UCLA, Maryland basketball battling injuries ahead of Saturday's matchup

Ahmed Ghafir
1 day ago
2 min read

Maryland (7-8, 0-4) at UCLA (10-5, 2-2)

When: Saturday, Jan. 10 – 8:00 p.m. ET

Where: Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial)

TV: FOX

Betting: Maryland +11.5 – O/U: 146.5

Maryland men’s basketball is looking for its first conference win in hopes of ending its four-game slide when they take on UCLA tonight in the first of two consecutive road games against the Big Ten’s West Coast teams. But Maryland could have a boost with the Bruins battling injuries.

Head coach Mick Cronin noted during Friday’s availability that point guard Skyy Clark is doubtful for tonight’s game against Maryland.

“I’d put him on the doubtful list, but we’ll see today,” Cronin said of Clark before Friday’s practice. “He shocked me with how good he looked yesterday. I just know it’s a longer season than one game.”

Clark enters the weekend second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game with 2.3 assist-to-turnovers while shooting over 47% both from the field and from three. He suffered the injury in the 13-point road loss vs. Iowa back on Jan. 3 and missed the road game against Wisconsin three days later, handing the Bruins consecutive losses ahead of tonight's matchup.

Trent Perry started in Clark’s absence last game, but for Maryland, they’re also still expected to be shorthanded on the road trip with star senior center Pharrel Payne expected to be inactive in the pair of upcoming road games. When - or if - Payne returns to the court this season remains unclear with head coach Buzz Williams declining to directly answer, but his absence has been a sore spot for a Maryland team that has struggled to find consistency on offense while losing its key rim protector defensively.

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