UCLA Coach Ejects Own Player in Loss to Michigan State

Cronin sends redshirt senior Steven Jamerson II to the locker room after flagrant foul in blowout defeat

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin ejected one of his own players, redshirt senior Steven Jamerson II, during a 82-59 loss to Michigan State. The incident occurred with about 4:26 remaining in the game when Jamerson committed a flagrant foul by hitting Spartans center Cooper Carson from behind as he went up for a dunk. Cronin was disappointed in Jamerson's actions, saying "if you want to be a tough guy, you need to do it during the game, for a blockout, for a rebound."

Why it matters

Ejecting one's own player is an uncommon and dramatic move by a coach, signaling a breakdown in team discipline and chemistry. Cronin's decision highlights the challenges of maintaining control and instilling the right values in players, especially during a lopsided defeat.

The details

The sequence occurred with about 4:26 remaining in the 82-59 setback Tuesday in East Lansing, Mich. Jamerson, who had 2 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 8 minutes, ran behind Spartans center Cooper Carson during a breakaway and hit him from behind as he went up for a dunk. The flagrant foul triggered the ejection from Cronin.

  • The incident occurred with about 4:26 remaining in the game.

The players

Mick Cronin

The head coach of the UCLA Bruins basketball team.

Steven Jamerson II

A redshirt senior player on the UCLA Bruins basketball team who was ejected by Cronin during the game.

Cooper Carson

The center for the Michigan State Spartans basketball team who was the recipient of the flagrant foul by Jamerson.

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What they’re saying

“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. But if you want to be a tough guy, you need to do it during the game, for a blockout, for a rebound.”

— Mick Cronin, UCLA Basketball Coach

“We just got thoroughly outplayed.”

— Mick Cronin, UCLA Basketball Coach

What’s next

The Bruins (17-9) will host the No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini (21-5) at 8 p.m. EST Saturday in Los Angeles.

The takeaway

Cronin's decision to eject one of his own players during a blowout loss highlights the challenges coaches face in maintaining team discipline and instilling the right values, even when the game is already decided.