DENVER — Try as may, BYU center Rafael Araujo's physical play, more specifically the placement of his elbows, continues to follow the big Brazilian and it surfaced again in Utah's 54-51 win over the Cougars in the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament Friday.
With Utah leading 19-14 in a sluggish first half for both squads, Araujo went up for a rebound, got fouled by Ute freshman Andrew Bogut and flashed his elbow at Bogut who immediately hit the deck. Officials called a technical foul on Araujo.
The play and call brought a chorus of boos from Ute fans in the Pepsi Center and Utah guards Nick Jacobson and Tim Drisdom were both candid in their protests on court.. Earlier in the game, Araujo's elbow grazed Drisdom during a physical play under the Ute basket following an Araujo rebound.
Officials told Cleveland Bogut fouled Araujo who threw an elbow that did not make contact.
"They called a technical on him for throwing an elbow," Cleveland said. "They are two big tall guys, it was a physical game. I thought the officials did a good job calling the game, they let both teams play and guys competed."
Cleveland said considering the circumstances surrounding Araujo this past week — his public reprimand from the MWC office for an incident at UNLV last Saturday — he considered Araujo focused well and didn't let it get bother him.
"He was fouled pretty hard and he reacted," Cleveland said. "It was hard, physical play and they called it."
Araujo's teammate Mark Bigelow said the Cougar center has taken an approach not to let the attention get to him. "He doesn't read, he doesn't speak the best English but that is part of the reason he is so good — he doesn't care. He's just going to go out and play and do his thing."
Ute players didn't like Araujo's thing.
Said Jacobson: "I saw him hit Drisdom. That guy, he is a walking cheap shot and then he tries to put an innocent look on his face. He's a good guy personally but he does some things that can hurt somebody."
Drisdom, who had firsthand experience Friday with Araujo, said on his (Drisdom's) way out of bounds, "He (Araujo) reached back and slapped me in the face with a closed fist. I was ticked off."
Drisdom said he cannot say what he said to Araujo. Bogut, as per a Utah policy as a freshman, cannot talk to the media.
NOTES: The big key for Utah was only committing eight turnovers after getting 23 in the 70-57 loss in Provo earlier this month. Drisdom had no turnovers after getting six at Provo. BYU actually had more turnovers than Utah with 10 . . . The stats were almost identical with BYU shooting 21 for 45, while Utah was 21 for 50. Utah was 6 for 8 from the free throw line and BYU was 4 of 7. Utah won the rebound battle 29 to 27. . .Bogut had five assists for the second straight game. Kevin Woodberry led BYU with six assists . . . The all-time Utah-BYU series now stands 120-117 for Utah.
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