Powell out for season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior Marshawn Powell of the University of Arkansas men’s basketball team will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury Razorback head coach Mike Anderson announced on Tuesday.

Powell injured the knee on Thursday, Nov. 17 during Arkansas’ practice at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Ark., as the Razorbacks prepared to face the Houston Cougars.  An MRI performed on Sunday revealed that Powell had torn ligaments and would require surgery.  His timetable for a return is six to eight months.

“This is a big blow to Marshawn and our basketball team,” Anderson said.  “He has been working hard on and off the court this year and was in the best shape of his career.  This is definitely a setback, but I told him that sometimes you have to have setbacks in order to have a great comeback.  He is in good spirits and looking forward to helping his team in any way that he can.”

A preseason second-team All-SEC candidate by the Southeastern Conference coaches, Powell had a tremendous start to his third year in a Razorbacks uniform.  In two games the Newport News, Va., native had averaged 19.5 points and 6.0 rebounds, both team highs, and was shooting 71.4 percent from the floor.  He is Arkansas’ leading returner in both points and rebounds from a year ago.

The Razorbacks play Tuesday night against Utah Valley at Bud Walton Arena beginning at 7 p.m.