It Could Be Pauley Finale for Davis

Brandon Loyd, the lone Bruin senior, is definitely playing his final home game today, an occasion Coach Steve Lavin will mark by making him a starter.

Baron Davis, a sophomore, could be playing his final home game.

“I’ve thought about that,� Davis said.

Though remaining noncommittal about whether he will turn pro after a run that has made him at least a lottery pick, UCLA’s star point guard admits it has crossed his mind that this could be his Pauley Pavilion farewell.

So he approaches it with memories of Ed O’Bannon kissing the court in his home finale and Tyus Edney taking a bow--and extra excitement because he could be at that same moment.

“Just because it could be,� Davis said. “If I decide to turn pro.�

He will decide, he added, soon after the Bruins’ final game in the NCAA tournament.

Today has other significance because of the opponent. In the first game against Washington, the Bruins’ problems with referee Terry Christman boiled over, with Davis fouling out and getting a technical after throwing his mouthpiece and Lavin getting two technicals.

“Oh, yeah,� Davis said. “I owe them.�

Even though the issue was with an official, not a team.

“Not so much I--we,� he said. “Me fouling out definitely has something to do with wanting to get back to play them.�

*

Lavin recently sent a letter to the editors of Seattle-area newspapers, restating that he felt bad about his behavior Jan. 31 at Hec Edmundson Pavilion and that his ejections and subsequent complaints about the officiating were not meant to take away from Washington’s victory.

“That was just reiterating what I said after the game,� Lavin said. “I was just trying to be more emphatic that they beat us fair and square.�

vs. Washington, 3

Fox Sports West

* Site--Pauley Pavilion.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Bruins 20-7, 10-5; Huskies 16-10, 9-7.

* Update--Thursday’s 39-point victory over Washington State was the biggest for UCLA since a 93-51 rout of Cal State Long Beach early in 1993-94. It was the Bruins’ widest margin in conference play since a 104-64 pasting of Washington on Feb. 18, 1978.

* Tickets--(310) 825-2946.