| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Mark Pettey (fresh) 1 pts. SG - James Perkins (fresh) SF - Alex Lyons (fresh) 4 pts. PF - Kenneth Manjarrez (fresh) 2 reb. C - Nathaniel White (fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - George Hondo (fresh) 2 ast. SG - Richard Randall (fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Randy Davis (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Hamisi Asaro (fresh) 7 pts. 3 reb. C - Ryan Dominy (fresh) 6 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons inbounds the ball | 17-15 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (slowdown) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 19:39 | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez can't finish the layup but he's fouled by Hamisi Asaro - foul #1 on Hamisi Asaro, team foul #1 | 17-15 |
| 19:39 | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez makes the 1st free throw | 18-15 |
| 19:39 | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez makes the 2nd free throw | 19-15 |
| 19:14 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro connects on the floater from just outside the lane on a nice dish by Ryan Dominy | 19-17 |
| 19:01 | Michigan State | Mark Pettey loses the ball out of bounds | 19-17 |
| 18:32 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro clanks a turnaround near the basket | 19-17 |
| 18:30 | Michigan State | James Perkins pulls down the rebound | 19-17 |
| 18:02 | Michigan State | Mark Pettey works out of a doubleteam but hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right wing | 19-17 |
| 18:01 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Randy Davis | 19-17 |
| 17:43 | Northwestern | George Hondo buries a 3pt shot from the left corner | 19-20 |
| 17:24 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons is hacked by Ryan Dominy - foul #2 on Ryan Dominy, team foul #2 | 19-20 |
| 17:03 | Michigan State | James Perkins misses short on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 19-20 |
| 17:02 | Michigan State | Nathaniel White grabs the offensive board | 19-20 |
| 16:46 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons is alone and drills a pull-up jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by a doubleteamed Mark Pettey | 21-20 |
| 16:21 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro double dribbles | 21-20 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Dye (SG), William Loftis (SF), Richard Clewis (PF), Richard Johnson (C) James Perkins, Alex Lyons, Kenneth Manjarrez, Nathaniel White | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Ralph Couture (C) Ryan Dominy | |
| 15:54 | Michigan State | Mark Pettey scores on a 3 pointer from straight away on a nice dish by Richard Johnson | 24-20 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Mark Pettey (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - David Dye (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - William Loftis (fresh) PF - Richard Clewis (fresh) 4 pts. 3 reb. C - Richard Johnson (fresh) | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - George Hondo (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Randall (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 1 ast. SF - Randy Davis (fairly fresh) 3 reb. PF - Hamisi Asaro (fresh) 9 pts. 3 reb. C - Ralph Couture (fresh) 3 pts. | |
| 15:34 | Northwestern | Randy Davis connects on the fadeaway from the right wing on a great pass from Hamisi Asaro | 24-22 |
| 15:13 | Michigan State | William Loftis can't connect on an uncontested fadeaway from close range | 24-22 |
| 15:11 | Michigan State | Richard Clewis tips it home | 26-22 |
| 14:42 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro hits a shot from close range set up by Richard Randall | 26-24 |
| 14:23 | Michigan State | David Dye tries to split the doubleteam and is called for the offensive foul - foul #1 on David Dye, team foul #1 | 26-24 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Perkins (PG), Alex Lyons (SF), Kenneth Manjarrez (PF), Nathaniel White (C) Mark Pettey, William Loftis, Richard Clewis, Richard Johnson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Christopher Watson (PG), Ryan Dominy (C) George Hondo, Ralph Couture | |
| 14:04 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy is whistled for a carry | 26-24 |
| 13:51 | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez is fouled on the floor by Randy Davis - foul #2 on Randy Davis, team foul #3 | 26-24 |
| 13:32 | Michigan State | James Perkins misses the lay-in but he's hacked by Richard Randall - foul #2 on Richard Randall, team foul #4 | 26-24 |
| 13:32 | Michigan State | James Perkins misses the 1st free throw | 26-24 |
| 13:32 | Michigan State | James Perkins misses the 2nd free throw | 26-24 |
| 13:32 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy grabs the defensive rebound | 26-24 |
| 13:14 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro hits the front of the rim on the floater from the free throw line | 26-24 |
