BYU basketball: Davies still trying to impr..

BYU basketball • In second half of WCC play, Coug says there's a lot remaining to accomplish.

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Malibu, Calif. • Brandon Davies was ready to soak up the Southern California sun this week. But the BYU basketball star wasn't ready to acknowledge that his career is drawing to a close.

As the Cougars started the second half of West Coast Conference play with a road game at Pepperdine on Thursday night, Davies agreed that his final season hasn't gone as well as he would have hoped, but he believes the best is yet to come.

"We still have a lot of games to play, a lot of things we still want to accomplish," he said. "I feel like I am still a long ways away from being done."

Weakened by a sprained ankle suffered in December against Virginia Tech, Davies has played inconsistently in the first half of the league season. But last Saturday against Portland, he put together a complete game, registering a double-double against the Pilots.

Davies was 7 for 14 from the field and 6 for 11 from the free-throw line for 20 points, and also grabbed 11 rebounds.

"We need to do a lot better," Davies said earlier this week. "That's me personally and individually. As I continue to get better, it is only going to help the team."

Zylstra at home

BYU guard Brock Zylstra always seems to have a couple of family members on hand to watch him play when the Cougars are on the road, and Thursday night was no different.

In fact, a large contingent of Zylstra supporters were at Firestone Fieldhouse, an hour or so away from Zylstra's hometown of Laverne, Calif.

A former walk-on, Zylstra has started in 20 of BYU's 23 games this season.

Carlino keeps at it

One of the reasons BYU entered Thursday's game with a 6-2 record in WCC play is the play of point guard Matt Carlino, who entered the contest having scored in double figures in eight consecutive games.

He's the third scorer the Cougars needed in December to complement Tyler Haws and Davies.

"All of us, we take it upon ourselves to make sure we put forth a great effort every single game, and making sure we are doing everything possible to help the team. Our teammates are behind us 100 percent, and they know that it is their time to step up every game as well and give it their all," Davies said.

drew@sltrib.com

Twitter: @drewjay

BYU basketball: Davies still trying to improve