| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Alvaro Galindo (fresh) 3 pts. 4 ast. SG - Bruce Ralls (fresh) 3 pts. SF - Carl Riojas (fresh) 5 pts. PF - Joseph McGill (fresh) 4 pts. 7 reb. C - Kelvin Shepherd (fresh) 4 pts. 8 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Pittman (fresh) 5 pts. 2 ast. SG - James Lee (fresh) 5 pts. SF - Gary Godley (fresh) 2 pts. 6 reb. PF - Chris Zitzelberger (fresh) 3 pts. C - Earl Hubbard (fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 20:00 | Michigan State | Carl Riojas inbounds the ball | 47-30 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| 19:58 | Michigan State | James Lee takes the ball from Joseph McGill in the backcourt | 47-30 |
| 19:55 | Northwestern | Robert Pittman lays it in on a great pass from James Lee | 47-32 |
| 19:34 | Michigan State | Joseph McGill scores on a fadeaway from the left block | 49-32 |
| 19:20 | Northwestern | Robert Pittman knocks in the 3pt jumper from the left corner on a great pass from James Lee | 49-35 |
| 19:08 | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo misses short on an open 3pt shot from the right corner | 49-35 |
| 19:06 | Northwestern | Gary Godley pulls down the rebound | 49-35 |
| 19:03 | Northwestern | Robert Pittman is hacked by Alvaro Galindo in the backcourt - foul #2 on Alvaro Galindo, team foul #1 | 49-35 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (PG), Jeremy Lucas (SG), Kang Tang (SF), John Bohner (PF) Alvaro Galindo, Bruce Ralls, Carl Riojas, Joseph McGill | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried (PG), Christopher McMickle (SF), Walter Rancourt (PF), Joshua Corby (C) Robert Pittman, Gary Godley, Chris Zitzelberger, Earl Hubbard | |
| 18:58 | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried is by himself and knocks in the 3pt attempt from the right corner | 49-38 |
| 18:53 | Michigan State | Kang Tang clanks a 3pt jumper from the left corner | 49-38 |
| 18:51 | Northwestern | James Lee snags the defensive board | 49-38 |
| 18:49 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 49-38 |
| 18:36 | Michigan State | John Selzer comes up short on the 3 from the right corner | 49-38 |
| 18:34 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Joshua Corby | 49-38 |
| 18:30 | Northwestern | James Lee scores on a 3 from straight away on a nice dish by Marc Siegfried | 49-41 |
| 18:11 | Michigan State | John Selzer is fouled on the floor by Marc Siegfried - foul #1 on Marc Siegfried, team foul #1 | 49-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Crosley (PG), Carl Riojas (SF), Joseph McGill (PF) Jeremy Lucas, Kang Tang, John Bohner | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Smith (PG), Gary Godley (SF), Chris Zitzelberger (PF), Earl Hubbard (C) Marc Siegfried, Christopher McMickle, Walter Rancourt, Joshua Corby | |
| 17:55 | Michigan State | Robert Crosley can't connect on a 3pt attempt from the right wing | 49-41 |
| 17:53 | Michigan State | Carl Riojas gets the offensive rebound | 49-41 |
| 17:39 | Michigan State | Carl Riojas blows the layup | 49-41 |
| 17:37 | Michigan State | John Selzer gets the offensive rebound | 49-41 |
| 17:23 | Michigan State | Carl Riojas drills a 3 from the right corner | 52-41 |
| 17:20 | Northwestern | Robert Crosley is called for the reach on Jason Smith in the backcourt - foul #1 on Robert Crosley, team foul #2 | 52-41 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo (PG), Bruce Ralls (SG) Robert Crosley, John Selzer | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Pittman (PG) Jason Smith | |
| 17:08 | Northwestern | Gary Godley jams the wide open dunk | 52-43 |
| 17:03 | Michigan State | Bruce Ralls is whistled for a carry in the backcourt | 52-43 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle (SF), Walter Rancourt (PF), Joshua Corby (C) Gary Godley, Chris Zitzelberger, Earl Hubbard | |
| 16:40 | Northwestern | Walter Rancourt knocks in the 3 pointer from the left wing on a great pass from Christopher McMickle | 52-46 |
| 16:37 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd is hacked by Robert Pittman in the backcourt - foul #2 on Robert Pittman, team foul #2 | 52-46 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Jeremy Lucas (SG), Kang Tang (SF), John Bohner (PF) Bruce Ralls, Carl Riojas, Joseph McGill | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried (SG) James Lee | |
| 16:22 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd misses long on an open pull-up jumper from the left wing | 52-46 |
| 16:20 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd tips it in | 54-46 |
