Late in Sunday’s regular-season finale and rivalry game, Michigan State started to sub out its seniors and go through its Senior Day tradition of kissing the Spartan logo at midcourt.

The issue is Michigan freshmen Phat Phat Brooks and LJ Cason were standing at half-court in the middle of the logo. Michigan State’s Tre Holloman took exception and pushed both players out the way, triggering a late-game kerfuffle where players and coaches from both sides intervened.

After the 79-62 loss, Michigan coach Dusty May emphasized that there’s no rule saying his players can’t stand there, especially during a live game when his team is shooting free throws.

On Monday, May was asked whether he had any regret about what unfolded. Was he aware of the tradition and did he inform any of his players about it? Or was he happy that his players stood their ground?

Here’s May’s answer in full:

“Number one, do I know the customs and traditions of any other Big Ten school? No, I don’t and won’t know until I experience it. I don’t watch Michigan State documentaries. I don’t have a Sparty foam finger growing up. I have no idea what they do. I know this. The officials walked over and said that they have a tradition on Senior Night where their players kiss the logo as they’re coming out of the floor. It’s going to take some time. Great. That’s awesome. These seniors deserve it. On top of that, these guys earned a Big Ten championship. I have a lot of respect for what that team did this year — 17-3 in this league and battling the way they battled. I have a lot of respect for what that team did.

“Now, as far as what happened after that, from my perspective, I’m standing on the sideline — and keep in mind, (Michigan State’s) Coen Carr had just gotten a layup a couple minutes before on the last free throw. They miss the free throw, he sprints past us, they advance it, so we had talked about being more alert on free throws. (Michigan freshman Justin) Pippen is at the line. LJ and Phat are at half-court. (Michigan State’s) Frankie Fidler comes out of the game, kisses the floor, hugs his teammates. This is a little bit fuzzy. This is all just off memory. This wasn’t on the TV copy. No issues whatsoever. Kisses the floor, goes out, does this thing. I think maybe they’re subbing in for another senior at that point. Our guys, Phat and LJ, are standing at the exact spot they were when Fidler kissed the floor, not doing anything other than just standing there. And then out of the blue, they’re still standing at half-court, and the Michigan State player (Holloman) comes up and two-hand shoves them in the chest.

“Now, the Spartan logo is about a third of the court, the game is going on. I didn’t know that this happened like during the game. If we needed to back them up to the other end, or put all of our guys on offensive rebound — I don’t know what we were supposed to do in that situation. I know that we had two freshmen standing at half-court, and they’re respectful, great dudes. Like I said, this was not the first person that came out and kissed the floor. We’d already agreed to the officials and whatnot. That’s my perspective on it. I’m very proud that our guys didn’t retaliate in a different manner that could cost them playing in the Big Ten tournament, to have that self-restraint and self-discipline and realizing that they’re representing Michigan the way they do. I was very proud of that moment, because that could have gotten really, really ugly.”

When asked how he would handle the situation the next time Michigan faces Michigan State during its Senior Day, May said would tell his players to move back and reiterated he didn’t know the celebration occurred during the game.

“Once again, this is competition, man. We’re playing a game, and our guys are standing at the half-court,” May said. “This was a long period. … It was three or four or five minutes, they (Brooks and Cason) never moved. A player had already done it. What I would tell them differently? Keep your antennas up for whatever that behavior was. I’d ask them, ‘Hey, guys, move back 10 feet on defense, because they’re so fast in transition.’ I’m giving them credit for that as well. I’d tell our guys to move back 10 feet.

“But as far as knowing the positioning we’re supposed to stand and things like that during Michigan State Senior Day, I wasn’t aware. … It’s never popped up in my queue, if it’s Netflix or (Amazon) Prime or whatever the case. But once again, I don’t think was a big deal either.”