Fracture of the hair in the left hand

EAST LANSING – Nick Ward is indefinitely absent with a broken hair in the left hand (shot) of the State of Michigan basketball The striker suffered during the 62-44 victory of the Spartans on the Ohio State Sunday.

Ward returned late to the MSU No. 11 bench after half-time. When he returned to Breslin's central courtyard, Ward had his left hand heavily wrapped in green ribbon and did not start the second half.

He finally tried to overcome the pain twice, but did not play the 13:25 of the final victory of the Spartans.

The university issued a statement announcing the fracture of the hair root early Sunday night, adding that Ward would be reassessed each week and that the hope was that the six-foot junior came back from here. the end of the season.

The Spartans will face Rutgers on Wednesday and travel to Michigan on Sunday.

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"It was a problem for us in the second half …" said MSU coach Tom Izzo after the match before the exit. "We thought maybe he could go, but he just felt like he could not go much."

This is another major injury for the Spartans (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten), who are in first place at UM but who are without guard Joshua Langford for the rest of the season, injured on foot and swingman Kyle. Ahrens plays with a back injury.

Ward scored nine points and four rebounds at halftime. He came back in the game 59 seconds into the last period and played two stints after a half-time total of 3:30, with no shot but two rebounds.

Ward, who was not available for interviews after the match, spent most of his time sitting on the bench, using his right hand to support his left hand or standing, his left hand stuck to his chest while he was visibly embarrassed. The band extended from the bottom of the left wrist, around the middle of the hand and wrapped his fingers.

It was unclear how the left-handed shooter had been injured, but Izzo said it had happened late in the first half.

"I did not even see him. I do not know if he fell or was hit by a rebound, "said Izzo. "But when they came in, I mean, they said on the bench that he had hurt her hand. … It hurt then, and they thought that there was something wrong then. "

Ward, who was not available for interviews after the match, spent most of his time sitting on the bench, using his right hand to support his left hand or standing, his left hand stuck to his chest while he was visibly embarrassed. The band extended from the bottom of the left wrist, around the middle of the hand and wrapped his fingers.

"You want to be with your team and help your team," said Cassius Winston, who also spent time on the bench in the second half after committing his third foul. "But sometimes the best way for your team is not to be on the floor. And when we can not do that, it's really hard.

Ward – who returned to MSU after testing the draft NBA process – averaged an average of 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for the Spartans on Sunday.

More Kithier

Ward's loss will probably mean more minutes for Thomas Kithier.

The 6-8-year-old striker played nearly 10 minutes on the bench on Sunday, scoring twice to pound a 13-3 shot in the second half. He also had a steal and three rebounds, while helping to keep Kaleb Wesson, a top Ohio State player, at just four points and four rebounds in the second half.

The 225-pound Kithier sold 45 pounds to Wesson.

"We shot a lot from Kithier," said Izzo. "He's going to sleep well tonight. His 10 minutes will be like an hour of work. "

Kithier has already played in the MSU at crucial moments of the season, especially when serious problems hit big men, Ward, Kenny Goins and Xavier Tillman.

That included a 4-minute relay for Kithier against Maryland, with Ward on the bench, in which Kithier had four points and two rebounds. He then collected six points and five tables in 9 minutes in Iowa, did not play two games, then set career highs with eight points and 18 minutes against Minnesota while adding three rebounds.

"I think it really helps to have that next player mentality," Kithier said after Sunday's game. "Just be ready."

The sides had 10 points and 10 rebounds, adding three blocks and two assists. Tillman scored five points, six rebounds and two interceptions, but also made four fouls.

Ward's injury could also force Izzo to use Marcus Bingham Jr in a larger role. The 6-10 freshman played the final 57-second final on Sunday.

"It hurt my team to not rotate," said Izzo. "Nobody deserves more blame for this than me, some situations in which we have been exposed to these injuries. Almost mind-boggling. "

Henry on the bench

With Ward, Izzo did not start the first year, Aaron Henry, at the end of the half.

It was to send a message.

"As far as Aaron," Izzo said with a long pause, "it was to hold him up so to speak."

The 6-6 swingman, who started his ninth game of the season, finished aimlessly in 9:48 of the court time. Henry caught two rebounds and got help, but also made two turnovers and missed his only shot. He had just finished an eight point performance and five rebounds in 28 minutes in Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Contact Chris Solari at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Learn more about the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.