EAST LANSING, Mich. — Tre Holloman once again proved to be too much to handle for No. 8 Michigan State’s in-state rival, No. 17 Michigan, when the Spartans handled the Wolverines, 79-62, on Senior Day.

Less than a month after dropping 18 on the Maize and Blue, Holloman posted a career-high 20 points while leading the Spartans to victory on Sunday.

The veteran guard has taken a major leap this season and has been key to Michigan State’s return to prominence.

Holloman addressed the media after the win. You can watch some of his media availability below:

Below is a partial transcript from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo’s opening statement of his postgame press conference:

Izzo: “As you get older, you don’t know when you’ll get another opportunity to enjoy something. But so many people I want to thank. I just think our marketing people are brilliant. Our AD, our president. And everybody did their job, and our fans and former players — that’s why I never wanted to leave this place. And I know every place has good things and bad things. We’ve had our share of bad things. But I just love the direction we’re headed. I’m glad I stuck around to hopefully be part of this resurgence. And not for the athletics, for the program, I’m just talking about for all of us. So, the game was — I thought we played awfully well first half. We really did, shot it better, didn’t turn the ball over, two turnovers. They had a bunch of them. The second half, we started out good, we get that 25-point lead, and then, we were poor, and they were good. Give them credit, they were good. But we turned the ball over like I haven’t seen. I mean, we’re spin dribbling, we did some crazy things. And so, I think it’ll be a good teaching point in the film session that you can’t have those leads; you get in the tournament when it’s one-and-done, and those things cost you. So, hopefully, we’ll learn from it.”

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EAST LANSING – With 37 seconds left and a victory wrapped up, it was time to continue a three-decade program tradition.

The final home game of the season meant Michigan State’s seniors would check out and, before heading to the bench amid a standing ovation, bend down to kiss the Spartan logo at midcourt in the Breslin Center.

One problem – Michigan’s L.J. Cason and Phat Phat Brooks were standing directly on the center of the logo between free throws, preventing Frankie Fidler from getting to the exact spot. So as Szymon Zapala was about to take his turn, Tre Holloman took notice and stepped in to correct what he viewed as disrespect.

“I’m like what? So, then I had to move them,” Holloman recalled.

The junior guard approached Cason and Brooks and told them to move before shoving each at the same time. Although a minor dustup resulted in technical fouls on Holloman and Cason, the mission was accomplished. A path was cleared for Zapala and then Jaden Akins to take their final bows right where intended.

“He’s a dog,” forward Jaxon Kohler said of Holloman. “He’s going to go down an MSU legend for that.”

Holloman, a co-captain, stood up for the seniors after scoring a career-high 20 points to help No. 8 Michigan State to Sunday’s 79-62 win on Sunday in East Lansing. Moments later, there was an on-court celebration honoring the outright Big Ten champions, who finished the regular season with seven straight wins.

“We have a freaking tradition here and nobody, nobody is changing our tradition,” coach Tom Izzo told the crowd. He then called for Holloman to come forward on the confetti-strewn floor and deliver a unique, non-senior floor kiss.

“I love that mentality,” Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller said of Holloman. “Protect your home, protect your court, be respectful, but he showed a true Spartan mentality today.”

The court kissing was started by Shawn Respert in 1995 and has been a program staple while also being adopted by other sports on campus. Sunday’s confrontation was a new twist and there were program legends on hand to witness it.

“They don’t call us Spartan Dawgs for no reason,” said former All-American Jason Richardson, whose son Jase is a star freshman for the Spartans. “They’ve got to understand tradition and you don’t stand on that court when the seniors are coming out.”

The altercation was nothing like what occurred between the rivals in football during recent years. Izzo and Michigan coach Dusty May, who had his own opinion of the incident, both quickly came on the floor as players were separated. In the middle of commotion was Zapala.

“It wasn’t me, I was just trying to do my thing,” Zapala said with a smile. “Tre stood on business.”

Izzo recalled members of Michigan’s Fab Five rubbing their butts on the Breslin logo and talked to Jalen Rose about the incident. The late tension on Sunday was just another example of the dislike on both sides.

“That’s what rivalries are all about,” Izzo said. “If everybody’s out there hugging and kissing, it’s probably not a rivalry. They shouldn’t get mad if we were kissing our own S … I don’t get mad when they call me an angry midget, that don’t bother me.”

Izzo called the situation “unfortunate” and didn’t want it to overshadow the program’s first Big Ten title in five years while sending the seniors out on top. However, Holloman’s teammates lauded him for clearing the way, especially Akins, who grew up watching the tradition as a fan.

“That’s just who Tre is as a person,” Akins said. “He’s not going to tolerate that.”