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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rogers’ Injury Provides Stress For Gonzaga

The last time Gonzaga went to the National Invitation Tournament, in 1994, the Bulldogs wore T-shirts bearing the phrase “Bad to the Bone.”

Then, it was just a motto.

It’s actually more appropriate now, as the Bulldogs prepare to meet Washington State in Pullman in a Thursday NIT opening-round game, because a Tuesday bone scan revealed a stress fracture in the left foot of junior center Paul Rogers.

Rogers is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder.

“Paul will start, it’s just a matter of how long he can go,” GU coach Dan Fitzgerald said. “It’s not a medical risk to play him, he wouldn’t be playing if that was the case. There’s not a game in the world worth that.”

The 7-foot Rogers first noticed pain in his foot in the Bulldogs’ regular-season-ending loss to Santa Clara at home on Feb. 24.

Despite the injury, Rogers was voted to the All-West Coast Conference Tournament team for his play in three games last week. Averaging 15.7 points and 8.2 rebounds a game, Rogers also was an All-WCC first-team selection.

GU trainer Steve DeLong said the bone scan showed a “hot spot” in Rogers’ fourth metatarsal of the left foot. “The only thing that can help it is rest, but he has been cleared to play,” DeLong said.

The Bulldogs’ front line has already been thinned by the absence of senior Scott Morgan, who left last week for spring training with the Cleveland Indians.

Senior Jason Bond and freshman Mike Leasure will be expected to pick up the slack off the bench if Rogers is unable to finish.

“This is just the way it goes sometimes,” Fitzgerald said. “We just have to find a way. I know this: he’s better on one foot than some of our guys on two, so we’ll see how he does.” , DataTimes