Intrasquad Game Can’t Showcase Two of UCLA’s Recruits : Basketball: Injuries have sidelined O’Bannon, Zimmerman. Tarver has 16 points.

UCLA’s annual intrasquad basketball game usually gives fans their first chance to see the Bruins’ new players in action.

Thursday night, a crowd of 4,788 in Pauley Pavilion watched two-thirds of UCLA’s highly regarded recruiting class sit on the bench, Ed O’Bannon nursing his injured left knee, Rodney Zimmerman his injured right knee. The other top recruit, guard Shon Tarver, had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Blue team, which lost, 106-98, to the White.

O’Bannon is out for the season.

The Bruins aren’t sure about Zimmerman, a 6-foot-9 center from Air Academy High in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Zimmerman’s knee locked on him twice last month, initially during a drill on the first day of practice Oct. 15. He is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery today at the UCLA Medical Center.

The Bruins are hopeful that Zimmerman’s injury is minor and that he will be able to return in time for their opener against UC Irvine Nov. 23 in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout.

It is feared by some close to the team, however, that Zimmerman’s injury might be serious enough to keep him out for the season.

Coach Jim Harrick said that today’s procedure, which will be performed by Dr. Gerald Finerman, will be exploratory in nature.

“He just wants to see what’s bothering the kid,” Harrick said. “He anticipates there may be something torn.”

Even if no tear is found, Harrick said, Zimmerman will be given two weeks off. He has acute tendinitis in his knee.

“It’s been a bad month,” Harrick said.

Bruin Notes

Forward Don MacLean had 39 points and 11 rebounds to lead the White team. Forward Tracy Murray led the Blue with 38 points and nine rebounds. . . . Guard Mitchell Butler scored 30 points for the White. . . Coach Jim Harrick will not use a high-post offense for the first time in his career. He has switched to a 1-2-2 alignment. “I felt we had an abundance of wing players, rather than post players,” Harrick said. “It just fits our personnel a little better.”

Even if Rodney Zimmerman is out of the lineup for an extended period, 7-foot-6 Mike Lanier, a transfer from Hardin-Simmons, will probably be redshirted this season, Harrick said. Lanier, whose nose was broken early in the second half Thursday night, had three points and five rebounds in 20 minutes. . . . UCLA is carrying four walk-ons and may keep all of them, Harrick said.