Farmar, Fey Sit Tonight

For every exhilarating step forward the UCLA men’s basketball team takes this season, there seems to be a painful step backward.

So it is again, as guard Jordan Farmar and center Michael Fey will sit out tonight’s game against Delaware State at Pauley Pavilion because of injuries suffered in Thursday night’s win over Temple.

Farmar sprained his right ankle, and although he returned to the court less than a minute later and X-rays were negative, he has been fitted with a walking boot and is using crutches. An MRI exam on Fey’s left shoulder, which he sprained, was also negative.

“Their status will be on a day-to-day basis for the next few days, but we certainly hope to have them healthy and ready to play when we face Memphis on Wednesday [in the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals in New York],” Coach Ben Howland said in a statement.

TONIGHT

vs. Delaware State. 7:30

Site -- Pauley Pavilion. Radio -- 570.

Records -- No. 18 UCLA 2-0, Delaware State 0-0 (19-14 last season).

Update -- The Bruins have played Delaware State once before, UCLA winning, 109-67, at Pauley Pavilion in the 1998-99 season. Tonight, the Bruin Athletic Council, as part of its annual food drive to benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, will be collecting canned goods, packaged items, drinks and personal-hygiene products at gates 2, 7, 10 and 15.