NEW YORK — UCLA fans can breathe a little easier about Alfred Aboya.
X-rays and a CT scan done on Aboya’s left hand came up negative at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases Friday night. UCLA will do a precautionary MRI in Los Angeles upon their return, according to a team spokesman.
Aboya had a career night of 22 points and 8 rebounds in UCLA’s 77-60 victory over Southern Illinois in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden.
Aboya took four charges in Thursday night’s loss to Michigan and entered the SIU game with a sprained left wrist. After taking another charge in the second half against SIU, he fell and broke his fall with that same wrist.
“He may have broken his hand,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said before the X-rays were done.
UCLA does not play again until hosting Florida International Nov. 29, so Aboya now has eight days to rest, meaning he may not miss any time.
If Aboya, a native of Cameroon, is out for an extended period, Howland said young players like 6-10 freshman center J’mison Morgan would have to step up.
“Our young guys could be thrust into more playing time depending on Alfred’s injury tonight,” Howland said.
Added Morgan: “[Aboya] is an important part of our team. We gotta have the freshmen and Nikola [Dragovic] and James [Keefe] step up and just pick up the slack.”