| 16:14 | Northwestern | Robert Pittman knocks in the fadeaway jumper from the right wing on a nice dish by Walter Rancourt | 54-48 |
| 16:11 | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo loses the dribble to Walter Rancourt in the backcourt | 54-48 |
| 16:01 | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried is fouled on the floor by Jeremy Lucas - foul #1 on Jeremy Lucas, team foul #3 | 54-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bruce Ralls (SG), Carl Riojas (SF) Jeremy Lucas, Kang Tang | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Lee (SG), Gary Godley (SF), Chris Zitzelberger (PF), Earl Hubbard (C) Marc Siegfried, Christopher McMickle, Walter Rancourt, Joshua Corby | |
| 15:49 | Northwestern | John Bohner is called for the reach on Chris Zitzelberger - foul #1 on John Bohner, team foul #4 | 54-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Crosley (PG), Von Rusinski (SG), Alfred Morrow (PF) Alvaro Galindo, Bruce Ralls, John Bohner | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Warren Morgan (SG) James Lee | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robert Crosley (fresh) 7 pts. SG - Von Rusinski (fresh) 3 pts. 3 pf. SF - Carl Riojas (fairly fresh) 8 pts. 2 reb. PF - Alfred Morrow (fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. C - Kelvin Shepherd (tiring) 6 pts. 9 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Pittman (tiring) 12 pts. 2 ast. SG - Warren Morgan (fresh) 1 pts. 3 pf. SF - Gary Godley (fairly fresh) 4 pts. 7 reb. PF - Chris Zitzelberger (tiring) 3 pts. C - Earl Hubbard (fairly fresh) 2 reb. | |
| 15:37 | Northwestern | Gary Godley is called for a pushoff foul - foul #1 on Gary Godley, team foul #3 | 54-48 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph McGill (C) Kelvin Shepherd | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 15:26 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow hits the front of the rim on the 3pt attempt from the left corner | 54-48 |
| 15:24 | Northwestern | The rebound goes to Robert Pittman | 54-48 |
| 15:20 | Northwestern | Gary Godley buries a turnaround in the paint and the foul's on Robert Crosley - foul #2 on Robert Crosley, team foul #5 | 54-50 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (PG) Robert Crosley | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Smith (PG) Robert Pittman | |
| 15:20 | Northwestern | Gary Godley makes the free throw | 54-51 |
| 15:06 | Michigan State | John Selzer misses badly on a floater from the left side but he's fouled by Jason Smith - foul #1 on Jason Smith, team foul #4 | 54-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kang Tang (SF) Carl Riojas | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 15:06 | Michigan State | John Selzer makes the 1st free throw | 55-51 |
| 15:06 | Michigan State | John Selzer makes the 2nd free throw | 56-51 |
| 14:50 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard is open but comes up short on the runner near the basket but the foul's on Kang Tang - foul #1 on Kang Tang, team foul #6 | 56-51 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bruce Ralls (SG), John Bohner (C) Von Rusinski, Joseph McGill | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried (PG), Christopher McMickle (SF), Walter Rancourt (PF) Jason Smith, Gary Godley, Chris Zitzelberger | |
| 14:50 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard makes the 1st free throw | 56-52 |
| 14:50 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard makes the 2nd free throw | 56-53 |
| 14:36 | Michigan State | Bruce Ralls misses the 3pt jumper from the right wing | 56-53 |
| 14:35 | Michigan State | John Bohner tips it home | 58-53 |
| 14:19 | Northwestern | Walter Rancourt comes up short on the jump hook near the basket | 58-53 |
| 14:17 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle hits the follow up shot | 58-55 |
| 14:00 | Michigan State | John Selzer misses short on a runner near the basket | 58-55 |
| 13:59 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard grabs the board | 58-55 |
| 13:48 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan misses short on a fadeaway in the paint but the foul's on John Bohner - foul #2 on John Bohner, team foul #7 | 58-55 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Crosley (PG), Jeremy Lucas (SG), Carl Riojas (SF), Kelvin Shepherd (C) John Selzer, Bruce Ralls, Kang Tang, John Bohner | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Lee (SG), Gary Godley (SF), Chris Zitzelberger (PF), Joshua Corby (C) Marc Siegfried, Christopher McMickle, Walter Rancourt, Earl Hubbard | |
