Steven Jamerson II’s homecoming to Michigan State veered into territory this sport rarely reaches.
With 4:26 left in No. 15 Michigan State’s eventual 82-59 dismantling of UCLA, Jamerson — who, as a freshman in East Lansing in 2020, was unsuccessful in his bid to walk on to the team or be a student manager — was whistled for a technical after squaring up to Spartans big man Carson Cooper following a foul on a breakaway dunk.
In what seemed to be the breaking point for Cronin, the seven-year UCLA coach yanked Jamerson off the court, caught a fistful of his jersey on the sideline and barked at a Bruins staffer, “Get him out,” signaling toward the locker room. Cronin was visibly seething as his team appeared to sleepwalk through a thrashing, falling to 9-6 in Big Ten play.
The sequence began with UCLA trailing 77-50. Cooper leaked out in transition, and Jamerson chased him down, delivering a hard foul at the rim. After the whistle, Jamerson turned toward Cooper, drawing a Class A technical. Cooper converted the ensuing free throw, and Jamerson’s night ended in the locker room moments later.
Watch: UCLA HC Mick Cronin appeared to eject his own player, Steven Jamerson II, after he committed a foul on Carson Cooper on the fast break.
Jamerson squared up with Cooper, was assessed a technical before Cronin signaled for him to get off the floor. pic.twitter.com/gv6e2bcS4o
— Ira Gorawara (@IraGorawara) February 18, 2026
In eight minutes off the bench, Jamerson finished with 2 points, two rebounds and two assists. Cronin’s decision did little to alter the outcome — Michigan State had long seized control with a 20-point halftime cushion behind a 31-5 first-half surge and coasted from there — but it crystallized UCLA’s disjointed outing Tuesday night.
The moment unfolded against an unusual backdrop. Cronin and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo have long been friends, and Cronin told reporters a few days before the game that he was hoping to get dinner with Izzo on Sunday.
“Coach Izzo, in my opinion, is the best ambassador going for college basketball,” Cronin said. “And the fact that he respects me enough to take my calls and become friends with me means a lot to me. It’s like a milestone in my career.”
They did have dinner, in fact — Izzo told NBC’s John Fanta they had pizza, though Cronin also was offered hot dogs as a choice of entree.
The Bruins face Illinois, another top-15 team, at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday, before rounding out the regular season against USC and a surging Nebraska. The Bruins are still hovering near the tournament cut line — and there’s little margin left.