Back Problems Sideline SDSU’s Clark for Week

Less than three weeks after welcoming transfer Tony Clark to the lineup, San Diego State’s basketball team learned Tuesday that the 6-foot-8 sophomore will be sidelined until at least Monday because of recurring back problems.

Clark, who was unable to play for the Detroit Tigers’ single-A affiliate in Niagara Falls last summer and underwent surgery for a herniated disc in his back in August, aggravated the back Dec. 21 against South Carolina.

The condition worsened during SDSU’s losses at Southern Utah and Nevada Las Vegas at the end of December and, after the Aztecs’ loss Jan. 2 to Yale, Clark said pain was shooting down into his buttocks for the first time since before the surgery.

Clark said that Richard Ostrup, the doctor who performed the surgery, told him that scar tissue probably is causing the current pain.

“Actually, that’s better news than what I was afraid of hearing,” Clark said. “If it was a recurring disk problem, I’d have to live with it and stop playing completely.”

In five games this season, Clark is averaging 12 points and five rebounds per game. He will continue his rehabilitation this week and is hoping to return to the lineup next week. Meantime, he will miss SDSU’s home games against Wyoming (Thursday) and Southern Utah (Saturday).

Although he said he plans to return to SDSU as soon as possible, there is always the option of giving up basketball in attempt to save his baseball career.

“(That thought) is always back there,” he said. “If it gets to the point where I don’t think I can compete (in basketball) like I used to, than I might step back.”