When former UA basketball player Ben Davis received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at McKale Center last night, he knew that once again, it was his house.

While he finished with only five rebounds and no points in one quarter of play, he had the satisfaction of hearing his name as a starting forward on the Phoenix Suns.

"I enjoyed the opportunity I got tonight and I wanted to make the most of it," Davis said. "The reception I got was great and it make me feel like I was back at Arizona."

In helping Phoenix to a 109-100 exhibition victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis made his presence felt immediately by allowing 6-foot-11 power forward Elden Campbell only one field goal in the first quarter.

"You know that Ben is going to go out and work hard, and he again showed that tonight," Phoenix head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons said. "I think that the fans here put the pressure on him with the response they gave, and he responded."

Throughout the preseason, Davis has shown Phoenix that he is not afraid to bang around on the glass. In four games, he has been averaging four rebounds a quarter.

"He is a tough player inside," Suns assistant coach Paul Silas said. "He has a great amount of tenacity around the boards. One thing I've learned from Ben is it's not how tall you are, it's how tough you play."

In his first quarter of play, Davis reminded the fans in McKale of the All-Pacific 10 first-team member that led the conference in rebounding. He not only drew two fouls from Campbell with his relentless rebounding, but he also did many of the intangibles coaches notice but that don't show up on the stat sheet.

Nervousness might have also restricted the effectiveness of Davis, who took only two shots all night. One player who understands the pressures that go along with a rookie season is forward Michael Finley, who made the NBA's All-Rookie.

"I think Ben is going through a process of trying to learn what is needed to be successful at the next level," Finley said.

In the Suns' next game, against Cleveland in Mexico City, Davis will have the opportunity to square off with his former teammate Reggie Geary.

"Seeing Reggie will make the trip a little better," Davis said. "Hopefully we will get together and have a chance to catch up on some things."

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