Utah State basketball: Coach Stew Morrill responds to reprimand

LOGAN — Utah State coach Stew Morrill was reprimanded by the WAC Tuesday for his words just before halftime of the New Mexico State game Saturday. The incident happened as NMSU guard Jahmar Young dove on top of USU forward Brady Jardine trying to get a loose ball.

Young received a technical foul on the play, either for diving on Jardine or for screaming at the officials after USU was given a timeout. Morrill, then, began yelling at Young. What Morrill said is unclear, but WAC commissioner Karl Benson determined his behavior warranted a reprimand.

"Following a technical foul by a New Mexico State player, Morrill directed 'provocative language' towards the player," the WAC said in a statement. "This clearly violated the WAC's sportsmanship code and any further violations of the code may result in a minimum of a one game suspension."

Morrill issued a statement Wednesday regarding his reprimand.

"It was a loose ball situation, words were exchanged and my response was inappropriate," said Morrill. "I made a mistake and will work to improve my language. New Mexico State has a good team and Jahmar Young is a good player. He was called for a technical foul on the play and I now have been disciplined by the WAC. That should cover it."