Men’s basketball set for test against Loyola Maryland

While the Boston University men’s basketball team earned a 20-point win Wednesday over American University, it may have lost something much greater — senior forward Nathan Dieudonne.

Dieudonne, who averages 10.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, suffered an ankle injury in the first half and did not return.

Injuries have been the one constant throughout BU’s (15-11, 8-5 Patriot League) 2015-16 campaign, as the team has seen its rotation dwindle down to just seven players. Like they have done all season long, the Terriers will regroup and carry on, starting with a Saturday matchup at Loyola University Maryland.

Head coach Joe Jones said he was unsure of the severity of Dieudonne’s injury.

“We don’t know yet,” he said. “He’s probably going to go see another doctor and go see what they say. So we’ve got our fingers crossed.”

Jones said junior center Blaise Mbargorba is the most likely candidate to replace Dieudonne, should he be sidelined for an extended period of time. The 6-foot-11 transfer from Southern Methodist University has upped his productivity as of late, as he put up an average of 5.3 points and six rebounds in his last three games.

“We’ve got to look for other things,” Jones said. “There are some guys who I think are ready to step in, and we’ve just got to go do it.”

Jones and his staff also have the option of putting junior guard Eric Fanning in the front court along with sophomore forward Nick Havener. BU has had success with this smaller lineup in stretches, most notably against the Greyhounds (8-16, 7-6 Patriot League) Jan. 18, but Jones acknowledged the defensive void it might leave.

“Defensively is what we’ve got to figure out,” he said. “I’m worried about us defensively with that lineup. How are we going to rebound? That would be the most pressing question. Nate has kind of put us on his back this year and has really led us. We have to go get it done that way.”

That last meeting was a back-and-forth battle with lead changes aplenty. Both teams grabbed double-digit advantages during the contest, but it was the Terriers who came on strong down the stretch to win 87-84 in overtime. Fanning scored a career-high 37 points, 17 of which came at the free throw line.

Four Greyhounds reached double figures on the night, topped by forward Jarred Jones, who scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Jones leads the Greyhounds in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Guard Andre Walker is next on the team with 13.5 points per game.

Loyola is coming off of a 71-51 home loss to the United States Military Academy Wednesday, in which the Greyhounds shot just 33.3 percent from the field.

“The thing about them is, it starts and finishes with their ability to rebound the ball from multiple positions and how hard they play in that facet of the game,” Jones said. “Their ability to drive the ball from different angles [with] Jones at the four and Walker at the point. Their ability to create off the dribble and attack the rim and rebound the ball, those are the things that you most worry about. You have got to do a great job in those areas.”

Despite the questions surrounding Dieudonne’s health, Jones has reason for confidence. BU was able to adjust to Dieudonne’s absence against the Eagles, though it took a while for the Terriers to find a groove. The Terriers scored just five points in first 11 minutes of the second half, but eventually pulled away.

“That’s something this team’s been doing, is finding ways to win,” Jones said. “Last year, we would have had a hard time winning a lot of these games. It’s more about the way we’ve won them.”