Nathan Taphorn leaves game against Indiana, doesn’t return

Northwestern senior Nathan Taphorn left the Wildcats’ game against the Indiana Hoosiers just before halftime and did not return with what appeared to be a lower right leg injury. He was on crutches and had his right ankle heavily wrapped with ice.

Head coach Chris Collins said the 6-foot-7 forward rolled his ankle and the trainers told him “he was a no-go” for the remainder of the game. Taphorn will undergo testing, but Collins doesn’t think it is anything too serious.

The sharpshooter out of Pekin, Illinois, had given Northwestern really solid play in his seven first-half minutes off the bench, knocking down a three and scoring on a layup after a nice drive to the basket.

After Taphorn missed a missed three and a long rebound by Indiana, Josh Newkirk pushed the ball up the floor quickly. Taphorn was back in transition, though, and the Indiana guard traveled. But Taphorn immediately staggered and then went to the floor in some obvious pain, and he needed help getting off the court.

Taphorn is shooting 51.6 percent from the field this season and 45.1 percent from three, a mark that leads the team.