Fractured Hand Puts Status of CSUN’s Chevalier in Doubt

Andre Chevalier, the Cal State Northridge basketball team’s senior floor leader, has a broken bone in his right hand, X-rays revealed Wednesday.

Chevalier, a 6-foot point guard, is averaging 12.9 points and leads the Matadors with 61 assists and 25 steals. His status for Saturday’s game against UC Irvine, the first of seven consecutive road games for Northridge, is questionable.

“It’s not bad, but it is fractured,” Chevalier said after being examined by Dr. Eric Slatten, Northridge team physician. “The doctor said to ice it. I’ll just have to play with the pain if I can. Hopefully, by Saturday, (the swelling will) be back down.”

The pain was intense enough Tuesday night that Chevalier asked to be removed from Northridge’s home game against Buffalo at a key juncture. The Matadors were clinging to a four-point lead with five minutes to play when Chevalier banged his hand against the elbow of Buffalo guard Modie Cox.

Chevalier attempted to shake off the pain, believing he simply had aggravated an injury incurred last Thursday during practice.

But when he found it difficult to dribble the ball, he asked to be replaced.

Overcoming adversity is nothing new for Chevalier. He was born with only two fingers on his left hand.

Robert Hill, a sophomore from North Hollywood High, is Chevalier’s understudy at point guard. Hill occasionally has been maligned for his ballhandling and floor leadership, but he played well against Buffalo, making a key three-point basket and igniting the transition game as Northridge pulled away to win, 90-72.

Chevalier will determine his own playing status.

“In this situation it’s up to you as an individual and the kind of pain you can endure,” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said. “That has to be his call.”