Ohio State Point Guard JaQuan Lyle Rejoins Team After Missing Maryland Game Due to Family Emergency

By Tim Shoemaker on February 13, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Ohio State's JaQuan Lyle takes a shot against Michigan.
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Ohio State head coach Thad Matta had not seen nor spoken to sophomore point guard JaQuan Lyle prior to meeting with reporters Monday afternoon to preview the Buckeyes' upcoming game against Michigan State.

Lyle left the team recently for a family emergency. He returned to his home in Indiana to be with his sister as she dealt with complications from a childbirth.

So when Matta was asked about Lyle's status for Ohio State's game Tuesday against the Spartans, he couldn't give a full response.

“Don’t know yet," Matta said. "Have not heard from him yet today if he’s back or not.”

But just minutes after the news of Lyle's uncertain status made its way to the public, the Buckeyes' point guard said on Twitter he was back in time for practice Monday afternoon. Lyle responded to a tweet from Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch.

Matta was made aware of the response, much to his surprise.

"Oh, good," he said with a wide smile.

C.J. Jackson started the last three games at point guard for the Buckeyes as Lyle battled a sprained ankle prior to leaving the team. Jackson averaged 9.3 points and 2.0 assists per game as a starter; Lyle averages 11.4 points, 5.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game on the season for Ohio State.

Lyle missed the Buckeyes' previous game against Maryland entirely as he returned home to be with his family. The Terrapins won on Saturday, 86-77.

"My thoughts first and foremost is that he's there for his sister," Matta said. "He was there when she came out of a coma, which is a great thing. We'll deal with [playing status] when he gets here."

It appears Lyle is back now and while his status for Tuesday still remains unclear, if he can give Ohio State anything, that's an added bonus.

Additionally, Matta said injured junior forward Keita Bates-Diop is also back with the team. Bates-Diop left along with Lyle due to a family emergency of his own as is 16-year-old brother collapsed from a heart attack during a practice. 

Reports from Matta indicated good news regarding the status of both siblings.

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