Bulldogs may have to take on Rice minus Coleman and with banged-up Al-Sayyad.
The two leading scorers on the Fresno State men's basketball team ? Ja'Vance Coleman and Mustafa Al-Sayyad ? are hobbled heading into tonight's Western Athletic Conference matchup with Rice.
Coleman has a right Achilles tendon strain, Al-Sayyad a left calf strain. Fresno State coach Ray Lopes expects Al-Sayyad to play, but Coleman's status won't be determined until after the team's shootaround this afternoon.
Coleman said Sunday he is "about 50%." He suffered the injury in Wednesday's game against Tulsa, after stepping on a Tulsa player's foot.
Coleman played 7 first-half minutes off the bench against Buffalo on Saturday before re-aggravating the injury ? by stepping on a Buffalo player's foot.
"It's a pain like I've never had before," Coleman said. "I have to see where things go from here. "If I had to say right now, I'd say I'd play through it."
Lopes said he doesn't want to give Coleman the go-ahead until his player is 100%. Coleman spent the bulk of Sunday working with team athletic trainer Ed Ferreira, going through electrical stimulation and whirlpool workouts.
If Coleman plays, he'll wear a brace to protect the tendon, according to Ferreira.
Al-Sayyad injured his calf after missing a dunk against Buffalo. Lopes expressed concern about how Al-Sayyad limped out of the training room Sunday. Ferreira called Al-Sayyad's injury "moderate." Neither Al-Sayyad nor Coleman participated in the team's light practice Sunday.
"Health always is important at this part of the season," Lopes said. "The good thing is, these are not major injuries ? just minor ones that are treatable. Plus, our depth helps us in that department."
Coleman and Al-Sayyad combine for 28.8 points per game. Without Coleman for the second half against Buffalo, the Bulldogs struggled offensively and finished with a season-low 49 points.
"I think my team needs me, just like I need them," Coleman said.
Coleman averages 16 points in WAC play but shoots 34% (72 for 215) from the field and 29%
(32 for 111) on 3-pointers. Al-Sayyad averages 12.4 points on 61% shooting in conference play.
When Fresno State lost 83-68 at Rice earlier in the season, Al-Sayyad led the Bulldogs with 15 points while Coleman scored eight and was benched for most of the second half after a poor first-half performance.
The injury status of Coleman and Al-Sayyad also could affect the Bulldogs on the defensive end. A healthy Coleman likely would match up with Rice's Jason McKrieth, a powerfully built senior who runs the point. And Al-Sayyad ? coming off a school-record
11 blocks against Buffalo ? has the task of shutting down Owls star Michael Harris, a 6-foot-6 post player who is one of the WAC's best.
Harris averages 20 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 17 when the teams first met despite suffering from leg cramps. McKrieth has shaken off a nagging thigh bruise and averages 14 points.
Fresno State is tied for third in the WAC standings with Louisiana Tech at 8-6. Rice is right behind with a 7-6 mark.
The two leading scorers on the Fresno State men's basketball team ? Ja'Vance Coleman and Mustafa Al-Sayyad ? are hobbled heading into tonight's Western Athletic Conference matchup with Rice.
Coleman has a right Achilles tendon strain, Al-Sayyad a left calf strain. Fresno State coach Ray Lopes expects Al-Sayyad to play, but Coleman's status won't be determined until after the team's shootaround this afternoon.
Coleman said Sunday he is "about 50%." He suffered the injury in Wednesday's game against Tulsa, after stepping on a Tulsa player's foot.
Coleman played 7 first-half minutes off the bench against Buffalo on Saturday before re-aggravating the injury ? by stepping on a Buffalo player's foot.
"It's a pain like I've never had before," Coleman said. "I have to see where things go from here. "If I had to say right now, I'd say I'd play through it."
Lopes said he doesn't want to give Coleman the go-ahead until his player is 100%. Coleman spent the bulk of Sunday working with team athletic trainer Ed Ferreira, going through electrical stimulation and whirlpool workouts.
If Coleman plays, he'll wear a brace to protect the tendon, according to Ferreira.
Al-Sayyad injured his calf after missing a dunk against Buffalo. Lopes expressed concern about how Al-Sayyad limped out of the training room Sunday. Ferreira called Al-Sayyad's injury "moderate." Neither Al-Sayyad nor Coleman participated in the team's light practice Sunday.
"Health always is important at this part of the season," Lopes said. "The good thing is, these are not major injuries ? just minor ones that are treatable. Plus, our depth helps us in that department."
Coleman and Al-Sayyad combine for 28.8 points per game. Without Coleman for the second half against Buffalo, the Bulldogs struggled offensively and finished with a season-low 49 points.
"I think my team needs me, just like I need them," Coleman said.
Coleman averages 16 points in WAC play but shoots 34% (72 for 215) from the field and 29%
(32 for 111) on 3-pointers. Al-Sayyad averages 12.4 points on 61% shooting in conference play.
When Fresno State lost 83-68 at Rice earlier in the season, Al-Sayyad led the Bulldogs with 15 points while Coleman scored eight and was benched for most of the second half after a poor first-half performance.
The injury status of Coleman and Al-Sayyad also could affect the Bulldogs on the defensive end. A healthy Coleman likely would match up with Rice's Jason McKrieth, a powerfully built senior who runs the point. And Al-Sayyad ? coming off a school-record
11 blocks against Buffalo ? has the task of shutting down Owls star Michael Harris, a 6-foot-6 post player who is one of the WAC's best.
Harris averages 20 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 17 when the teams first met despite suffering from leg cramps. McKrieth has shaken off a nagging thigh bruise and averages 14 points.
Fresno State is tied for third in the WAC standings with Louisiana Tech at 8-6. Rice is right behind with a 7-6 mark.
