill | |
| 00:57 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd is fouled on the floor by Anthony Dunkelberger - foul #1 on Anthony Dunkelberger, team foul #15 | 78-81 |
| 00:57 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd makes the 1st free throw | 79-81 |
| 00:57 | Michigan State | Ray Boyd makes the 2nd free throw | 80-81 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| 00:28 | Northwestern | Robert Friedenthal connects on the fadeaway from the right wing | 80-83 |
| 00:03 | Michigan State | Charles Mitchell can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the left wing | 80-83 |
| 00:01 | Northwestern | Seth Weiss pulls down the rebound | 80-83 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a motion offense and intentionally fouling (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | Seth Weiss runs out the clock | 80-83 |