| 13:12 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro can't tip it in | 26-24 |
| 13:11 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons snags the defensive board | 26-24 |
| 12:45 | Michigan State | Hamisi Asaro picks off the pass by Kenneth Manjarrez | 26-24 |
| 12:19 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro scores on a driving attempt from the left block | 26-26 |
| 11:52 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons comes up short on the pull-up jumper from the right side | 26-26 |
| 11:50 | Northwestern | Randy Davis snags the defensive board | 26-26 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - James Perkins (fresh) SG - David Dye (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Alex Lyons (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Kenneth Manjarrez (fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Nathaniel White (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Christopher Watson (fresh) SG - Richard Randall (tiring) 5 pts. 2 ast. SF - Randy Davis (tiring) 2 pts. 4 reb. PF - Hamisi Asaro (fairly fresh) 13 pts. 4 reb. C - Ryan Dominy (fresh) 7 reb. | |
| 11:29 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro hits a fadeaway from the free throw line set up by Christopher Watson | 26-28 |
| 11:09 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons clanks a jumper from the right block but he's hacked by Christopher Watson - foul #1 on Christopher Watson, team foul #5 | 26-28 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Mark Pettey (PG), William Loftis (PF), Richard Clewis (C) David Dye, Kenneth Manjarrez, Nathaniel White | |
| Subs | Northwestern | George Hondo (PG), Marvin Bender (SG), John Rines (SF), Ralph Couture (C) Christopher Watson, Richard Randall, Randy Davis, Ryan Dominy | |
| 11:09 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons misses the 1st free throw | 26-28 |
| 11:09 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons misses the 2nd free throw | 26-28 |
| 11:09 | Michigan State | The offensive rebound goes to Richard Clewis | 26-28 |
| 10:54 | Michigan State | William Loftis's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 26-28 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Johnson (C) Alex Lyons | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 10:35 | Northwestern | Marvin Bender knocks in the 3pt shot from the right wing on a great pass from Hamisi Asaro | 26-31 |
| 10:12 | Michigan State | Richard Clewis is called for traveling | 26-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Floyd Murphy (SG), Kenneth Manjarrez (PF) James Perkins, Richard Johnson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 09:51 | Northwestern | Marvin Bender misses the 3pt attempt from the right wing | 26-31 |
| 09:50 | Michigan State | Richard Clewis pulls down the rebound | 26-31 |
| 09:29 | Michigan State | Mark Pettey comes up short on the 3 from the left wing | 26-31 |
| 09:27 | Michigan State | Richard Clewis tips it but misses | 26-31 |
| 09:26 | Michigan State | Floyd Murphy grabs the offensive rebound | 26-31 |
| 09:04 | Michigan State | Hamisi Asaro blocks the short jumper by Richard Clewis | 26-31 |
| 09:02 | Michigan State | Richard Clewis tips it in | 28-31 |
| 08:36 | Northwestern | John Rines throws a bad pass out of bounds | 28-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Perkins (SG), Alex Lyons (SF), Nathaniel White (C) Floyd Murphy, William Loftis, Richard Clewis | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Randall (SG), Randy Davis (SF), Ryan Dominy (C) Marvin Bender, John Rines, Hamisi Asaro | |
| 08:16 | Michigan State | Richard Randall is called for the reach on Alex Lyons - foul #3 on Richard Randall, team foul #6 | 28-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Christopher Harris (PF) Kenneth Manjarrez | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Rines (PF) Ralph Couture | |
| 07:59 | Michigan State | Christopher Harris's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 28-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Richard Clewis (PF) Christopher Harris | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 07:30 | Northwestern | George Hondo is fouled on the floor by James Perkins - foul #2 on James Perkins, team foul #2 | 28-31 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Dye (SG) Mark Pettey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - James Perkins (fresh) SG - David Dye (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - Alex Lyons (fresh) 6 pts. PF - Richard Clewis (fresh) 8 pts. 8 reb. C - Nathaniel White (fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - George Hondo (fresh) 3 pts. 2 ast. SG - Richard Randall (fairly fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. 3 pf. SF - Randy Davis (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 4 reb. PF - John Rines (fresh) C - Ryan Dominy (fresh) 7 reb. | |
| 07:15 | Northwestern | Richard Randall buries a jump hook near the basket | 28-33 |