| 13:48 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan misses the 1st free throw | 58-55 |
| 13:48 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan makes the 2nd free throw | 58-56 |
| 13:45 | Michigan State | Gary Godley steps in front of the Robert Crosley pass in the backcourt | 58-56 |
| 13:28 | Northwestern | James Lee is by himself and knocks in the 3 from the left corner on a nice dish by Joshua Corby | 58-59 |
| 13:23 | Michigan State | Robert Crosley buries a 3 pointer from straight away | 61-59 |
| 13:04 | Northwestern | Chris Zitzelberger can't connect on an uncontested shot in the paint | 61-59 |
| 13:03 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd gets the rebound | 61-59 |
| 12:56 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow is by himself and knocks in the 3 pointer from the left corner set up by Robert Crosley | 64-59 |
| 12:54 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 64-59 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo (PG), Von Rusinski (SG) Robert Crosley, Jeremy Lucas | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Smith (PG), Christopher McMickle (PF) Warren Morgan, Chris Zitzelberger | |
| 12:45 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd can't finish the layup but the foul's on Joshua Corby - foul #2 on Joshua Corby, team foul #5 | 64-59 |
| 12:45 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd misses the 1st free throw | 64-59 |
| 12:45 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd misses the 2nd free throw | 64-59 |
| 12:45 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle gets the rebound | 64-59 |
| 12:43 | Northwestern | James Lee's pass is off the mark and out of bounds in the backcourt | 64-59 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph McGill (C) Kelvin Shepherd | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 12:23 | Michigan State | Von Rusinski comes up short on the 3 from the right corner | 64-59 |
| 12:22 | Northwestern | Jason Smith snags the defensive board | 64-59 |
| 12:18 | Northwestern | Von Rusinski takes the ball from Joshua Corby in the backcourt | 64-59 |
| 12:10 | Michigan State | Joseph McGill scores on a driving attempt near the basket | 66-59 |
| 12:07 | Northwestern | James Lee is fouled in the backcourt by Von Rusinski - foul #4 on Von Rusinski, team foul #8 | 66-59 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (SG), Kang Tang (SF), Kelvin Shepherd (C) Von Rusinski, Carl Riojas, Alfred Morrow | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Pittman (PG), Walter Rancourt (PF), Earl Hubbard (C) Jason Smith, Gary Godley, Joshua Corby | |
| 12:07 | Northwestern | James Lee misses the 1st free throw | 66-59 |
| 12:07 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd grabs the defensive rebound | 66-59 |
| 11:51 | Michigan State | Robert Pittman picks off the pass by Kang Tang | 66-59 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Alvaro Galindo (tiring) 3 pts. 4 ast. SG - John Selzer (fairly fresh) 4 pts. SF - Kang Tang (tiring) 3 pts. PF - Joseph McGill (tiring) 8 pts. 7 reb. C - Kelvin Shepherd (tiring) 6 pts. 11 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Robert Pittman (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SG - James Lee (tiring) 11 pts. 2 ast. 2 stl. SF - Christopher McMickle (tiring) 7 pts. 5 reb. PF - Walter Rancourt (tiring) 5 pts. 3 reb. C - Earl Hubbard (tired) 2 pts. 3 reb. | |
| 11:38 | Northwestern | James Lee is open and scores on a floater from the left wing set up by Robert Pittman | 66-61 |
| 11:24 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd lays it up and in set up by John Selzer | 68-61 |
| 11:03 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle lays it in on a nice dish by James Lee | 68-63 |
| 11:03 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 2 full remaining) | 68-63 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Crosley (PG), Jeremy Lucas (SG), Carl Riojas (SF), Alfred Morrow (PF), John Bohner (C) Alvaro Galindo, John Selzer, Kang Tang, Joseph McGill, Kelvin Shepherd | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Smith (PG), Marc Siegfried (SG), Gary Godley (SF), Chris Zitzelberger (PF), Joshua Corby (C) Robert Pittman, James Lee, Christopher McMickle, Walter Rancourt, Earl Hubbard | |
| 10:44 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow hits the front of the rim on the 3 from the right wing | 68-63 |
| 10:42 | Northwestern | Joshua Corby grabs the board | 68-63 |
| 10:36 | Northwestern | Joshua Corby throws a bad pass out of bounds | 68-63 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Warren Morgan (SG) Jason Smith | |
