LOS ANGELES — Mick Cronin said he knew he was actually in the Big Ten when, at the conference’s media day back in October, he ran into Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. Izzo is the longest-tenured head coach in the Big Ten. He took over for the Spartans when he was 40 years old. He’s 70 now and in his 30th season at the helm.

Tom Izzo needs two wins to become the winningest coach in Big Ten conference games, and the Michigan State basketball coach can do it in Los Angeles.

This is the Spartans’ first loss outside of Quad 1, but they also have just two wins over teams that would be safely in the field today.

It was the second loss in Big Ten play for Michigan State, and a season-defining win for UCLA, as the Bruins took down the Spartans on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. After the game, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin talked about the win,