Written by Tom Mieskoski

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Cleveland State Vikings sophomore forward Anton Grady had surgery this week to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and is out for the next six to eight weeks.

"The operation was a success," CSU men's basketball coach Gary Waters said earlier this week. "But [the meniscus] was torn significantly and there is a great possibility that he will be redshirted for this entire year."

Grady, a Cleveland Central Catholic High School product, tore his meniscus against Robert Morris on Nov. 20 and has missed the past three games. The Vikings now have until Jan. 7 to decide whether to redshirt him.

In order to get a medical redshirt, Waters says a player has to play under one-third of his team's games and show proof that the injury is season-ending.

Waters says Grady wasn't fully recovered from having offseason meniscus surgery on his other knee.

"Anton was literally playing on one leg [out there] because of the pain in his leg," said Waters. "Eventually it just went [out] on him"

CSU will have to find a way to overcome the loss of Grady, who was averaging 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

"It's a big loss because of the interior situation," said Waters.

The Vikings frontline has been depleted through the first nine games as junior forward Luda Ndaye has missed five games and sophomore forward Devon Long has missed four games.

Ndaye has been dealing with a hip injury. It's unknown why Long has missed four games, but Waters said last week that he isn't hurt.

The Vikings could get back freshman guard Junior Lomomba for Saturday's nonconference game at St. Bonaventure.  

"Junior's foot is improving," said Waters. " [We will] try to get him into [Saturday's] game."

Waters says Lomomba's foot is only at about 60 percent.

Lomomba, CSU's top recruit, has only played in two games this season because of a foot injury. He broke his foot during the summer and missed the first five games of the season. Then on Nov. 28, Lomomba re-injured his foot during the Ball State game and missed the past two games.

Waters says he has no plans of redshirting Lomomba.

"He wants to play," he said.

Home-court advantage

The last time CSU (6-3) played in Olean, New York, St. Bonaventure's fans stormed the court after a 72-62 victory on opening day of the 2009-10 season.

"It wasn't pretty," said Waters.

The Vikings have never won on SBU's home court (0-6).

The Bonnies (5-3) have won 13 of their past 14 regular-season home games at the Reilly Center and 19 of 21 dating back to the 2010-11 season.

"We got to get better on the road," said Waters, whose team is 1-3 on the road. "[SBU is] exactly like us [last year]. They return everybody back and have six seniors, but lost their big stud [Andrew] Nicholson to the NBA."

Quote of the week

"Once he understands everything. He might be as talented of an offensive player that we have had here. It comes so easy for him." ~ Gary Waters, on freshman Bryn Forbes.

CSU women's basketball update

After opening the season at 1-4, CSU's women's basketball team has won three straight games—including a road win at Indiana.

A big key for the turnaround has been the play of senior forward Shalonda Winton, who is second in the nation in scoring at 24.1 points per game. She also averages 11 rebounds and 4.8 assists.

"Shay does everything for us," said CSU women's basketball coach Kate Peterson Abiad. "She scores, she rebounds, she assists and she's one of our best defenders. She's really thriving in this role of being a go to player."

In her last game, Winton became just the fourth Viking to record a triple-double in a game. She posted 29 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in CSU's 87-75 victory over the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks last Saturday at the Wolstein Center.

Peterson Abiad's squad (4-4) will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to face the Tennessee State Tigers (3-5) on Sunday.

Anton Grady photo courtesy of Cleveland State athletics