Mick Cronin’s angry. What’s new?
Not much, except that the UCLA men’s basketball coach found a new way to express that frustration.
With the Bruins enduring their second consecutive blowout loss, Cronin made an example out of center Steven Jamerson II. With 4:26 remaining in the game, and the Bruins trailing by 27 points, Jamerson committed a hard foul against Michigan State’s Carson Cooper as he broke away in transition. After the foul, he and Cooper went face to face, exchanging pleasantries. After their teammates separated them, Jamerson returned to UCLA’s bench. The officials went to review the foul to determine the severity of the consequences.
Instead, Cronin took matters into his own hands, ejecting Jamerson before the officials could.
Cronin tugged Jamerson by the jersey and told him to leave. When Jamerson pleaded for his coach’s mercy, Cronin pointed at UCLA trainer Dave Andrews to accompany Jamerson to the locker room. Eventually, the senior center obliged, jogging off the Breslin Center court as Michigan State fans waved him goodbye.
Jamerson, nonetheless, began his college basketball career as a student at Michigan State. Needless to say, this wasn’t the homecoming he was hoping for.
“I guess [Cronin] upgraded that to a flagrant two,” Spartans head coach Tom Izzo joked. “That is the primary time I noticed a coach do it. However that feels like Mick, so he’ll get that straightened out.”
Three days after UCLA misplaced 86-56 to No. 1 Michigan, the Bruins fell 82-59 to the Spartans. Earlier than this highway journey, UCLA had gained 5 of its final six video games, rebuilding momentum round its season. All the things unraveled throughout three days in Michigan.
Jeremy Fears Jr. had 16 factors and 10 assists. The Spartans (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) bounced again with a powerful efficiency after shedding three of 4 video games and falling 5 spots within the AP High 25 this week.
The Bruins (17-9, 9-6) have misplaced two straight video games after successful 5 of six.
UCLA ahead Tyler Bilodeau scored 22 factors however did not have a lot assist. None of his teammates have been in double figures till Skyy Clark made some late pictures to complete with 12 factors.
Fears made three 3-pointers within the first half and Michigan State took a 43-23 lead into the break. He completed with 4 3s, a profession excessive. The Spartans have been 8 of 14 from past the arc within the opening interval and completed with a season-high 14 3-pointers on 27 makes an attempt. Coen Carr additionally scored 16 factors for Michigan State. Carson Cooper had 12 and freshman Jordan Scott added 11. Jaxon Kohler offered 9 factors and 10 rebounds.
The Bruins, coming off a 30-point defeat Saturday at top-ranked Michigan, have misplaced consecutive video games by 20-plus factors for the primary time because the 1944-45 season, in accordance with Sportradar.
Bruins middle Xavier Booker, who transferred from Michigan State final April, had two factors and two rebounds in 25 minutes.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
