Anthony Mason of the Charlotte Hornets was arrested late Saturday on two counts of third-degree rape of two teen-age girls.

His lawyer, Frank Rothman, anticipating the arrest all day, insisted his client was innocent. Mason was arrested after five hours of questioning by detectives.

Mason, 31, and a friend, William Duggins, 24, were each charged with two counts of statutory rape in the attack on two girls, 14 and 15, Friday night, said Mary DeBourbon, a spokeswoman for Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown.

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Mason and his friend met the sisters at a charity basketball game at York College in Queens, said the spokeswoman.

New York’s Daily News reported in its Sunday editions that the alleged attack took place in a limousine after the game. The girls told an older sister about the alleged attack, the paper said.

After the girls were treated at a Queens hospital, nurses reported the suspected sexual attack to police.

Mason, a former New York Knicks star who was born and raised in Queens, was at a small party at a private home in the Laurelton section Friday night with about 10 other people, according to Rothman.

He said the two girls told police Mason and one other person at the party had sex with them. Rothman said he talked to Mason and the basketball player’s agent in a conference call Saturday morning, and said Mason was eager to talk to police.

Mason was traded by the Knicks to Charlotte in 1996. He pleaded guilty in November 1997 to disorderly conduct after scuffling with a police officer in Times Square in July 1996. He paid a $250 fine and apologized to the police. He originally faced felony assault charges that could have brought up to seven years in prison.

Mason was in town to see his family, Rothman said. The NBA is on a weekend break for the All-Star game, which will be played Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.

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Sprewell addresses players’ union

Latrell Sprewell addressed the NBA Players Association Saturday, and officials emerged saying his suspension and contract termination had galvanized the once-troubled union.

Sprewell, who was suspended for one year by the league and had his contract terminated by Golden State after his attack on coach P.J. Carlesimo, has unilateral support from fellow players as he fights the penalties, Union Director Billy Hunter said.

They support Latrell, Hunter said. To a man, there’s nobody that disagrees with that.

Sprewell, Carlesimo and NBA commissioner David Stern were among those who testified in arbitration hearings on whether the penalties should stand. Closing arguments will be Feb. 16 in New York, and arbitrator John Feerick will have 30 days to rule on Sprewell’s grievances against the Warriors and the league.

Russ Granik, the league’s deputy commissioner, said the penalty fits the offense.

It’s now in the hands of an arbitrator, Granik said. He’ll render a ruling as he sees fit.

The Sprewell situation and the league’s crackdown on baggy shorts have united the players’ union.

We’re all back together. We’re strong, said Union President Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks. If anything arises, we’re going to be together and we’re going to fight it.

Report:Jones talks with Steelers offensive coordinator

In his search to replace Barry Switzer as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones is talking to Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, a TV station reported Saturday night.

The Steelers have given Jones permission to talk to Gailey, Pittsburgh TV station KDKA reported.

Gailey has been the Steelers’ offensive coordinator for the last two seasons. Switzer resigned from the Cowboys Jan. 9 after a 6-10 season.

Jones hoped to have a new coach by now but said it could be April or later before he finds one he wants.

He has had at least seven interviews with three candidates:former UCLA coach Terry Donahue, former San Francisco coach George Seifert and Green Bay offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis.