Yankuba Sima misses second half vs. Xavier with hand injury
St. John's may have lost more than its sixth straight on Wednesday night.
The Red Storm's late rally came up short against No. 10 Xavier, falling 74-66. The second-half comeback attempt came with starting center Yankuba Sima. The 6-foot-11 shot-blocker injured his left hand in the first half and did not return. He was seen on the bench icing his hand.
St. John's head coach Chris Mullin had no update on Sima's injury in the postgame press conference, according to Chris Barca of SNY.tv.
It is unknown how long the Johnnies will have to keep plugging along without Sima, as Mullin offered no description of his injury or how much time the freshman, who was seen icing his left hand on the bench in the first half, may miss. /p>
Sima finished five boards and two blocks in 11 minutes against the Musketeers.
In 16 games this season, Sima is averaging 8.4 points and 6.8 boards. His 3.1 blocks per game ranks seventh in the entire nation.
Up next for the Johnnies is Marquette and its talented frontline of Henry Ellenson and Luke Fischer. The Golden Eagles host St. John's on Saturday at 2 p.m. EST.
(h/t SNY.tv)