BYU guard Nick Emery ejected for punching a Utah player
A poor decision from its top freshman ensured BYU lost more than just a basketball game Wednesday night at Utah.
Guard Nick Emery threw a punch late in the Cougars' 83-75 loss that could force him to miss at least the team's next game.
Emery and Brandon Taylor were jostling for position underneath the basket when the BYU guard appeared to intentionally hit the Utah senior with a left arm to the chin. Referees assessed a flagrant 2 foul on Emery that resulted in an immediate ejection. The Utah crowd also earned a technical foul and a warning to stop throwing objects onto the floor.
Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak was livid after the play happened. Taylor was still seething when he spoke with the Salt Lake Tribune after the game.
Bradon Taylor was surprised by the hit: "I was. It was a dirty play. I don't have respect for guys like that. It was uncalled for."
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) December 3, 2015
BYU supporters have noted that Taylor appeared to catch Emery in the face prior to the punch, but Cougars coach Dave Rose was in no mood to defend his player after the game. He told reporters in Salt Lake City that he expects to be without Emery when his team faces Weber State on Saturday in Provo.
When I talked to the official, he told me it was pretty obvious," Rose said. "I talked to Nick, and I wanted to make sure he got the entire play. He told me it was pretty textbook stuff, so we sent Nick to the locker room. I didn't see the play until after I addressed the team, and it looks like when this is sent to the conference office, there will be more than just what happened here."
BYU had plenty to be frustrated about after a loss in which a furious second-half comeback fell short. Chase Fischer scored all 26 of his points in the second half as the Cougars fought back from a 51-28 halftime deficit, but Utah withstood the onslaught and held on for the win. Utes center Jakob Poeltl was the best player on the floor from start to finish, tallying 26 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks against an overmatched BYU frontcourt.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
