LOGAN – It’s not an easy place at all to start a basketball season.

The only differences between BYU and Utah State – both awesome home-court advantages – is what the Aggie students were yelling.

And also yelling about.

They were all over BYU center Brandon Davies from the start Friday in USU’s 69-62 win at the Spectrum. Actually, long before that. Davies’ honor-code story was well known at the Spectrum, and chants, signs and old-fashioned heckling were the norm. Even if Davies went to the bench, as he did in the first half with foul trouble, he heard from the crowd in USU’s 69-62 win.

A lot of the comments, quite frankly, were a little too crude for a family newspaper. Or Twitter for that matter.

Some older USU fans were even seen blushing and shaking their heads at some of the comments Davies had to endure, which stem from a highly public relationship with a woman that cost him the final month of last season.

In his return, Davies had 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting. He also made 5-of-9 free throws, when harassment was especially personal.

“It’s a college atmosphere, and they can cheer whatever they want. That’s just one of the factors we have to deal with as players,” BYU senior Noah Hartsock said about the Davies treatment. “It was tough to hear, but he’s very tough-minded.”

What the junior center isn’t, however, is anything near consistent. The “in spurts” comments directed from coach Dave Rose to Davies about the two exhibition games held true.

There were times he looked like he was trying too hard. Other times just plain rusty. Only Davies knows for sure how much the comments rattled him from about 4,000 students that found their seats about 90 minutes before tipoff in the season-opener for both teams.

Davies helped BYU in its two most critical phases of the night. He hit a couple of free throws at 11:03 remaining to give the Cougars their largest lead, 42-38.

He had an inside basket about six minutes later that ended their scoring drought, though BYU never led again.

BYU did not make him available to media after the game. Davies spoke publicly Tuesday for the first time since his suspension last February.

Considering it was his first game back, and where he played, BYU may have the toughest stuff behind it concerning Davies.

“He’s a force,” Hartsock said. “He got in a little early foul trouble, but you saw what he did in that second half – taking so many charges, creating shots, getting to the foul line. That’s a big thing. We just wish we had him the whole game.”

?Welcome to the Spectrum: Fighting through foul trouble to some veterans, at one point late in the first half Rose had four freshmen around senior co-captain Charles Abouo.

They made sure BYU trailed just 30-28 at halftime. USU coach Stew Morrill was also trying to break in some new players, as he had just four returners on the roster.

“I thought it was great,” Rose said of playing some newcomers among the nine freshmen on the roster. “They played with confidence. It wasn’t the prettiest basketball, but it was pretty effective.”

?Extra points: Utah State had four points off non-traditional bank shots, including a 3-pointer and a foul shot, both early in the second half..Sign of the night (that can be printed): “Put Riley in,” in honor of BYU quarterback Riley Nelson, who beat the Aggies this year. …Utah State has won 32 straight home games.