Razorbacks facing possible second game without leading scorer Mason Jones

FAYETTEVILLE – The 7-0 Razorbacks stay at home on Tuesday to welcome Austin Peay and they could be doing it without the team's leading scorer Mason Jones.

Jones was held out of Saturday night's win over Northern Kentucky with a shoulder injury that's now been diagnosed as an AC sprain.

According to professionals, an AC sprain heal could take up to three weeks, or longer, depending on severity:

"The degree of AC joint ligament damage can vary from a mild strain of one or more of the surrounding ligaments to complete ligament tears and deformity."

Eric Musselman told the media that the shooting guard would be practicing Monday but with limited contact.

"Right now it's not bothering him shooting," Musselman said. "It’s bothering him defensively a little bit when he puts his arm a certain way. The good thing is if he plays we need his shooting more than we need his defense. So I think its will be a game-time decision but he is going to go through non-contact stuff today."

The Razorbacks were able to make up for his lack of points on Saturday night with three Razorbacks, Jimmy Whitt, Desi Sills and Isaiah Joe, scoring in double digits, but with Western Kentucky, Tulsa and Indiana games looming, there's no doubt Arkansas will need Jones back on the court to sustain their already-struggling offense.

In six games, Jones has averaged 31.5 minutes with 18.5 points per game and he's the team's third-leading rebounder.

If Jones can't go on Tuesday night, Musselman will start either grad transfer Jeantal Cylla or Reggie Chaney. Cylla got the start Saturday but proceeded to play just five minutes with zero points. Chaney was more effective with 6 points and a career-high 11 boards.

Looking at the stats, it doesn't look like there's any reason Chaney shouldn't start in Jones' place but he did start the season on a three-game suspension, so he may still have to earn that right.

Stay locked on HawgBeat for updates on your Razorbacks leading up to Tuesday's 7 p.m. tip-off in Bud Walton.

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