CINCINNATI — Xavier basketball's top scorer is "sidelined indefinitely" after sustaining a lower-back injury, the team announced Monday.
Zach Freemantle "sustained a lower-body injury in Saturday's game at Cincinnati," the school said in a statement.
The Musketeers lost to the UC Bearcats 68-65 in the 92nd Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.
RELATED | UC Bearcats break Xavier's Crosstown Shootout win streak, beat Musketeers 68-65
The 24-year-old forward has been a powerhouse for the Musketeers so far this season. Across Xavier's 11 games, Freemantle has amassed 186 points for the Muskies, averaging 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting at 54.4%.
Freemantle did miss the entire 2022-2023 season — a season where the Musketeers made a run to the Sweet 16 — due to season-ending foot surgery.
While Xavier didn't specify Freemantle's injury, WCPO captured his fall during the end of the Crosstown Shootout. Freemantle went to rebound a UC shot before coming down on his lower back. He was then helped up by two teammates as he grimaced and walked it off before giving a thumbs up.
The angle we caught of Freemantle falling towards the end of the game. Clearly limping as he got up.
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) December 16, 2024
🎥: @PhilipRLee #Xavier @WCPO https://t.co/G83fOq8orN pic.twitter.com/JU3w6Ry6O5
Despite the injury, Freemantle was Xavier's top scorer in the matchup, putting up 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
Freemantle's injury also comes as the 8-3 Muskies enter Big East Conference play. They'll face their first Big East opponent, the UConn Huskies, on the road Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Musketeers are undefeated at home, but they're 0-2 on the road.