| 10:17 | Michigan State | Jeremy Lucas misses short on a pull-up jumper from the right wing but he's hacked by Gary Godley - foul #2 on Gary Godley, team foul #6 | 68-63 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (PG), Kelvin Shepherd (C) Robert Crosley, John Bohner | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Pittman (PG), James Lee (SG) Marc Siegfried, Warren Morgan | |
| 10:17 | Michigan State | Jeremy Lucas makes the 1st free throw | 69-63 |
| 10:17 | Michigan State | Jeremy Lucas makes the 2nd free throw | 70-63 |
| 09:58 | Northwestern | Gary Godley misses the easy layup but he's hacked by Alfred Morrow - foul #4 on Alfred Morrow, team foul #9 | 70-63 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bruce Ralls (SG), John Bohner (PF) Jeremy Lucas, Alfred Morrow | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Walter Rancourt (PF), Earl Hubbard (C) Chris Zitzelberger, Joshua Corby | |
| 09:58 | Northwestern | Gary Godley makes the 1st free throw | 70-64 |
| 09:58 | Northwestern | Gary Godley misses the 2nd free throw | 70-64 |
| 09:58 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd gets the rebound | 70-64 |
| 09:54 | Michigan State | John Selzer scores on a 3pt jumper from the left wing on a great pass from Bruce Ralls | 73-64 |
| 09:34 | Northwestern | Robert Pittman hits a jumper from the right wing set up by James Lee | 73-66 |
| 09:24 | Michigan State | John Bohner is fouled on the floor by Walter Rancourt - foul #2 on Walter Rancourt, team foul #7 | 73-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kang Tang (SF) Carl Riojas | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Warren Morgan (SG), Christopher McMickle (SF), Chris Zitzelberger (PF), Joshua Corby (C) James Lee, Gary Godley, Walter Rancourt, Earl Hubbard | |
| 09:24 | Michigan State | John Bohner misses the 1st free throw | 73-66 |
| 09:24 | Northwestern | Joshua Corby grabs the defensive rebound | 73-66 |
| 09:05 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle misses short on a jumper near the basket but the foul's on Kang Tang - foul #2 on Kang Tang, team foul #10 | 73-66 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Joseph McGill (PF) John Bohner | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Smith (PG), Marc Siegfried (SG) Robert Pittman, Warren Morgan | |
| 09:05 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle makes the 1st free throw | 73-67 |
| 09:05 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle misses the 2nd free throw | 73-67 |
| 09:05 | Michigan State | Joseph McGill snags the defensive board | 73-67 |
| 08:51 | Michigan State | Joseph McGill's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 73-67 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Crosley (PG) John Selzer | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Walter Rancourt (PF) Chris Zitzelberger | |
| 08:31 | Northwestern | Joshua Corby misses the runner from the left block but the foul's on Kelvin Shepherd - foul #1 on Kelvin Shepherd, team foul #11 | 73-67 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (SG), Carl Riojas (SF) Bruce Ralls, Kang Tang | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Warren Morgan (PG), James Lee (SG) Jason Smith, Marc Siegfried | |
| 08:31 | Northwestern | Joshua Corby makes the 1st free throw | 73-68 |
| 08:31 | Northwestern | Joshua Corby makes the 2nd free throw | 73-69 |
| 08:25 | Michigan State | James Lee is called for the reach on Robert Crosley in the backcourt - foul #3 on James Lee, team foul #8 | 73-69 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gary Godley (SF), Earl Hubbard (C) Walter Rancourt, Joshua Corby | |
| 08:25 | Michigan State | Robert Crosley makes the 1st free throw | 74-69 |
| 08:25 | Michigan State | Robert Crosley makes the 2nd free throw | 75-69 |
| 08:09 | Northwestern | James Lee can't connect on a floater in the paint | 75-69 |
| 08:08 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Earl Hubbard | 75-69 |
| 07:52 | Northwestern | Gary Godley hits the front of the rim on the wide open runner in the paint | 75-69 |
| 07:50 | Northwestern | Gary Godley tips it back up and in | 75-71 |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robert Crosley (fairly fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - John Selzer (tiring) 7 pts. 1 ast. SF - Carl Riojas (tired) 8 pts. 2 reb. PF - Joseph McGill (tired) 8 pts. 8 reb. C - Kelvin Shepherd (tired) 8 pts. 12 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Warren Morgan (fairly fresh) 2 pts. 3 pf. SG - James Lee (tiring) 13 pts. 4 ast. 2 stl. 3 pf. SF - Gary Godley (tired) 10 pts. 8 reb. PF - Christopher McMickle (tiring) 10 pts. 5 reb. C - Earl Hubbard (tired) 2 pts. 4 reb. | |
