Morrill reprimanded by WAC

Utah State basketball coach Stew Morrill was fighting mad when he saw New Mexico State player Jahmar Young jump on top of Aggie forward Brady Jardine while trying to retrieve the ball after having it stolen.

So mad, in fact, he directed some strong words at Young — strong enough to get a response from the Western Athletic Conference office.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson announced late Tuesday that Morrill has been publicly reprimanded for violating the WAC’s sportsmanship code.

“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.”

After the game, Morrill admitted his anger — brought in part because he was trying to protect Jardine, who is playing with a protective mask and a broken cheekbone. Young, incidentally, was called for a technical foul on the play.

“I haven’t gotten in a fight in a long time, but I wanted to then,” Morrill said after the game. “I might not have lasted long, but I wanted to.”