NC State center Dusan Mahorcic to have surgery for dislocated right patella injury

N.C. State center Dusan Mahorcic suffered a dislocated right patella tendon during Tuesday’s game against Coppin State, it was announced Thursday.

NCSU said Mahorcic, a graduate transfer, will undergo surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Mahorcic was fighting for a rebound and collided with Coppin State’s Kam’Ron Blue. He landed off balance, injuring his right leg. His teammates’ reactions told the story.

Wolfpack trainers and team doctors were quickly around Mahorcic. Head coach Kevin Keatts came out to the floor. Mahorcic needed help in leaving the court but refused to use a wheelchair.

“I just wanted to keep him calm,” Keatts said after the game. “A lot of people look at them as my players. I look at them as my kids, and it’s hard to see any of your kids in that situation. I was there to calm him down and let him know we’re with him and praying for him.”

It was the second leg injury for Mahorcic in a little more than a year. He injured his right knee Nov. 27, 2021, against BYU while playing for Utah and missed eight games.

Mahorcic transferred to N.C. State after the 2021-22 season, giving the Wolfpack (8-2) some size and grit in the middle missing last season after a season-ending injury to center Manny Bates. The Serbia native started nine of the Pack’s first 10 games.

Mahorcic played 20 minutes Tuesday and had six rebounds and four assists before the injury. With Mahorcic out, D.J. Burns Jr. and Ernest Ross received extended minutes.