| 07:27 | Michigan State | John Selzer misses the easy layup | 75-71 |
| 07:26 | Northwestern | James Lee grabs the defensive rebound | 75-71 |
| 07:26 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 1 full remaining) | 75-71 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Von Rusinski (PG), Jeremy Lucas (SG), Kang Tang (SF), Alfred Morrow (PF), John Bohner (C) Robert Crosley, John Selzer, Carl Riojas, Joseph McGill, Kelvin Shepherd | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Smith (PG), Marc Siegfried (SG), Chris Zitzelberger (PF), Joshua Corby (C) James Lee, Gary Godley, Christopher McMickle, Earl Hubbard | |
| 07:11 | Northwestern | Joshua Corby loses the ball out of bounds | 75-71 |
| 06:53 | Michigan State | John Bohner hits the front of the rim on the wide open fadeaway jumper from the right side | 75-71 |
| 06:52 | Northwestern | Chris Zitzelberger gets the rebound | 75-71 |
| 06:47 | Northwestern | Jason Smith misses the lay-in but he's fouled by Jeremy Lucas - foul #2 on Jeremy Lucas, team foul #12 | 75-71 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (SF) Kang Tang | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Gary Godley (SF), Walter Rancourt (PF) Warren Morgan, Chris Zitzelberger | |
| 06:47 | Northwestern | Jason Smith makes the 1st free throw | 75-72 |
| 06:47 | Northwestern | Jason Smith makes the 2nd free throw | 75-73 |
| 06:31 | Michigan State | Von Rusinski hits the front of the rim on the runner from the right block but he's fouled by Jason Smith - foul #2 on Jason Smith, team foul #9 | 75-73 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo (PG), Kelvin Shepherd (C) Jeremy Lucas, John Bohner | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Pittman (PG), James Lee (SG), Earl Hubbard (C) Jason Smith, Marc Siegfried, Joshua Corby | |
| 06:31 | Michigan State | Von Rusinski makes the 1st free throw | 76-73 |
| 06:31 | Michigan State | Von Rusinski makes the 2nd free throw | 77-73 |
| 06:14 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard misses badly on a floater from the right block but he's fouled by John Selzer - foul #3 on John Selzer, team foul #13 | 77-73 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bruce Ralls (SG), Carl Riojas (SF) Von Rusinski, John Selzer | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 06:14 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard makes the 1st free throw | 77-74 |
| 06:14 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard misses the 2nd free throw | 77-74 |
| 06:14 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow grabs the defensive rebound | 77-74 |
| 06:09 | Michigan State | Bruce Ralls throws a bad pass out of bounds in the backcourt | 77-74 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle (SF) Gary Godley | |
| 06:03 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard comes up short on the shot from the right side | 77-74 |
| 06:02 | Northwestern | Walter Rancourt snags the offensive board | 77-74 |
| 05:50 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle can't finish the layup | 77-74 |
| 05:48 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd pulls down the rebound | 77-74 |
| 05:46 | Michigan State | James Lee picks off the pass by Carl Riojas in the backcourt | 77-74 |
| 05:25 | Northwestern | James Lee misses short on a 3pt shot from the left corner | 77-74 |
| 05:23 | Northwestern | The offensive rebound goes to Earl Hubbard | 77-74 |
| 05:18 | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle buries a pull-up jumper from the left wing set up by Robert Pittman | 77-76 |
| 05:15 | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo is hacked by Robert Pittman in the backcourt - foul #3 on Robert Pittman, team foul #10 | 77-76 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (SG), Kang Tang (SF), Joseph McGill (C) Bruce Ralls, Carl Riojas, Kelvin Shepherd | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Warren Morgan (SF), Chris Zitzelberger (PF), Joshua Corby (C) Christopher McMickle, Walter Rancourt, Earl Hubbard | |
| 05:15 | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo makes the 1st free throw | 78-76 |
| 05:15 | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo makes the 2nd free throw | 79-76 |
| 05:03 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan misses short on a 3pt attempt from the left corner | 79-76 |
| 05:01 | Michigan State | Joseph McGill grabs the defensive rebound | 79-76 |
