Associated press3 minute read
Marcus Sasser leaves the game with an apparent groin injury
Marcus Sasser comes out in the first half against Cincinnati with an apparent groin injury.
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Marcus Sasser left the first half of Houston’s top-ranked AAC Tournament semifinal victory Saturday with an apparent injury in the groin.
The school reported early in the second half of the game against Cincinnati that Sasser doubted he would return, and ESPN’s broadcast reported that the senior guard said he would not return.
“They’re still evaluating him,” coach Kelvin Sampson said after the game. “We will see.”
Sasser collapsed to the ground with around 6½ minutes to go in the first half and was in obvious pain after the non-contact injury. He was dribbling between the conference logo and the 3-point line when his right foot appeared to slip, throwing him off balance before his left foot also slipped and put him in an awkward split.
“He never misses practice. He never misses a rep. As soon as he went down I was worried about him,” Sampson said. “The only thing I know is that it’s not his knee.”
Despite losing Sasser, top-ranked Houston played its fifth straight AAC Championship game with a 69-48 win over the Bearcats on Saturday. Jamal Shead had 16 points and nine assists for the Cougars, who were up eight points when Sasser was injured and extended their lead to 38-23 at halftime.
In Houston’s 60-46 quarterfinal win over East Carolina on Friday, Sasser scored 24 of 30 second-half points as the Cougars overcame their worst shooting game of the season.
A starter for the Cougars’ 2021 Final Four team, Sasser missed his run to the NCAA Elite Eight last season after breaking a bone in his left foot before Christmas.
Houston is 11-0 at Dickies Arena and still hasn’t lost on the road this season. He will face either Memphis or Tulane in the AAC Final on Sunday.