EAST LANSING – As Michigan State was wrapping up a win at Wisconsin on Tuesday night, Michigan was headed to an upset loss at Penn State.

And just after the first half ended, Michigan coach John Beilein was ejected.

“That surprises me,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said following practice Thursday of the ejection. “I feel bad for him, to be honest with you. I think coaches got to know officials, officials got to know coaches.”

Beilein is in his 41st season as a college coach and 12th at Michigan. He said it was the first time he had been ejected since 1978 or 1979, which would have been during his time at Erie Community College – long before becoming one of the top coaches in the nation.

Izzo, now in his 24th season leading Michigan State, was already inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He’s known for being animated on the court but has never been ejected in his career, which spans more than 800 games. Beilein is slightly more reserved but, as Tuesday showed, still capable of getting into it with officials.

“Probably a guy like John, if he was complaining there was probably a good reason,” Izzo said. “And usually if there’s a good reason an official will take a little more than if there wasn’t a good reason.”

Michigan was heading into halftime trailing Big Ten cellar dweller Penn State by 13 when Beilein got into it with officials near the bench and was tossed. Following the Wolverines’ 75-69 loss, he declined to elaborate about the reason for the dispute but assistant coach Saddi Washington said it was over a potential illegal screen set against guard Zavier Simpson as the Nittany Lions scored just before the half.

“I didn’t see the whole thing,” Izzo said. “I saw a little bit of the screen that was set but I’d have to stick up for John that he’s shown over 40 years that’s not how he reacts. So, tough situation. I don’t know what impact it had on the game. Maybe the first (technical) was to get his team going but not the second one.”

No. 11 Michigan State (20-5, 11-3 Big Ten) and No. 6 Michigan (22-3, 11-3) are tied for first place in the Big Ten. The teams will face each other twice in the regular season – Feb. 24 in Ann Arbor and March 9 in East Lansing.