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Zed Key unavailable at Purdue, Roddy Gayle Jr. listed as game-time decision

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•02/19/23•

andybackstrom

Zed Key by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Ohio State center Zed Key re-aggravated his left shoulder sprain at Iowa earlier in the week. ( Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ohio State will be without captain and starting center Zed Key Sunday afternoon at Purdue. Key re-aggravated his left shoulder sprain during the second half of a 92-75 loss at Iowa Thursday night. Buckeyes freshman guard Roddy Gayle Jr. is a game-time decision. Gayle rolled his ankle against the Hawkeyes, also in the second half, but returned and scored all six of his points in the final six minutes of action.

Key was first diagnosed with a shoulder sprain on Jan. 5 during Ohio State’s first meeting with Purdue. Key was jostling for a defensive rebound with Boilermakers 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey when he suffered the injury. Key left the game before the first media timeout, didn’t come back to the floor and missed the Buckeyes’ following game at Maryland.

Key came off the bench the next two games, except the junior has started the last nine. He’s worn a protective yet restrictive shoulder brace, which he said has made breathing and extending for rebounds more difficult. Key’s injury has flared up at times throughout the 11-game stretch, however, Thursday was the first time re-aggravating it caused him to take a seat on the bench for the remainder of the game.

Key came into Iowa City having averaged 9.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while posting a 46.7% 2-point field goal percentage since the injury. In Ohio State’s first 13 games this season, a healthy Key was averaging 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds while converting 70.6% of his 2-point attempts. Also, six of Key’s seven made 3-pointers this season came in that early-season span.

When Key was sidelined in the first meeting with Purdue, freshman center Felix Okpara stepped in and played 31 minutes. He registered five points, five rebounds, three blocks and two assists. That’s the only game this season Okpara, who has occasionally struggled with foul trouble, has logged more than 20 minutes.

Okpara is averaging 3.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

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