WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Michigan State reserve center Idong
Ibok will be sidelined indefinitely after dislocating his left
elbow in the first half of the Spartans' first-round NCAA
tournament victory over Marquette on Thursday.
The 6-foot-11 Ibok was fighting for a rebound with 6:37 left
when he landed hard on his left elbow and screamed out in pain.
Referee Bryan Kersey immediately stopped play and waved the
training staff on the court. Teammates Raymar Morgan and Drew
Neitzel grimaced as Ibok pounded the floor with his right hand as
he was being treated.
Ibok, with his arm bandaged, returned to the bench to watch the
end of the Spartans' 61-49 victory.
"I definitely felt for him. I took one look at his elbow and it
was nasty," Neitzel said. "I was happy to see him come back to
the bench."
Ibok, a sophomore from Lagos, Nigeria, was averaging 2.0 points
and 2.3 rebounds coming into the game. Coach Tom Izzo said Ibok
would likely miss Saturday's second-round game.
"That's going to be a loss. It's going to be a problem for
us," Izzo said.