March 16, 1998

LOS ANGELES (AP) - UCLA freshman guard Baron Davis suffered a tear in his left knee, and will miss the remainder of the NCAA tournament.

Davis, the Bruins' assists and steals leader, tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the first half of UCLA's 85-82 win over Michigan on Sunday in the South Regional at Atlanta.

"Our basketball family is stunned and saddened by the news about Baron," Bruin coach Steve Lavin said. "He has shown us this season what it is like to be a competitor on the floor and I know he will use those same competitive instincts to get through this tough time."

Dr. Gerald Finerman said an MRI preliminary report taken Monday showed the extent of the injury.

The physician said Davis will immediately begin rehabilitation that will continue for three weeks before he undergoes reconstructive surgery.

The Bruins will play Kentucky on Friday at St. Petersburg, Fla.