UCI’s Smith Out 2-4 Weeks; Von Lutzow Nearly Ready

UC Irvine, already struggling with a five-game losing streak, has lost starting forward LaDay Smith for two to four weeks because of a mild stress fracture in his left foot, Coach Rod Baker said Monday.

However, Jeff Von Lutzow, the other starting forward and Irvine’s second-leading scorer with an average of 16.7 points, is expected to return Saturday against Cal State Fullerton after missing the Anteaters’ last game because of a sprained big toe.

Smith, a transfer from California, has scored in double figures in four games this season, with a high of 18 in a loss to Nevada Las Vegas. But he said he has been bothered increasingly by pain in his foot and he was limping after Saturday’s loss to Nevada. He was scoreless in 16 minutes in that game after not starting because he missed a mandatory team run last week. His averages have dropped to 9.3 points and 5.1 rebounds.

“Any time you lose a starter and someone who played himself into being an integral part of what the team is doing, it’s a blow,” Baker said.

Forwards Elzie Love and Khari Johnson are candidates to replace Smith in the lineup.

Von Lutzow, who sustained the injury to his left foot Jan. 4 against Houston but played in the first half of Irvine’s next game before missing the Nevada game, is expected to return for Saturday’s game against the Titans in the Bren Center. Von Lutzow received a cortisone shot last week.