University of Utah forward Dusan Mahorcic will be out until January after suffering an apparent right knee injury, Utes head coach Craig Smith told The Salt Lake Tribune Wednesday morning.
Mahorcic underwent an MRI on Monday. Per Smith, the exact diagnosis is still pending.
With 15:42 to play in the first half against the Cougars, Mahorcic crumpled to the floor after fighting for a rebound underneath the BYU basket. The 6-foot-10 Serbian-born big man stayed down, and could be heard screaming in pain as the Huntsman Center fell silent.
Mahorcic was eventually helped off the floor without putting weight on his right leg. As the second half started, he could be seen just outside the tunnel, with a brace on his right knee and the leg elevated. He exited the Huntsman Center on crutches following the game, which moved Mark Pope’s team to 6-0. Buoyed by high-profile early-season wins over San Diego State and Oregon, BYU is up to No. 12 in the latest AP Top 25.
Mahorcic’s injury is the latest blow to a lineup that was already thin due to injury. After spraining his ankle against Tulsa on Nov. 21, Marco Anthony sat out Saturday’s loss and his status for Wednesday’s Pac-12 opener at unbeaten, 20th-ranked USC is in doubt. Bostyn Holt (ACL) is out for the season, while Gabe Madsen (undisclosed) has not played since the Nov. 9 season-opener vs. Abilene Christian. Madsen is expected back at some point, but there is no timetable for his return.
With Mahorcic, Anthony, Holt and Madsen shelved, Utah is expected to have just eight scholarship players available Wednesday night against the Trojans (9:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).
