By Mark Bennett
Besides Indiana State's 68-56 loss at Illinois
State on Saturday, that Missouri Valley Conference matchup was
costly to the Sycamores in another way.
Near the end of the game, Indiana State senior
center Terence Avery suffered a fracture to a bone in his right
shooting hand. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Avery practiced Monday
morning.
"My guess is it's going to take several
days for him to feel comfortable handling the ball," ISU
head athletic trainer Dave Ralston said Monday afternoon.
The fracture was to Avery's fifth metatarsal
in his right hand. With some additional examination by the team
doctor ahead, Ralston anticipates Avery being available for Wednesday's
7:05 p.m. MVC game against Wichita State in Hulman Center.
"He will be available to play Wednesday.
But he will have lots of protection on his hand," Ralston
said.
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Avery led the Sycamores in scoring with 22
points at Illinois State and minutes played with 37. With senior
teammate Kelyn Block already out while recovering from knee surgery
on Jan. 4, Avery is the only remaining Sycamore with a double-figure
scoring average at 11.3 points per game. He is also averaging
6.4 rebounds per game.
Block's recovery from surgery to repair a
torn muscle near his kneecap is progressing well and on schedule,
Ralston said. On Monday, the Preseason All-MVC first-team pick
participated in his first day of light strength exercises.
"My guess is in another 11 or 12 days,
he'll be ready to go," Ralston said.
Block is averaging 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds.
Meanwhile, one of Avery's backup centers --
6-11 sophomore Michael Kernan -- is nearing full-strength after
an plantar fascia injury in the arch of his left foot. "Michael
is doing real well," Ralston said, and is expected to be
available for Wednesday's game.
Kernan hasn't played since ISU's Nov. 21 loss
to Valparaiso. He scored two points in limited duty in each of
the Sycamores' first two games, and has one rebound and one assist.
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