| 06:49 | Michigan State | James Perkins is fouled on the floor by Richard Randall - foul #4 on Richard Randall, team foul #7 | 28-33 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez (PF) Nathaniel White | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro (PF) John Rines | |
| 06:49 | Michigan State | James Perkins makes the 1st free throw | 29-33 |
| 06:49 | Michigan State | James Perkins misses the 2nd free throw | 29-33 |
| 06:49 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy gets the rebound | 29-33 |
| 06:30 | Northwestern | Kenneth Manjarrez takes the ball from Richard Randall | 29-33 |
| 06:18 | Michigan State | David Dye clanks a shot from just outside the lane | 29-33 |
| 06:17 | Northwestern | Richard Randall gets the rebound | 29-33 |
| 06:05 | Northwestern | Randy Davis comes up short on the floater from the free throw line | 29-33 |
| 06:03 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro tips it home | 29-35 |
| 05:53 | Michigan State | David Dye's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 29-35 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Mark Pettey (PG), Richard Johnson (C) David Dye, Richard Clewis | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Christopher Watson (PG), John Rines (SF) George Hondo, Randy Davis | |
| 05:31 | Northwestern | The short jumper by Hamisi Asaro is denied by Richard Johnson | 29-35 |
| 05:30 | Northwestern | Richard Randall tips it back up and in | 29-37 |
| 05:09 | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez misses the easy open layup | 29-37 |
| 05:07 | Northwestern | John Rines pulls down the rebound | 29-37 |
| 04:49 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro misses the fadeaway from the left side but he's fouled by Richard Johnson - foul #1 on Richard Johnson, team foul #3 | 29-37 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Dye (SG), William Loftis (SF), Nathaniel White (C) James Perkins, Alex Lyons, Richard Johnson | |
| Subs | Northwestern | George Hondo (PG), Marvin Bender (SG), Randy Davis (SF), Ralph Couture (C) Christopher Watson, Richard Randall, John Rines, Ryan Dominy | |
| 04:49 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro misses the 1st free throw | 29-37 |
| 04:49 | Northwestern | Hamisi Asaro misses the 2nd free throw | 29-37 |
| 04:49 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to William Loftis | 29-37 |
| 04:29 | Michigan State | Hamisi Asaro picks off the pass by David Dye | 29-37 |
| 04:03 | Northwestern | George Hondo hits a 3pt jumper from the left corner set up by Hamisi Asaro | 29-40 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 03:44 | Michigan State | William Loftis misses long on a fadeaway from the right block | 29-40 |
| 03:43 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Randy Davis | 29-40 |
| 03:41 | Northwestern | Mark Pettey steals the ball from George Hondo in the backcourt | 29-40 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+2) | |
| 03:25 | Michigan State | David Dye can't connect on a 3pt shot from the right corner | 29-40 |
| 03:23 | Northwestern | Ralph Couture pulls down the rebound | 29-40 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Mark Pettey (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - David Dye (fresh) 6 pts. 1 ast. SF - William Loftis (fresh) 2 reb. PF - Kenneth Manjarrez (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 2 reb. C - Nathaniel White (fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - George Hondo (fresh) 6 pts. 2 ast. SG - Marvin Bender (fresh) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Randy Davis (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 5 reb. PF - Hamisi Asaro (fairly fresh) 17 pts. 5 reb. 2 blk. 2 stl. C - Ralph Couture (fresh) 3 pts. 2 reb. | |
| 02:58 | Northwestern | George Hondo clanks a 3pt shot from the right wing | 29-40 |
| 02:57 | Northwestern | Randy Davis tips it but misses | 29-40 |
| 02:55 | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez pulls down the rebound | 29-40 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-2) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 02:41 | Michigan State | William Loftis misses short on a fadeaway from the free throw line | 29-40 |
| 02:40 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Randy Davis | 29-40 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a flex offense (slowdown) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 02:16 | Northwestern | George Hondo comes up short on the 3 pointer from the left wing | 29-40 |
| 02:14 | Michigan State | William Loftis pulls down the rebound | 29-40 |
| 02:09 | Michigan State | David Dye splits the doubleteam and buries a 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by Mark Pettey | 32-40 |
| 02:09 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 32-40 |
| Subs | Michigan State | James Perkins (SG), Alex Lyons (SF), Richard Clewis (PF) David Dye, William Loftis, Kenneth Manjarrez | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Randall (SG), Ryan Dominy (C) Marvin Bender, Ralph Couture | |
