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

Raivio misses flight to heal aching back

SEATTLE – Derek Raivio did not accompany Gonzaga University’s men’s basketball game on its flight here on Friday to prepare for today’s 12:51 p.m. matchup against Oklahoma State in the third annual Battle in Seattle at KeyArena.

The Bulldogs’ junior point guard opted to remain in Spokane for some addition treatment on the back and hip bruises that kept him out of Thursday night’s 67-53 home win over Washington State.

Raivio, who was injured after taking a hard fall during last Sunday’s road loss to Washington, was expected to re-join his teammates later Friday night, however, and might still be available for today’s game.

Raivio said he could have played against WSU “if running and playing defense weren’t part of basketball.”

Bulldogs coach Mark Few said team trainers worked Raivio out prior to the WSU game.

“Of course, he made every shot he took,” Few added. “He was amazing. But he just couldn’t go.”

Raivio’s teammate Erroll Knight, who has yet to play this year after undergoing two arthroscopic surgeries on his left knee, confirmed after the win over WSU that he could be “10 days to two weeks” away from returning to the GU lineup.

According to Knight, the infection in his knee – which is being treated intravenously – was the result of a post-game dip he took in the Pacific Ocean following the Zags’ first-round win over Maryland in this year’s EA Sports Maui Invitational.

“I was close to being ready to go,” he said, “but then I went swimming, and I guess the incision from the surgery hadn’t completely healed and (the knee) got infected.”