Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert sprains ankle, plans on playing vs. Creighton

Gonzaga freshman wing Corey Kispert’s ankles have endured a rough few days.

It started Friday when he rolled his right ankle against Florida in the PK80 in Portland. The Zags thumped Incarnate Word 103-68 on Wednesday at the McCarthey Athletic Center, but Kispert spent about as much time in the training room as he did on the court.

Kispert was attempting lift-off to retrieve a lob pass from Silas Melson late in the first half but he twisted his left ankle. Kispert hobbled to the bench during a break in the action and continued on to the locker room accompanied by trainer Josh Therrien.

Kispert didn’t return to the bench until the final minutes of the blowout. Zach Norvell Jr. started in Kispert’s place in the second half.

Kispert said he plans on playing in Friday’s home game against No. 25 Creighton.

He missed the last part of his senior season at King’s High after having surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot last February. His foot hasn’t been an issue at GU.

“Nothing with my ankles (before),” he said. “This is kind of new.”

When Kispert tweaked his right ankle Friday, he tried running back on defense but his ankle didn’t immediately cooperate. The Gators fired a pass down the floor and hit a perimeter shot before Kispert could reach his defensive assignment.

“That was embarrassing,” he said. “That was a bad one.”

Kispert has started all seven games. He scored in double figures in the first five and had eight points in the victory over Texas on Sunday in Portland.

He’s averaging 10.4 points and 3.7 rebounds. He’s made 54 percent of his shots, including 38 percent on 3-pointers.