Michigan State’s top freshman injures ankle late in win vs. Samford

EAST LANSING – Michigan State survived another tough test at home but not without an injury concern moving forward.

Freshman guard Jase Richardson injured his left ankle with a little more than a minute to play in Tuesday’s 83-75 win against Samford.

“It was a significant, it looked like, sprain but he was happy in the locker room so I think he’s going to be OK,” coach Tom Izzo said after the game. “I just don’t know how long he’ll be out but he’s going to miss a few days, there’s no question about that.”

With the Spartans (4-1) leading by 11, Richardson appeared to roll his ankle while defending Josh Holloway on a missed layup down the late. He remained on the floor in pain under the basket as the Bulldogs (4-2) took advantage and hit a 3-pointer before officials finally noticed the injury and stopped play amid complaints from fans. Richardson walked off the floor with help and made it to the bench while being looked at by trainer Nick Richey.

Richardson was receiving treatment during the time reporters spoke with players in the locker room after the game.

“I’m not a doctor but it seems to be a sprain. … I’m sure they’ll X-Ray it and MRI it, they’ll go through it,” Izzo said. “I told him he could take a day off but not two and he said that’s fine with him.”

Richardson, the son of former standout Spartan and NBA star Jason Richardson, has been impressive early this season. The former four-star recruit has scored in double figures three of the first five games and tied his season high with 12 points on Tuesday. He also chipped in three rebounds, three assists, four steals and a block in 25 minutes.

“I thought Jase Richardson was phenomenal,” Izzo said. “He just looked comfortable to me. It’s going to take me a little time to understand him, it’s going to take him a little time to understand things but he’s very smooth and doesn’t panic and did a hell of a job.”

Through the first two weeks of the season, Richardson is fourth on the team in scoring at 8.4 points per game while shooting 62.5 percent (15-for-24) from the floor and making all nine free throws. He also has only one turnover with 11 assists while looking a lot more advanced than an average freshman.

“The moment’s never too big for him,” Izzo said.

Richardson has already carved out a big role for the Spartans, whose next test will come in the Maui Invitational. They open the three-game tournament against Colorado (4-0) on Monday and will face either two-time defending champion and No. 2 UConn or Memphis in the second game. The other half of the bracket includes No. 3 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. Richardson’s availability will likely be a major factor in Michigan State’s success on the trip.

“He said it kind of wasn’t as bad after that little bit of time went by,” senior guard Jaden Akins recalled Richardson saying about the injury, “so hopefully he’ll be good because we need him.”