Davis Apologizes To PAC-10

UCLA's Baron Davis avoided being suspended by the Pacific-10 Conference on Tuesday by issuing a public apology for comments he made about the officiating after his team's 93-83 loss at Washington two days earlier.

Davis, a sophomore point guard, fouled out of the game with 4:34 remaining and 13th-ranked UCLA trailing the Huskies 77-70.

After being called for his fifth foul, Davis was called for a technical foul after throwing his mouthpiece, and said after the game he believed the Bruins "got cheated" by referee Terry Christman.

UCLA coach Steve Lavin excoriated Christman after the technical foul was called on Davis, and received two technicals and an ejection himself. Washington's Deon Luton then made 5-of-8 foul shots to give Washington an 82-70 lead.

"I would like to apologize to basketball official Terry Christman and the Pacific-10 Conference for my comments following our game in Seattle on Sunday afternoon," Davis said in his statement, distributed to the media by the UCLA sports information office.

"The game was a very emotional one for our team and I was very frustrated when the game ended. I said some things I shouldn't have said and I am sorry for my comments."

Earlier in the day, from its office in Walnut Creek, Calif., the PAC-10 issued a public reprimand of Davis, placed him on probation for the rest of the season, and required him to make a public apology.

Failure to apologize, PAC-10 commissioner Tom Hansen said, would have resulted in his suspension from UCLA's next game, against Oregon on Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.

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