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Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga’s Geno Crandall, Killian Tillie hoping to return to lineup soon

Gonzaga guard Geno Crandall walks the court with his fractured hand before the North Dakota State game on Nov. 26. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

Geno Crandall and Killian Tillie remained on Gonzaga’s sideline during Friday’s blowout against North Alabama, but their wait is coming to an end.

Crandall probably will be the first to return. The senior guard, mending from a fractured bone in his right hand, has a doctor’s appointment Monday that he hopes will clear him for the CSU Bakersfield game Monday night.

“I’d say I’m probably 95 (percent),” he said. “I don’t think I have to be 100 percent to be cleared.”

Crandall has been a part-time participant in practice, wearing a light pad and a wrap to protect his right hand. The grad transfer from North Dakota has been out since suffering the injury in practice prior to the Nov. 26 game against North Dakota State.

Tillie is shooting for a Jan. 5 return against Santa Clara in the WCC opener at the McCarthey Athletic Center. He had surgery on a stress fracture in his ankle in late October.

“I’m doing a little bit in practice, parts of it,” Tillie said. “It still doesn’t feel like it’s 100 percent. It doesn’t feel strong enough, so just a little more time and it should be fine.”