SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -Two-time All-Big Ten player Kalin Lucas was in a walking boot and it was unsure if he can play for Michigan State against Northern Iowa in the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament because of a lower leg injury.
“I don’t know yet. I just know it’s a leg injury,” the Spartans floor leader said Sunday while seated his jubilant locker room minutes after Michigan State advanced with an 85-83 victory over Maryland in the second round – thanks to a shot at the buzzer by Korie Lucious, Lucas’ replacement.
“I will get X-rays (Monday) and probably will know more then,” Lucas said.
Two days after he scored a career-high 25 points in a win over New Mexico State, Lucas was injured last in the first half.
baseline with 2:28 remaining in the first half. It was his only field goal in four shots. He had six assists and one turnover in 16 minutes.
“I just came down the wrong way,” he said.
He said the pain was more in his leg than in his foot or ankle.
As play continued at the other end, Lucas hopped down court on his right leg while wincing in pain. He tried to defend the ball before officials gave him an injury timeout.
The junior then hopped to his bench. After a trainer looked at his lower left leg for a moment, Lucas hobbled into a tunnel that leads to the locker room.
Three-point specialist Chris Allen did not start and played just 4 minutes for the Spartans because of an injury to the arch in his right foot sustained late in Friday’s win. He entered midway through the first half, moved stiffly for a couple of minutes, then left the game and remained on the bench except for a brief entry late.
He says he will try to play on Friday against Northern Iowa in St. Louis.
“I’ve got a week to get ready,” Allen said. “I’m about to be in the training room all day, every day. I might sleep in there.”
frantic rally.
On the bench during the second half, Lucas wore a hooded sweatshirt and sweat pants, plus the walking boot on his left foot and ankle. He was the only player not in the massive pile of Spartans that squashed Lucious at the opposite end of the court following the sophomore fill-in’s winning shot.
Lucas hopped over to coach Tom Izzo near midcourt instead.
“I told Coach Iz I loved him,” Lucas said with a small smile. “He said the same back to me.”
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