UCLA recorded a 82-59 loss on Tuesday as it competed against Michigan State University. It’s the second time that the Bruins lost by over 20 points. The team lost by 30 points against MSU on Saturday. UCLA coach Mick Cronin garnered attention as he was seen sending one of his players to the locker room during the game. Here’s what happened.
Why did Mick Cronin eject Steven Jamerson II from the game?
UCLA was losing 77-50 with 4:26 left in the game when Jamerson was called for a foul. The center attempted a dunk from behind MSU’s Carson Cooper, which resulted in Cooper sliding and falling down. Cooper stood up and went up to Jamerson before the two players were separated.
“I think a one- or two-point game, it might be a different situation that you could look at as a hustle play, but I think it was a little dirty,” Cooper said, according to MLive.
“I thought I had an open lane and I think, time and score, I didn’t think anything special was going to happen,” he added. “When it did happen, I wasn’t expecting it and got a little outside myself. I’ll give credit to my guys kind of keeping me composed and everything. I wasn’t going to do anything that was going to — everybody knows I’m pretty composed and a pretty stable guy. I think at the end of the day, it’s a learning opportunity for both of us.”
Jamerson was then sent to the bench, where Cronin was seen pointing a finger and sending the basketball player back to the locker room. Referees then gave Jamerson a flagrant foul for the play and added a technical for both Jamerson and Cooper.
“You know, true toughness is how you compete and how you go to work every day. Steve’s a good kid. He made a bad decision,” Cronin said, explaining his decision after the game, according to ESPN. “But if you want to be a tough guy, you need to do it during the game, for a blockout, for a rebound.”
“So, I was thoroughly disappointed; the guy was defenseless in the air,” he added. “I know Steve was trying to block the shot, but the game’s a 25-point game. You don’t do that.”
After the foul, UCLA HC Mick Cronin ejects his own player, Steven Jamerson III. pic.twitter.com/KOFMCDRYjg
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 18, 2026
Coaches and players shared their reactions to Mick Cronin ejecting Steven Jamerson II from the game
MSU coach Tom Izzo, who is friends with Cronin, reacted to his peer’s decision.
“I guess he upgraded that to a flagrant 2,” he said. “That’s the first time I saw a coach do it, but that sounds like Mick. So, he’ll get that straightened out.”
Cooper also reflected on the decision, saying he saw it as a sign of Cronin’s intensity as a coach. He found out about the ejection afterward from friends and family.
“I think that that goes to show how coach Mick is and the intensity that he brings and how he wants to play smart basketball at the end of the day,” he said, according to Detroit News.
Cronin is reportedly known for his fiery exchanges post-game. He was asked about MSU fans chanting the name of Xavier Booker, a center for UCLA who played for the university before transferring.
“Kudos for the worst question I’ve ever been asked. I could give a rat’s ass about the other team’s student section,” Cronin said.
It is the first time since the 1944-45 season that UCLA has recorded two consecutive losses by over 20 points, according to Sportradar and as reported by ESPN. On his end, Jamerson’s been averaging 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds this season in 11.4 minutes per game as a reserve.
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