Michigan's May, MSU's Izzo at odds over alleged dirty play

Michigan head coach Dusty May called out Michigan State for engaging in dirty play, speaking out just days after the Wolverines' 83-71 victory over the Spartans last Friday.

"I think there were several plays that were very dangerous," May told reporters Monday. "I'm incredibly proud of our guys for the responses they had to those situations. Their self-control, their restraint, their impulse control. I'll leave it at that. But they're not isolated incidents."

May's comments were specifically pointing to a play in which Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. appeared to intentionally trip Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.

Spartans head coach Tom Izzo responded to May's remarks, arguing that Michigan got away with questionable play throughout the contest.

"I have no idea, but I do know that I thought there were a couple plays the other way too, like jumping into a guy and getting a foul when it was a complete joke," Izzo said. "This is what it's supposed to be. And you know what? Michigan's over. I'm moving on to Minnesota.

He added: "I don't care what Dusty (May) says. I don't care what they say. I don't care. There were some things Jeremy did. I addressed on them. ... If anybody did anything dirty, tell him to call me, and I would be more than happy to address it. If it was physical play, that's the way that game's always going to be."

Fears finished with a game-high 31 points in his best performance of the season. Although Michigan entered halftime with a 16-point advantage, the Spartans came back in the second half and took the lead with just under eight minutes remaining.

However, the Wolverines closed out the contest on a 19-8 run to win. Lendeborg led Michigan with a team-high 26 points and added 12 rebounds for a double-double.

Michigan and Michigan State will meet again on March 8 in the regular-season finale.