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Missouri State missing starting wing until later in December

Ron Mvouika, Cleanthony Early

Missouri State’s Ron Mvouika (10 drives around Wichita State’s Cleanthony Early (11) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference men’s tournament, Saturday, March 8, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

AP

Missouri State has dealt with some injury issues this season as senior wing Ron Mvouika continues to miss time due to a bulging disc in his lower back.

A native of France, the 6-foot-6 Mvouika won the starting three job this preseason but has only played in two games and 20 total minutes of playing time this season and hasn’t played since Nov. 22.

According to a report from Lyndal Scranton of the News-Leader, Mvouika is hoping to return in time for Missouri Valley Conference play at the end of December.

“I’ll know more in about a week,” Mvouika said in the report. “We’re not going to rush anything, but I’ll be confident that I’ll be able to be present for the first conference game (Dec. 31). Maybe even before.”

The injury occurred for Mvouika when he was going up for a rebound in an exhibition game against Missouri Southern. The injury really hasn’t improved, which has forced the senior to miss likely a month of action.

When Mvouika returns to the lineup, he’ll give Missouri State an experienced wing who can also give some floor spacing as an additional three-point threat. Only Marcus Marshall and Austin Ruder have made more than five three-pointers this season for the Bears and Mvouika should be able to help a little bit in that category while aiding the team’s two leading scorers.

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