UCLA Men's Basketball Injury Update (2/8)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Both an X-ray on Saturday and a MRI taken on Monday confirmed a mild-moderate sprain of Jordan Farmar's left ankle.

The injury occurred less than five minutes into the second half of the Arizona game when he jumped high in the air for a loose ball near halfcourt and landed on another player's foot rolling his left ankle.

Farmar fell to the ground holding the ankle but continued in the game playing a total of 31 minutes.

Although Farmar was certainly not as effective in the second half of the Arizona game as he was in the first half, especially in attacking the zone, the Bruin's offense was still better with Farmar leading from the point.

"They would have to kill me to take me out," Farmar said.

Farmar is wearing a walking boot and will not practice in any contact drills prior to the Washington St. game on Thursday. His status for the contest will be a game-day decision.

The sophomore guard has been hampered by a right ankle injury for most of the season. “It was his left ankle," Howland said. "At least it wasn't his right ankle, which he has already sprained four times this season."

Coach Ben Howland said earlier today he thought sophomore center Lorenzo Mata's recovery and rehabilitation from a knee injury was progressing well.

"We feel Lorenzo might make it back for the last two games of the season (California/Stanford)", Howland said, "If not, then possibly by the Pac-10 tournament."

Mata suffered a nondisplaced tibial plateau fracture in his right knee in a collision with Jordan Farmar during the Washington St. game on January 13 at Pauley Pavilion.

The prognosis for Mata's recovery from his knee injury was initially set at 6 to 8 weeks.

The California/Stanford series would be 7 weeks and the Pac-10 tournament would be a full 8 weeks from the time of the initial injury.

(BruinBasketballReport.com)