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Game stopped in middle of play as former Michigan State basketball player ejected for comment to ref

Paul Davis ejected from Michigan State’s blowout win over USC

A view of the Fox Sports 1 broadcast as former Michigan State basketball player Paul Davis was ejected from the team's blowout win over USC on Jan. 5, 2026. (Fox Sports 1)

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State basketball game against USC was stopped in the middle of play on Monday night when a former player got ejected for a comment made to a referee.

With 6:02 remaining in the second half of Michigan’s State’s blowout victory, Big Ten official Jeffrey Anderson stopped play and pointed at a fan behind him in the second row.

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The Fox Sports 1 broadcast shows former Spartan player Paul Davis sitting back down and taking a drink of his twisted tea.

Anderson went across the court to talk to Tom Izzo, who nodded and gestured over at Davis, saying, “What the (expletive) are you doing? What are you doing?”

There might have been some confusion about what had happened, because Davis didn’t immediately leave. The officials had to tell him to get up and leave, and he eventually did.

Davis gestured jokingly over at Izzo or the refs with his hands over his heart, but Izzo didn’t look amused, pointing and yelling, “Get out of here.”

You can see a video of the exchange below.

Davis spent four seasons at Michigan State from 2002-2006. He averaged 13.2 points and seven rebounds across 130 career games, including 17.5 and 9.1 as a senior in 2005-06.

He scored 1,718 points and had 910 rebounds across those four years.

The Spartans went 88-44 during Davis’ career, making the NCAA Tournament all four seasons and advancing to an Elite 8 and a Final Four.


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