Tempers flared in the final minutes of the Michigan State Spartans‘ 79-62 victory over their historic rivals, the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans swept the season series against the Wolverines in the 2025 NCAA regular season, and as Senior Night came to a close at Breslin Center, pandemonium broke loose. After the game, head coach Tom Izzo voiced a very strong confession about the incident.
College basketball thrives on rivalries, traditions, and honoring school legacies. During Sunday’s regular-season finale between the Michigan-based universities, all three elements collided in a heated encounter.
With under a minute remaining and an 18-point lead, Michigan State embraced their Senior Night tradition, subbing out seniors one by one and them kissing the halfcourt logo on their way to the bench. Michigan, however, had other plans. LJ Cason and Phat Phat Brooks stood over the logo during free throw attempts, leading Spartan Tre Holloman to confront them. A pushing and shoving contest quickly ensued.
As the brawl was broken up and cooler heads prevailed, the game resumed and the Spartans secured the critical win in their final home game of the NCAA season. While the situation didn’t escalate any further, both parties voiced very interesting comments after the game.
Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 21, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“That’s what rivalries are all about. If everybody’s out there hugging and kissing, it’s probably not a rivalry,” Izzo said in his postgame press conference, via FOX. “They shouldn’t get mad if we’re kissing our own a– or doing something down there [at Michigan]. I don’t get mad when they call me an angry midget, it doesn’t bother me.”
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Holloman’s message to Michigan
Though not a senior, junior guard Tre Holloman wouldn’t stand and watch as their rivals from Ann Arbor disrupted their home-court tradition. Shawn Respert was the first Spartans player to ever kiss the floor, setting a tradition that symbolizes gratitude and farewell to their alma mater.
Holloman would later explain he wanted to uphold that legacy and honor the greats who came before him in East Lansing.
“They’re going to let him kiss the floor whether they move or I gotta move him,” Holloman said during a postgame interview, via WILX News 10. “Yeah, [they initiatd it]. I seen them talking. I gotta do for past players who did before us.”
Guard Shawn Respert of the Michigan State Spartans moves the ball during a game against the Northwestern Wildcats.
Michigan’s stance
Opposites attract—it’s just a law of physics. And the Spartans and Wolverines couldn’t hold more polarizing views. Michigan head coach Dusty May, in his first season in Ann Arbor, didn’t share the perspective of four-decade veteran Tom Izzo.
“I didn’t know there was a tradition where they’re shooting a free throw and we have a guy standing at half court, but there’s not a tradition that we can’t stand at half court as the game’s going on?” May ironically asked, via On3. “I’m not familiar with that one. Is that a tradition?
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“Obviously, it took a while, but we’re fine with that. They’ve earned the right for that. The seniors had poured their hearts out. As far as whatever happened, are we not allowed to stand at half court while they’re shooting a free throw?”
Head on a swivel
Michigan State clinched the Big Ten regular season title and the top seed for the postseason tournament, while Michigan secured third place. The two schools could cross paths again in a highly anticipated Big Ten Championship Game or during March Madness.
Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on before the start of the game against the Purdue Boilermakersat Breslin Center on February 18, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan.
While both programs must focus on their respective seasons, they’ll undoubtedly keep an eye out for a potential rematch on neutral ground.
