Griffin goes down, but returns to action

COWBOYS BASKETBALL JOURNAL

LAWRENCE, KAN. — Down to their last point guard, the Cowboys could hardly afford to have any more injuries or issues at the position.

Except in this season, which has already claimed two starters to injuries, perhaps it should be expected.

And so it appeared late in the first half Monday night, when went down hard, grabbing his right ankle, twisted in a scrum underneath the basket. Griffin left the game and limped to the locker room.

“I didn’t think he was coming back,” said OSU coach who is already missing starter

Yet Griffin did return, finishing with a career-high 12 assists, the most by a Cowboy since 13 against SMU in 2004, although in a 94-67 loss to Kansas.

And to Griffin, there was no thought of not playing on.

“When I hurt it, I knew we didn’t have anybody else to back me up,” Griffin said. “Coach (Ford) didn’t tell me to go back in. I just felt like I had to tough it out and finish the game. That was the one thing on my mind, finishing the game. Because I wanted to win.”

When Ford took Griffin out for good in the final minutes, he offered a hug and some words.

“I just told him thank you,” Ford said. “I mean, I appreciated his effort. And I appreciated him giving it up for the team. It would have been real easy for him not to go back out there. But you weren’t going to hold him back.

“The trainer said he was OK. I asked (Tyree), and he just laughed, like there’s not even a question if I’m going back out there or not. He’s the kind of guy you want in your foxhole. I’m just telling you, he’s a tough little sucker.”

UP NEXT: TEXAS TECH

Following a Big Monday event in Lawrence, the Cowboys are off until Saturday when Texas Tech visits Gallagher-Iba Arena.

The Red Raiders are surging after beating a pair of ranked teams last week, knocking off No. 13 Iowa State in Lubbock and beating No. 25 Baylor in Waco.

Tech is now 15-9 overall and 5-7 in the Big 12 and receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

In the first meeting, the Red Raiders rallied to beat the Cowboys 63-61 in overtime in Lubbock.