Bell will miss 4 to 6 weeks

Gonzaga junior guard Gary Bell Jr. has a broken right (shooting) hand and will probably miss 4-6 weeks, the school announced Monday.

Bell was injured early in Saturday’s win over Santa Clara. He played seven minutes in the second half, but didn’t attempt a shot. Bell was taken for X-rays and the diagnosis of a fractured fourth metacarpal bone was confirmed by a specialist Monday.

Bell’s injury won’t require surgery. His hand will be X-rayed again next week to make sure it’s healing properly.

“I was hoping it was a ligament or a strain, but it’s a fracture,” Bell said. He said he’s a “quick healer” and hopes to return to the court within three weeks.

Bell is Gonzaga’s third-leading scorer at 12.7 points. He’s shooting 51 percent, 48 percent on 3-pointers, and connects on 81 percent of his free throws. He averages 3.2 rebounds and has committed just nine turnovers in 345 minutes.