Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Gabe Brown have exchange at halftime of First Four game

Tom Gatto

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Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Gabe Brown have exchange at halftime of First Four game image

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Spartans player Gabe Brown had a heated exchange at halftime of their First Four game Thursday vs. UCLA. Izzo also grabbed Brown's arm and jersey as they made their way through the tunnel at Purdue's Mackey Arena.

Izzo was irate after the defense allowed a wide-open buzzer-beating 3-pointer. The full incident:

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TBS's Allie LaForce reported on air that the Spartans were "able to resolve it" and then began preparing for the second half. Michigan State and UCLA went to overtime in the matchup of 11-seeds after Michigan State let a double-digit lead slip away. UCLA won 86-80.

Izzo told reporters after the game that the exchange was over a missed defensive switch and was "a normal nothing." He also complained about reporters feeling the need to ask the question after a close game. "You guys are beautiful," he said.

"We went through this a couple years ago," he added.

Izzo was referring to the 2019 NCAA Tournament when he and Aaron Henry went at each other on the court. Back then, Izzo gave a similar agitated answer.

"I get a kick out of you guys, get after somebody because you are trying to hold them accountable," he was quoted as saying. "I don't know what kind of business you're in, but I tell ya what, if I was a head of a newspaper, and you didn't do your job, you'd be held accountable. It’s the way it is."

Those who have played for Izzo, including Draymond Green — who defended Izzo two years ago — know this is part of the deal in East Lansing.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.