| 04:55 | Michigan State | Kang Tang can't connect on an uncontested shot from just outside the lane | 79-76 |
| 04:53 | Michigan State | Joseph McGill grabs the offensive rebound | 79-76 |
| 04:36 | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo makes the shot from just outside the lane | 81-76 |
| 04:34 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan is fouled in the backcourt by Kang Tang - foul #3 on Kang Tang, team foul #14 | 81-76 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Von Rusinski (PG), Jeremy Lucas (SG), John Bohner (PF) Alvaro Galindo, Kang Tang, Alfred Morrow | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried (PG), Gary Godley (SF) Robert Pittman, James Lee | |
| 04:34 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan misses the 1st free throw | 81-76 |
| 04:34 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan makes the 2nd free throw | 81-77 |
| 04:32 | Michigan State | Von Rusinski is fouled in the backcourt by Marc Siegfried - foul #2 on Marc Siegfried, team foul #11 | 81-77 |
| 04:32 | Michigan State | Von Rusinski makes the 1st free throw | 82-77 |
| 04:32 | Michigan State | Von Rusinski makes the 2nd free throw | 83-77 |
| 04:11 | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried's fadeaway is rejected by Joseph McGill | 83-77 |
| 04:09 | Michigan State | Joseph McGill grabs the board | 83-77 |
| 03:40 | Michigan State | John Selzer is whistled for a carry | 83-77 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Crosley (PG), Bruce Ralls (SG), Carl Riojas (SF), Alfred Morrow (PF), Kelvin Shepherd (C) Von Rusinski, Jeremy Lucas, John Selzer, John Bohner, Joseph McGill | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Jason Smith (PG), James Lee (SG), Christopher McMickle (PF), Earl Hubbard (C) Marc Siegfried, Warren Morgan, Chris Zitzelberger, Joshua Corby | |
| Lineup | Michigan State | PG - Robert Crosley (fresh) 12 pts. 1 ast. SG - Bruce Ralls (tiring) 3 pts. 1 ast. SF - Carl Riojas (tiring) 8 pts. 2 reb. PF - Alfred Morrow (tired) 5 pts. 2 reb. 4 pf. C - Kelvin Shepherd (tired) 8 pts. 13 reb. | |
| Lineup | Northwestern | PG - Jason Smith (fresh) 4 pts. 1 ast. SG - James Lee (tiring) 13 pts. 4 ast. 3 stl. 3 pf. SF - Gary Godley (tired) 10 pts. 8 reb. PF - Christopher McMickle (tiring) 12 pts. 5 reb. C - Earl Hubbard (tired) 3 pts. 5 reb. | |
| 03:13 | Northwestern | James Lee hits a 3 from the left corner | 83-80 |
| 03:13 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 1 full remaining) | 83-80 |
| Subs | Michigan State | | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried (SG), Walter Rancourt (PF) James Lee, Gary Godley | |
| 02:57 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow misses short on a fadeaway in the paint but he's hacked by Jason Smith - foul #3 on Jason Smith, team foul #12 | 83-80 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Von Rusinski (PG), Jeremy Lucas (SG) Robert Crosley, Bruce Ralls | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Joshua Corby (C) Earl Hubbard | |
| 02:57 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow misses the 1st free throw | 83-80 |
| 02:57 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow makes the 2nd free throw | 84-80 |
| 02:38 | Northwestern | Walter Rancourt misses the 3 from the left corner | 84-80 |
| 02:37 | Michigan State | Carl Riojas grabs the board | 84-80 |
| 02:37 | Michigan State | Michigan State calls a full timeout (2 :30 remaining) | 84-80 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Kang Tang (SF), John Bohner (PF) Carl Riojas, Alfred Morrow | |
| Subs | Northwestern | James Lee (SG), Gary Godley (SF) Jason Smith, Walter Rancourt | |
| 02:22 | Michigan State | John Bohner makes the jumper near the basket on a nice dish by Von Rusinski | 86-80 |
| 02:19 | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried is hacked by Von Rusinski in the backcourt - foul #5 on Von Rusinski, team foul #15 | 86-80 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Robert Crosley (PG), John Selzer (SF) Von Rusinski, Kang Tang | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 02:19 | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried makes the 1st free throw | 86-81 |
| 02:19 | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried makes the 2nd free throw | 86-82 |
| 01:52 | Michigan State | Robert Crosley misses badly on a 3pt shot from the right wing | 86-82 |
| 01:51 | Michigan State | John Selzer gets the offensive rebound | 86-82 |
| 01:39 | Michigan State | John Bohner can't throw it down | 86-82 |
| 01:38 | Northwestern | Marc Siegfried grabs the board | 86-82 |
