Senior forward Jeremiah Jones tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during Saturday’s game against Robert Morris, announced Duquesne head coach Jim Ferry.
According to goduquesne.com, the injury will sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Jones, team captain and member of Ferry’s first recruiting class at Duquesne, played in every game in his career for the Dukes and started 84 consecutive games.
“I’m extremely disappointed for Jeremiah,” Ferry said in a press release. “He has been a vital part—if not the most vital part—of the transformation process this program has undergone. I know without a doubt, that the same leadership [and] mental toughness he has shown since day one will help him get through this. He is still our leader and captain and will continue to do whatever he can to help our team. It’s now time for some of our other players to step up.”
Jones injured his knee while going up for a layup with just under 14 minutes remaining in the first half of Saturday’s game, according to goduquesne.com. The 6’4 forward was shooting 51.3 percent and ranked third on the team with 31 assists for the season.
The Gary, Indiana native said he isn’t deterred by the injury.
“What happened is unfortunate but everything happens for a reason,” Jones said in a press release. “We talk about adversity all the time as a team and I’ve just hit a bump in the road. I won’t let this injury affect myself or the team. The goal is still the same, it’s just that the path is now slightly different.”
Duquesne (10-2), off to its best start since the 1979-80 season, returns from Christmas break to travel to Georgia Tech (8-3) on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The Dukes begin Atlantic 10 play on January 2 against preseason favorite Dayton (8-2) at Palumbo Center.
Photo by Rachel Konieczny
