BRIEFLY : BROWN TAKES OVER AS U.S. BASKETBALL COACH.

Byline: - Daily News Wire Services

Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich is recovering from ``extreme physical exhaustion'' and withdrew as coach of the U.S. men's basketball team that will participate in an Olympic qualifying tournament next month.

Larry Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers will replace Tomjanovich, USA Basketball said Monday. The team features Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics and Duke's Elton Brand.

Team USA is scheduled to participate in the pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 14-25. The U.S., gold medal winner at the past two Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996, must earn a qualifying spot for the 2000 Olympics.

SWIMMING: Olympic hopeful Mark Warkentin from USC picked up two more golds and cracked the University Games record for the men's 800-meter freestyle by nearly four seconds, leading the U.S. team to victories in five of the day's six events at Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands.

Warkentin cut about six seconds off his personal best time in winning the 800 free in 8 minutes, 0.81 seconds.

TRACK AND FIELD: U.S. champion Mark Crear ran a season-best 12.98 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, beating world record-holder Colin Jackson of Britain at a meet in Zagreb, Croatia. The time also was a personal best for Crear.

TENNIS: U.S. Davis Cup captain Tom Gullikson picked Alex O'Brien to complete a roster that already included Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Todd Martin. The United States will play its quarterfinal against Australia on July 16-18 at the Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, Mass.

World No. 9 Marcelo Rios showed signs of inactivity after a five-week layoff, beating Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-2, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-1) in the opening round of the $560,000 Swiss Open in Gstaad.

Defending champion Magnus Gustafsson won his opening match in the Swedish Open in Bastad, beating Italy's Vincenzo Santopadre 6-2, 6-4. Crowd favorite Gustafsson, seeded No. 3, is seeking a fifth tournament win.

GOLF: Juli Inkster and Kelly Robbins teamed to win both of their matches and give the United States a 3-1 lead over Canada in the inaugural Nations' Cup women's tournament in Toronto.

Sergio Garcia of Spain, who won the Irish Open on Sunday, his first pro title in only his sixth tournament, earned enough Ryder Cup points to put him 18th on the list of European team contenders. Even if he does not make the automatic top 10, he could be one of captain Mark James' two extra picks.