Pat Beckmann Associate Director of Sports Medicine (L) and Missouri Tigers head basketball coach Mike Anderson stand over Justin Stafford after Stafford injured his knee in the first half against the Colorado Buffalos at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri on February 24, 2010. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Missouri junior forward Justin Safford torn his left ACL and while head coach Mike Anderson says it will be evaluated in the next week, it’s possible Safford could be gone for the rest of this season.

The injury happened just seven minutes into the game. Safford made a layup and fell as he came down to the floor and was holding his left knee. I happened to be along the baseline when it happened and Safford couldn’t put any weight on the knee and I could tell from his face that he was in a lot of pain. I feared it may be serious. So, the Tigers are leaving open the possibility he could return, but he will eventually need surgery.

Safford scored 8 of Missouri’s first 15 points at the time of the injury and was their leading scorer for most of the first half.  The junior from Bloomington, IL was averging about 8 ppg.