No. 3 BYU started 6-foot-10 junior James Anderson in place of Brandon Davies against New Mexico on Wednesday night, a day after Davies was dismissed from the team for an honor code violation.
Anderson's start was his first for the Cougars, and he will be asked to step up his production in place of Davies, the team's leading rebounder and No. 3 scorer. Anderson has been averaging 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 point in 6 minutes this season but has seven blocks in Mountain West Conference games. He has scored 127 points in three seasons.
Earlier Wednesday university officials confirmed that Davies' actions were not criminal but violated the school's code of honor. Spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said an honor code review is under way to determine if the BYU sophomore will be allowed to remain in school, as well as his status with the team next season.
BYU's honor code requires students to live a chaste and virtuous life, be honest, abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and substance abuse, and attend church regularly.
The school announced the dismissal on Tuesday night after being made aware of the violation Monday - the same day that BYU vaulted four spots in the AP poll.
Davies started 26 of 29 games and averaged 11.1 points and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds.
The Cougars lost Jan. 29 in New Mexico, and were counting on Davies' play up front to secure a win Wednesday night as well in the conference and NCAA tournaments.
BYU was intent on winning the Mountain West Conference tournament next week in Las Vegas, of gaining a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and advancing past the second round, where the Cougars lost last season.
Only two programs in the past decade had earned No. 1s from outside the BCS conferences: Saint Joseph's and Memphis.
Davies' suspension could change the selection committee's thinking if the Cougars can't keep winning.
But as a sign in the arena read Wednesday night, ''We Still Got Jimmer.''
Senior guard Jimmer Fredette remains the Cougars' biggest scoring threat with a nation-leading 27.3 average. Backcourtmate Jackson Emery is second in scoring at 12.6 points and Davies was third.
Davies played 27 minutes in Saturday's win over then-No. 6 San Diego State. He had four points, six rebounds and one blocked shot and helped contain San Diego State's big men.
He has put up some bigger numbers this season.
He had 20 points and nine rebounds in a win at Wyoming on Feb. 2, had double-doubles at UNLV (15 points, 10 rebounds) and against Colorado State (14 points, 15 rebounds).
BYU already was shorthanded after losing 6-9 sophomore Chris Collinsworth for the season because of injury.
Davies commanded the most attention inside, opening things outside for Fredette and Emery.
