Memphis Tigers basketball: Injured Alex Lomax expected to miss 1-2 weeks

Jason Munz, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read
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Memphis basketball is expected to be without senior guard Alex Lomax for "at least a week or two," coach Penny Hardaway said Sunday.

"Right now, we're just taking it day to day," Hardaway said during his pregame radio interview with play-by-play man Dave Woloshin. “But I’m thinking at least a week or two. That’s the least.”

The Tigers (12-5, 2-2 AAC) were about to play at Temple on Sunday (2 p.m., ESPN2) in Philadelphia. Lomax, who is currently tied for fourth in the country with 45 steals in 16 games, injured his groin attempting to pick up his 46th with 1:14 left in the first overtime period of Wednesday’s double-overtime loss at UCF.

Lomax won't be the only player to miss Sunday's game. Senior big man Malcolm Dandridge will sit out his seventh straight game with an injured ankle and senior wing Jayden Hardaway's hip problem will keep him sidelined for a third contest in a row.

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"I think (Dandridge) is maybe (closer to returning) than A-Lo. Maybe another week," Hardaway said. "But A-Lo will be out a minute."

Lomax has been hampered by injuries much of the past three seasons. In 2020-21, the former East High star missed all but a few seconds of the Tigers’ last eight games with a severe left ankle sprain. He never fully recovered from that injury and reaggravated it multiple times last season, forcing him to miss a total of five games.

Lomax had ankle surgery prior to the 2022-23 season to fix the problem once and for all. But, by compensating for the nagging injury this season, Hardaway said, Lomax has had to manage both a sore calf and the groin issue.

Lomax is third on the team in scoring (8.1 ppg) this season, second in assists (3.5) and is shooting 44.8% from the field.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball: Injured Alex Lomax expected to miss 1-2 weeks