| 01:40 | Northwestern | Randy Davis is fouled on the floor by James Perkins - foul #3 on James Perkins, team foul #4 | 32-40 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez (PF) Richard Clewis | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 01:15 | Northwestern | George Hondo hits the front of the rim on the 3pt shot from straight away | 32-40 |
| 01:14 | Northwestern | Richard Randall tips it back up and in | 32-42 |
| 01:02 | Michigan State | James Perkins is by himself and knocks in the 3pt jumper from straight away on a great pass from Kenneth Manjarrez | 35-42 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a triangle offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:56 | Northwestern | George Hondo is fouled on the floor by Mark Pettey - foul #2 on Mark Pettey, team foul #5 | 35-42 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marvin Bender (SG), Ralph Couture (PF) Richard Randall, Hamisi Asaro | |
| 00:53 | Northwestern | Marvin Bender is fouled on the floor by James Perkins - foul #4 on James Perkins, team foul #6 | 35-42 |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | George Hondo is hacked by Alex Lyons - foul #1 on Alex Lyons, team foul #7 | 35-42 |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | George Hondo makes the 1st free throw | 35-43 |
| 00:50 | Northwestern | George Hondo makes the 2nd free throw | 35-44 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:43 | Michigan State | Mark Pettey shoots over the doubleteam and knocks in the 3pt shot from the left corner on a great pass from James Perkins | 38-44 |
| 00:43 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 38-44 |
| 00:41 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy is hacked by Mark Pettey in the backcourt - foul #3 on Mark Pettey, team foul #8 | 38-44 |
| 00:41 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy makes the 1st free throw | 38-45 |
| 00:41 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy misses the 2nd free throw | 38-45 |
| 00:41 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons gets the rebound | 38-45 |
| 00:36 | Michigan State | James Perkins misses badly on the uncontested fadeaway from the left wing | 38-45 |
| 00:34 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy gets the rebound | 38-45 |
| 00:33 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy is fouled in the backcourt by Mark Pettey - foul #4 on Mark Pettey, team foul #9 | 38-45 |
| 00:33 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy misses the 1st free throw | 38-45 |
| 00:33 | Michigan State | Kenneth Manjarrez gets the rebound | 38-45 |
| 00:31 | Michigan State | George Hondo picks off the pass by Mark Pettey in the backcourt | 38-45 |
| 00:30 | Northwestern | Nathaniel White is called for the reach on Ryan Dominy - foul #2 on Nathaniel White, team foul #10 | 38-45 |
| 00:30 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy misses the 1st free throw | 38-45 |
| 00:30 | Northwestern | Ryan Dominy makes the 2nd free throw | 38-46 |
| 00:23 | Michigan State | Mark Pettey splits the doubleteam but misses short on a 3pt attempt from straight away | 38-46 |
| 00:21 | Michigan State | James Perkins grabs the offensive rebound | 38-46 |
| 00:19 | Michigan State | Mark Pettey evades the doubleteam and hits a 3pt jumper from the left wing on a nice dish by James Perkins | 41-46 |
| 00:19 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 1 full remaining) | 41-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | John Rines (SF) Randy Davis | |
| 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 man to man (+4) | |
| 00:17 | Northwestern | George Hondo is hacked by Mark Pettey in the backcourt - foul #5 on Mark Pettey, team foul #11 | 41-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | David Dye (SG) Mark Pettey | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 00:17 | Northwestern | George Hondo makes the 1st free throw | 41-47 |
| 00:17 | Northwestern | George Hondo makes the 2nd free throw | 41-48 |
| 00:09 | Michigan State | Alex Lyons double dribbles | 41-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Randy Davis (SF) John Rines | |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:06 | Northwestern | George Hondo is hacked by James Perkins in the backcourt - foul #5 on James Perkins, team foul #12 | 41-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | William Loftis (SF) James Perkins | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 00:06 | Northwestern | George Hondo makes the 1st free throw | 41-49 |
| 00:06 | Northwestern | George Hondo makes the 2nd free throw | 41-50 |
| 00:04 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 3 full remaining) | 41-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Richard Randall (SG), Hamisi Asaro (PF) Marvin Bender, Ralph Couture | |
| 00:01 | Michigan State | William Loftis buries a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 44-50 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a man to man (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a man to man (+4) | |
| 00:00 | Northwestern | George Hondo runs out the clock | 44-50 |