Mick Cronin’s Outburst: UCLA Coach Ejects Player During Loss to Michigan State
Mick Cronin, known for his fiery demeanor, found a new way to express his frustration as the UCLA men’s basketball team suffered a second consecutive blowout loss. This time, it wasn’t a sideline tirade, but a direct, in-game ejection of center Steven Jamerson II.
With 4:26 remaining and the Bruins trailing Michigan State by a significant 27 points, Jamerson committed a hard foul against Carson Cooper during a fast break. A brief confrontation ensued between the two players before being separated by teammates. However, before officials could assess the severity of the foul, Cronin took matters into his own hands.
In a stunning move, Cronin physically pulled Jamerson by the jersey and ordered him to leave the court. Despite Jamerson’s pleas for leniency, Cronin remained firm, directing UCLA trainer Dave Andrews to escort the senior center to the locker room. The scene unfolded as Michigan State fans waved goodbye to the former Spartan.
A Difficult Homecoming for Jamerson
The ejection was particularly poignant for Jamerson, who began his college basketball career at Michigan State. It was a homecoming he undoubtedly hoped would be more memorable. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo jokingly remarked, “I guess [Cronin] upgraded that to a flagrant two. That’s the first time I saw a coach do it. But that sounds like Mick, so he’ll get that straightened out.”.
Bruins Continue to Struggle
This loss, an 82-59 defeat, came just three days after UCLA suffered an 86-56 loss to No. 1 Michigan. Prior to this challenging road trip, the Bruins had rebuilt momentum, winning five of their last six games. Now, that momentum has completely evaporated.
Jeremy Fears Jr. led Michigan State with 16 points and 10 assists. The Spartans (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) rebounded strongly after a recent slump, shooting an impressive 14 of 27 from beyond the arc. Coen Carr added 16 points, while Carson Cooper and Jordan Scott contributed 12 and 11 points respectively.
For UCLA (17-9, 9-6), Tyler Bilodeau scored 22 points, but received little support. Skyy Clark added 12 points late in the game. This marks the first time since the 1944-45 season that the Bruins have suffered consecutive losses by 20 or more points, according to Sportradar.
Xavier Booker, a transfer from Michigan State, had a quiet game for UCLA, scoring just two points and grabbing two rebounds in 25 minutes.
Source: The Associated Press
