Nuckles Sidelined With Broken Thumb

Quincy Nuckles, Long Beach State’s leading three-point shooter, has been lost for the season after undergoing surgery for a broken left thumb, suffered when he was fouled on a breakaway layup against North Texas.

Nuckles, a senior guard who had seldom played before becoming a starter this season, was fouled intentionally by Charles Washington with 6:07 to play Saturday at the Pyramid and came out, but later reentered the game. An examination later determined that the thumb was broken.

He was averaging 11.7 points and 2.6 rebounds and was 27 for 74 on three-point shots. His probable replacement is freshman David Egans, who is averaging 9.5 points a game.

*

Long Beach State, whose home basketball schedule this season has often been criticized, has upgraded its opposition with contracts to play Saturday games next season at the Pyramid against Pepperdine (Nov. 21), Utah (Dec. 5) and Kansas State (Dec. 12).