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Despite hand injury, Nick Ward says he’ll play against Duke
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Nick Ward isn’t missing Michigan State’s chance to punch its ticket to the Final Four.
In Michigan State’s win over LSU on Friday night in the Sweet Sixteen, the Spartans forward fell to the ground and stuck out his hands in order to catch himself. The result was a scary moment for Ward, one that briefly made him believe he might have done further damage to a hairline fracture in his hand.
Ward made a trip to the locker room and received an X-ray, which came back negative. He suffered a deep bruise on his fifth metacarpal bone, but it isn’t enough to keep him out of Sunday’s game against Duke in the Elite Eight.
“I was just trying to catch myself and that was the best way I could’ve,” Ward said, according to Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press. “It is a little deep bruise, but it’s fine.”
Ward played 16 minutes in Friday night’s game, scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds. For the season, the forward averaged 13.4 points and 6.2 rebounds, but has played a more limited role off the bench since the injury.
Michigan State is hoping to make the Final Four for the first time since 2015. The Spartans will take on Duke at 5:05 p.m. ET on Sunday in the Elite Eight.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB