Michigan State's dominant 79-62 win over rival Michigan ended with a small flare-up during the Spartans' annual senior day tradition.
As Michigan State was subbing off their three seniors, Jaden Akins, Szymon Zapala and Frankie Fidler, in the Spartans' 79-62 win over Michigan, two Wolverine guards and junior Tre Holloman got into it at midcourt.
While Michigan was shooting two free throws with 40 seconds left, MSU coach Tom Izzo started subbing off the seniors and let them kiss the Spartan logo at the middle of the floor, as MSU does every senior day. Two Michigan guards, L.J. Cason and "Phat Phat" Brooks stood on the logo, and Holloman pushed them in an effort to get them to move to carry out the midcourt tradition, and it led to a shoving match between the two teams.
Coaches and referees came out to midcourt to diffuse the situation, and had the two teams return to their bench. After a brief meeting between Izzo and Michigan coach Dusty May, play resumed with free throws from Justin Pippin. Holloman and Cason both received dead-ball technical fouls.
Michigan State carried out their substitutions for the seniors, allowing Zapala, Fidler and Akins to receive a massive standing ovation while kissing the midcourt logo in their final appearance at Breslin Center.
Michigan State led from start to finish thanks to a 50-point first half for a 22-point lead at halftime. Michigan outscored MSU by five points in the second half, including a 14-0 run that cut the lead briefly to 11, but Michigan State executed enough down the stretch for the 17-point win, their seventh straight. Holloman led MSU with 20 points, and Vlad Goldin led Michigan with 29 points.