Torn ACL: Ryan Thomson injury ends season

Ryan Thomson has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is done for the season.

The OUA all-star sharpshooter suffered the injury in the dying seconds of Lakehead’s second-round playoff win over McMaster, and did not dress for last weekend’s Wilson Cup OUA men’s basketball championship.

LU coach Scott Morrison said Thomson’s MRI showed the torn ACL and a couple of other minor issues in his knee.

“Right now the surgeon that he’s going to use is on vacation, but when we get back from Ottawa next week he’ll meet with the doctor and try to determine a schedule for surgery and rehab. Ryan and I talked last night and right now we’re hoping to get him in as soon as possible, and aim to be back at the start of the regular season next year,” Morrison said Tuesday at the athletics department’s athletes of the month ceremony.

Thomson averaged 14.4 points a game this season, his fourth in a Thunderwolves uniform.

Morrison said he’s hoping someone else steps up in Thomson’s absence, much like Joseph Jones did Saturday with a 23-point performance in LU’s 78-64 win over Windsor in the OUA bronze-medal game.

“That was our first real big win without him, and maybe we found a comfort zone on the court without him,” Morrison said.

The past two seasons without Thomson, who missed last year’s trip to nationals with a foot injury, the Wolves are 2-10. With him in the lineup they are 57-6.

“Everyone raised their level a little bit. A couple guys raised it a lot. If history serves, the same guys don’t have to repeat every night, but we always find someone who can get it done. These guys are 2-0 in elimination games and we’ve got one more coming up, so hopefully they can keep it going.”