OSU Freshman Muonelo Breaks Ankle, Likely Out For Season

Monday, December 18th 2006, 9:32 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma State freshman guard Obi Muonelo may miss the rest of the season after breaking an ankle after slipping on a wet spot on the practice gym floor during a team workout.

The injury occurred Saturday and Muonelo underwent surgery Sunday morning at Stillwater Medical Center.

He was averaging 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game off the bench and became the first player in OSU history to score in double figures in each of his first ten games with the Cowboys.

"He's handling it well," said his brother, Ike Muonelo.

"There's still bigger plans down the road. There's never a perfect season. Something always goes wrong (for all teams) where you have to bounce back."

The injury leaves an already thin OSU roster even more depleted.

The 15th-ranked Cowboys, who are 11-0, have only eight recruited scholarship players and are now down to just three guards, JamesOn Curry, Terrell Harris and Byron Eaton, plus former walk-on Tyler Hatch who is now on scholarship.

Ike Muonelo said the doctor who performed the surgery said his brother will be on crutches for six weeks, but there is a remote chance Obi Muonelo might return for the postseason.

"That would be risky," Ike Muonelo said. "It will be five or six weeks before he walks. The doctor recommends 2 1/2 months before he does anything. It's not about the season right now as much as him getting 100 percent."

Because he's played in more than 25 percent of OSU's games, Muonelo is not eligible to apply for a medical redshirt.