| 01:34 | Northwestern | James Lee clanks a 3 from the right corner | 86-82 |
| 01:33 | Michigan State | John Selzer gets the rebound | 86-82 |
| 01:17 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd buries a jump hook near the basket on a great pass from Jeremy Lucas | 88-82 |
| 01:17 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a full timeout (2 :30 remaining) | 88-82 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo (PG), Bruce Ralls (SG), Carl Riojas (SF), Alfred Morrow (PF) Robert Crosley, Jeremy Lucas, John Selzer, John Bohner | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Robert Pittman (PG), Chris Zitzelberger (PF), Earl Hubbard (C) Marc Siegfried, Christopher McMickle, Joshua Corby | |
| 01:15 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard loses the ball out of bounds in the backcourt | 88-82 |
| 00:58 | Michigan State | Kelvin Shepherd's pass is off the mark and out of bounds | 88-82 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a fastbreak offense and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and a fullcourt press (0) | |
| 00:44 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard hits the front of the rim on the runner from the baseline | 88-82 |
| 00:43 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Carl Riojas | 88-82 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a fastbreak offense (uptempo) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:40 | Michigan State | Carl Riojas is hacked by James Lee in the backcourt - foul #4 on James Lee, team foul #13 | 88-82 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (SG) Bruce Ralls | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 00:40 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a :30 timeout (1 :30 remaining) | 88-82 |
| 00:40 | Michigan State | Carl Riojas makes the 1st free throw | 89-82 |
| 00:40 | Michigan State | Carl Riojas makes the 2nd free throw | 90-82 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:34 | Northwestern | James Lee scores on a 3pt jumper from the left wing | 90-85 |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | James Lee is called for the reach on John Selzer in the backcourt - foul #5 on James Lee, team foul #14 | 90-85 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Bruce Ralls (SG) Carl Riojas | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Warren Morgan (SG) James Lee | |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | John Selzer misses the 1st free throw | 90-85 |
| 00:32 | Michigan State | John Selzer makes the 2nd free throw | 91-85 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:29 | Northwestern | Northwestern calls a :30 timeout (none remaining) | 91-85 |
| Subs | Michigan State | Carl Riojas (SF) John Selzer | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 00:26 | Northwestern | Robert Pittman can't connect on a 3 from the left wing | 91-85 |
| 00:25 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow grabs the board | 91-85 |
| 00:23 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow is fouled in the backcourt by Robert Pittman - foul #4 on Robert Pittman, team foul #15 | 91-85 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Selzer (SF) Carl Riojas | |
| Subs | Northwestern | | |
| 00:23 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow makes the 1st free throw | 92-85 |
| 00:23 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow misses the 2nd free throw | 92-85 |
| 00:23 | Northwestern | Earl Hubbard pulls down the rebound | 92-85 |
| 00:15 | Northwestern | Warren Morgan comes up short on the 3pt shot from the left wing | 92-85 |
| 00:13 | Michigan State | The rebound goes to Alfred Morrow | 92-85 |
| 00:11 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow is fouled in the backcourt by Robert Pittman - foul #5 on Robert Pittman, team foul #16 | 92-85 |
| Subs | Michigan State | John Bohner (SF) Bruce Ralls | |
| Subs | Northwestern | Christopher McMickle (SG) Robert Pittman | |
| 00:11 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow makes the 1st free throw | 93-85 |
| 00:11 | Michigan State | Alfred Morrow makes the 2nd free throw | 94-85 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and intentionally fouling (0) | |
| 00:04 | Northwestern | John Bohner steals it from Warren Morgan | 94-85 |
| Game Plan | Michigan State | Michigan State is playing a spread offense (hold ball) and a fullcourt press (+1) | |
| Game Plan | Northwestern | Northwestern is playing a quick shot offense (quick shot) and a fullcourt press (-1) | |
| 00:00 | Michigan State | Alvaro Galindo runs out the clock | 94-85 |