BRIEFLY : REPORT: ELWAY PART OF OWNERSHIP GROUP.

Byline: - Daily News Wire Services

Former Denver quarterback John Elway has joined an effort to buy the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and their future arena from Ascent Entertainment Group Inc., a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Businessmen Lars Erik Borgen and George Gillett, who already had offered to buy the basketball and hockey teams and the Pepsi Center, are teaming up with the Granada Hills High alumnus, the Denver Post reported, citing a source it did not name.

Neither Elway nor Ascent acting chairman Chuck Neinas would comment.

BASKETBALL: Quincy Lewis, the top draft choice of the Utah Jazz, agreed to a multiyear contract.

An NCAA special committee announced ``practically idealistic'' reforms for college basketball, but making freshmen players ineligible was not one of its recommendations.

The University of Minnesota, looking to replace former men's basketball coach Clem Haskins, received permission to interview Rice coach Willis Wilson and Gonzaga coach Dan Monson.

Former New Jersey Nets coach Butch Beard has been offered the job of lead assistant coach with the Washington Wizards.

BOXING: James ``Buster'' Douglas has been added to a short list of possible opponents for Mike Tyson, who is scheduled to return to the ring in October.

TENNIS: Wimbledon semifinalist Alexandra Stevenson was selected to replace Brie Rippner on the U.S. women's team for the 1999 Pan Am Games, which begin Friday.

MOTOR SPORTS: David Dains was charged with felony criminal mischief and reckless driving after - police say - the race-car driver rammed another driver's car at Benton (Iowa) County Speedway on Monday and then backed into a crowd of spectators, hitting three.

GOLF: British Open champ Paul Lawrie and Jean Van de Velde, who carried a two-stroke lead entering the final hole Sunday, pulled out of this week's Dutch Open, citing mental and physical exhaustion. Jean Van de Valde, who lost the British Open last week despite leading by two strokes going into the final hole, has been granted a special exemption to play in next month's PGA Championship at Medinah.

Tiger Woods eagled the 18th hole to give a team of American-British golfers a 6-6 tie against the Nordic All Stars in the SAS Invitational Match Play Tournament in Rungsted, Denmark.

HOCKEY: The Montreal Canadiens re-signed right wing Oleg Petrov, who led the Swiss Elite League in scoring the past two seasons, to a two-year contract.

SOCCER: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on for his contribution to British soccer. The Scot is the most successful manager in Premier League history and led United to the League, FA Cup and European Champions Cup last season.

BASEBALL: Mark Prior, a right-handed pitcher from Vanderbilt who is on the U.S. National team, has transferred to USC, Trojans coach Mike Gillespie said.