TicketsJan. 10, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- University of Cincinnati senior forward Armein Kirkland will miss the remainder of the season for the 25th-ranked Bearcats with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Kirkland suffered the injury in Monday night's 70-59 loss at No. 4-ranked Connecticut. He is expected to have surgery on Friday.
The 6-8 Kirkland started 15 of UC's first 16 games this year and is the Bearcats' fourth leading scorer (9.7). Kirkland was playing some of the best basketball of his four-year career at UC in recent weeks, scoring in double figures in nine of his last 12 games and helping the Bearcats compile a 10-game winning streak and crack the Top 25 national rankings.
Kirkland, a Tyler, Texas native, also averaged 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists while ranking third on the team in three-point field goals (19) and free throw percentage (.791).
"I am really disappointed for Armein and our team because our guys have been playing very well of late and he was a big part of that," said UC head coach Andy Kennedy. "It is unfortunate for something like this to happen to a senior who has given so much to this program for four years. We will really miss him the rest of the season."