Feb. 12, 2004

Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri freshman forward Linas Kleiza will miss the remainder of the season due to a dislocated right shoulder, MU coach Quin Snyder announced on Thursday.

"We have met with Linas' family and our medical staff here at Mizzou and we believe that the severity of the injury would have reduced his effectiveness on the court, making immediate surgery necessary. We feel that this is the best option for Linas' career and his eventual contribution to our program. We will miss his intensity, but I know we will continue to battle and stay together."

Kleiza, a 6-8 post presence from Kaunas, Lithuania, played in 16 games this season ranking fourth on the squad in scoring averaging 11.1 points per game and first on the squad in rebounds per game averaging 8.4 boards per contest. He recorded three double-doubles this season and reached double figures in scoring in nine of his 16 games played. He averaged 23.1 minutes per game off of the bench and shot 44 percent from the field and earned Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors two times.

He dislocated his shoulder on Jan. 28 in the closing minutes of the Tigers' game at Colorado and has sat out Mizzou's last four contests rehabbing the shoulder. The Tigers have gone 2-2 in his absence. Snyder indicated that the surgery will take place sometime in the next two weeks and that the recovery process takes approximately three to four months.

The Tigers are 10-10 and 5-5 in the Big 12 conference after a 77-65 win over Colorado on Tuedsay. Mizzou now faces UNLV on Sunday with tip set for 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC. The game is sold out. For more information on Mizzou Basketball, log on to the home of Missouri athletics on the web, www.mutigers.com.