WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Falling to the No. 16 Purdue Boilermakers, MSU men’s basketball has lost 11 games this season. Now the Spartans will be without fifth-year senior guard Eron Harris for an undetermined amount of time.
A rough shooting day for Harris, he struggled to gain any rhythm from mid-range or beyond the arc. Just 1-for-7 from the floor and 0-for-3 from 3-point land, Harris decided to attack the basket.
As he attempted to drive the lane, he absorbed body contact from 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas. The 100 pound difference sent Harris backward, landing awkwardly on his right leg. When his foot touched the floor, his right knee severely buckled.
Down in pain, Harris was stretchered off the floor. Freshman forward Nick Ward, freshman forward Miles Bridges and junior guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. stood next to Harris in support.
Praying for Eron Harris. This was not good. pic.twitter.com/pXySzitdmS
— Barstool MSU (@BarstoolMSU) February 18, 2017
Head coach Tom Izzo said in his postgame conference the status of Harris is unknown, but early diagnosis is a badly sprained knee.
“I just gave him a hug,” Bridges said following the 80-63 loss. “It is really difficult. He’s like a big brother to me, so I’m just praying for him and hoping everything goes away.”
Just four regular season games remain for MSU. With March Madness up in the air, an extensive injury could prove to be career-ending for Harris.
“It’s sad you know, that kid has been playing his tail off and working his butt off, he’s become a better leader,” Izzo said. “I don’t know, he will be out for awhile, and yet who knows how long? I guess we will find out by Monday.”
After the game, Izzo said Harris was on crutches and would come back with the team, rather than going straight to the hospital.
Harris ended the game with two points in 12 minutes played. In his final season, Harris is averaging 10.7 points per game, third best on the team. His highest scoring output was 31 points against Florida Gulf Coast.
“We’re going to have to pick him up,” Nairn said with teary eyes. “It’s tough man, but it’s life you know. When somebody is out there battling cancer or somebody has a blood disease, there are a lot of things that go in this life, but you have to keep your head up — keep fighting. My job is to just everybody’s spirits high and lift him up. I know this is a tough time for and his family, it is just hard to see — that’s my brother.”
Hang in there, Eron... You've repped the state of Indiana well. Best wishes.
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) February 18, 2017
Harris is a native of Indianapolis.
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