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DEC.
1 — Goshen Loses Crawford For Season
Sophomore
swing tears right ACL; to undergo reconstructive surgery
Jan. 6 |
Goshen, IN — The Goshen College
men’s basketball team learned Wednesday that it will be without
sophomore Matt Crawford for the remainder of the season, as MRI results
revealed a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his right knee.
Crawford, a 6-4 swingman, came down awkwardly on the knee during
the second half of Goshen’s 89-88 win over Tri-State University
on Nov. 27. Initial diagnosis was that Crawford had torn cartilage in
the knee, but Monday’s MRI procedure exposed a different, much more
extreme consequence.
As a result of the injury, Crawford will undergo reconstructive
surgery on Jan. 6.
“With an ACL tear, the average recovery time after surgery is
six months,” said Bill Kinsey, Goshen College head athletic trainer. “Had
this just been torn cartilage, it would have been a possibility
for Matt to continue to play this season. With a torn ACL and two seasons
left
for him to play, though, surgery is really the only viable option.”
Crawford had averaged 10.1 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per
game while starting in each of Goshen’s first 11 contests. He had
connected on 33.3 percent of his three-point attempts and was
the team’s
top free throw shooter, connecting on 23 of 27 charity tosses — an
85.2 percent clip. Crawford’s most efficient effort came in Goshen’s
77-78 overtime loss to Indiana University Southeast on Nov. 13,
where he knocked in 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, including
making three
free throws with no time remaining in regulation to force the
overtime period.
“There is no question that we will miss Matt Crawford for the
remainder of this season,” said Stan Daugherty, Goshen head coach. “He
had been playing very well for us, and was one of our most versatile
players. Over this past summer Matt got a lot stronger and worked very
hard on
his game. It is a very disappointing end to his season after
how hard he has worked.”
Crawford will forgo his sophomore year of eligibility, as NAIA
bylaws do not allow a medical redshirt after an athlete participates in
more than five games in the sport of men’s basketball. Crawford
is expected to make a full recovery for his junior season.
“You can only hope that an injury of this nature will help Matt
possibly learn more about himself, and make him stronger as a
result,” Daugherty
said. “We now must have other people step up to help fill in Matt’s
role on the court.”
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 Sophomore
Matt Crawford
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