Eastern expects Venky Jois to return this week

Eastern Washington forward Venky Jois is a “possibility” to play Thursday night against Northern Colorado, coach Jim Hayford said Tuesday.

Nine minutes into the Eagles’ 92-85 win at Portland State on Thursday, Jois stepped on a PSU player’s foot and injured his right ankle. He missed the rest of that game and sat out Eastern’s 90-77 loss two nights later at Sacramento State.

Jois said Tuesday that “progress has been going really well, and the swelling has gone down a lot.

“At the rate we’re going, I’m really happy,” said Jois, who averages 18 points and 7.8 rebounds.

On Thursday, the Eagles (13-5 overall, 4-1 Big Sky Conference) host a Northern Colorado team (9-7, 4-1) that’s won four straight games. Two days later, EWU faces North Dakota (5-11, 1-4).

Regarding Jois’ chances of playing, Hayford said, “We’re thinking Saturday at this point. Thursday is still a possibility.”