Daniel Hurt, But Cougars Down Byu Knee Injury Sidelines WSU Basketball Star, Perhaps Until Pacific-10 Conference Opener

Washington State won a men’s basketball game but lost its best player Wednesday night when Carlos Daniel suffered a left knee injury that will keep him out for a minimum of three weeks.

The Cougars’ 78-49 victory over Brigham Young was a costly one. Daniel suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament with 7 minutes left and WSU leading 61-39.

“Their doctors took a look at it and said he’ll be out a minimum of three weeks, but in all likelihood a few more after that,” WSU coach Kevin Eastman said. “It seems like we can’t beat this Murphy’s Law thing. Ever since three years ago, it’s just one thing after another.”

Daniel was helped to the locker room after scoring 13 points. His father, who had made the trip from Colorado to Provo for the game, joined Daniel in the locker room.

Daniel rejoined his teammates on the bench for the game’s final minutes, an ice bag wrapped to his knee. He used crutches after the game.

“We’ve just got to fight through it,” Eastman said. “He’s a leader and our best player - one of the better players in the conference.”

Despite Daniel’s injury, there were some bright spots for the Cougars (2-0).

Senior Rodrigo de la Fuente and sophomore Chris Crosby continued their hot shooting. De la Fuente scored 24 points on 7-for-12 shooting, while Crosby hit 8 of 9 shots to finish with 22 points. Crosby hit 5 of 6 from 3-point range.

Former WSU wing Beau Archibald was in the stands and met with his old teammates after the game. Archibald, who left WSU and returned home to Provo after his father died of cancer earlier this year, now plays for Utah Valley Community College.

WSU’s next game is Dec. 28 in Puerto Rico, where the Cougars will meet South Florida in the first round of the San Juan Shootout.