Short-handed Cougars can’t handle Lobos

PROVO, Utah -- Brigham Young players said they will continue to support former teammate Brandon Davies "like a brother" despite transgressions that got the starting forward kicked off the nation's third-ranked team.

There was no denying the Cougars were a different team in Wednesday night's 82-64 loss to New Mexico. It was their first game without Davies, who on Tuesday was dismissed from the team for the rest of the season for violating the university's honor code.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Davies engaged in premarital sex, a violation of the clause that says students must remain chaste and virtuous.

"He told us he was sorry and let us down," BYU guard Jimmer Fredette said after the game, in which he scored 33 points but was 1 of 9 from 3-point range. "We told him it's OK. Sometimes in life we make mistakes. We've got to play through it."

No one discussed details of what occurred with Davies, but BYU coach Dave Rose discussed the school's controversial honor code.

"Everybody who comes to BYU, every student if they're an athlete or not an athlete, they make a commitment when they come," Rose said of a code that also forbids use of alcohol and coffee and requires students to be honest and attend church regularly. "A lot of people try to judge if this is right or wrong, but it's a commitment they make. It's not about right or wrong. It's about commitment."

Rose said Wednesday's lopsided loss was more than about missing Davies, the third-leading scorer and leading rebounder for the Cougars (27-3, 13-2 Mountain West Conference) who was replaced in the starting lineup by junior James Anderson, who had one rebound and four points in 11 minutes.

Phillip McDonald scored 26 points, hitting 5 of 8 from beyond the arc, to lead New Mexico (19-11, 7-8), which beat BYU for the second time this season.

Drew Gordon and Kendall Williams added 15 points apiece for the Lobos, and Gordon had 16 rebounds.

The Cougars were outrebounded 45-29 and shot 20 of 59 from the field, including a season-worst 5 of 26 from beyond the arc.

"It was everything," Fredette said. "We didn't play well. They shot the ball very well. They played very good."

Despite looking down and battered, Fredette tried to stay positive.

"We don't have time to worry about it," he said, noting the Cougars close the regular season Saturday against Wyoming, then have the Mountain West tournament next week at the Thomas & Mack Center. "We're going to be fine.

"Lots of good teams come off emotional games and lose the next one no matter (who they're missing). We're going to be all right."

Davies awaits a decision by an honor code committee that will decide his future at the school and whether he could play next season.

Rose was optimistic things would turn out OK for Davies, who went to school officials and acknowledged his transgressions.

"I think Brandon's heart is in the right place, and I think that he wants to continue his education here at BYU, but there are a lot of things that are yet to be determined," Rose said.

Asked if he thought Davies would play basketball again, Rose said, "I believe so."

The Cougars still can claim a share of the Mountain West regular-season title if they finish 14-2. But the number they really want is the coveted No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. That looks like a long shot now, even though BYU still has a national player of the year candidate in Fredette, who shot 10 of 26 from the field Wednesday.