A Night of Stress Relief for Bruins and Farmar

The UCLA Bruins, cruising along with a 19-point lead over a University at Albany team that came into Pauley Pavilion on Tuesday night with a 1-3 record, blew that huge margin and had to rally to pull out a 73-65 victory.

So why was there a huge smile on the face of UCLA Coach Ben Howland as he conducted his postgame news conference?

Because the news on point guard Jordan Farmar was good.

After spending a long, agonizing day wondering if his team leader had a stress fracture in his right foot that could have jeopardized the Bruins’ season, Howland learned that Farmar has nothing more serious than a sprained ankle that is not expected to sideline him for more than a week.

“Jordan Farmar does not, repeat, not, have a stress fracture. I’m excited, happy, elated.” said Howland after receiving the results of an MRI taken earlier in the day.

Said Farmar, who sat out Tuesday’s game: “It’s been a long day. It’s a relief to know I don’t have a stress fracture.”

An MRI taken Monday was inconclusive, requiring the second MRI.

Farmar was initially hurt in the closing minutes of UCLA’s victory over Temple at Pauley Pavilion nearly two weeks ago.

Afterward, Farmar’s injury was diagnosed as a sprained ankle. He was fitted with a walking boot, given crutches and given the night off when UCLA played Delaware St. two nights later.

But when the Bruins played in the semifinals and consolation game of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament at New York’s Madison Square Garden last week, Farmar, his boot discarded, his injury seemingly on the mend, was back in the lineup.

He played 39 minutes against Memphis on Wednesday and came back to play 35 minutes against Drexel. Farmer made one of two free throws with eight-tenths of a second left to give UCLA a 57-56 victory over Drexel, but he struggled with his shot, making only one of 10 from the field.

Not that Howland needed any convincing that Farmar’s steadying influence is crucial for the Bruins, but it was clearly obvious in his absence Tuesday against Albany.

UCLA led, 38-19, with 4:14 to play in the first half.

But then the Great Danes, deadly from beyond the three-point arc and aggressive under the boards, took off on a 25-5 run that stretched into the second half.

Center Kirsten Zoellner’s turnaround jumper at the end of the run enabled Albany, coming off an 80-53 loss to San Diego State, to move in front of UCLA, 44-43.

“I thought we got a little cute when we had the big lead instead of showing the killer instinct,” Howland said.

“We have to work on our intensity,” said UCLA guard Arron Afflalo, who led the Bruins with 22 points. “Sometimes we lose our focus. We have to stay focused for 40 minutes.”

Although UCLA, now 5-1, gave up 18 offensive rebounds to Albany, allowing the Great Danes inside position time and again, the Bruins managed to equal Albany’s overall rebound total of 36, thanks in large part to Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who had a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Great Danes were led offensively by guard Jon Iati, whose quick release and accurate touch from the field, especially from beyond the three-point line enabled him to score a game-high 23 points, including an impressive six of 10 from three-point range.

Every time the Bruins appeared ready to put the Great Danes away, Iati fired back with a shot to keep his team alive.

And it certainly didn’t help that UCLA was guilty of 17 turnovers.

But those deficiencies could wait for another day. On Tuesday, the Bruins were satisfied with the result of Farmar’s medical exam.