Source: Illinois Star Ayo Dosunmu Suffers Broken Nose

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu's return date is unclear after suffering a broken nose in Tuesday's loss to Michigan State.

Patrick Gorski/USA TODAY Sports

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu suffered a broken nose in Tuesday's loss to Michigan State, according to Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde. 

Dosunmu's status for the Fighting Illini's contest against Nebraska on Thursday is uncertain, per Forde. Illinois will then face Wisconsin on Saturday before a battle with fellow Final Four contender Michigan on March 2.

Dosunmu is a National Player of the Year candidate this season. He is averaging 21 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, notching a triple double in two of his last four contests.

Illinois's star was hit in the head by Michigan State forward Mady Sissoko on Tuesday as he drove to the basket. Sissoko was ejected following the play, though he has not been further disciplined by the Big Ten as of Thursday afternoon.

Here are the two plays where Mady Sissoko hit #Illini Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn in the head.

The hit on Kofi was not deemed flagrant and later he made a violent play on Ayo. https://t.co/dEWrhPcSMp pic.twitter.com/qWnprztkxT

— Hoop Informatics (@HoopInformatics) February 24, 2021

Can confirm @_Brian_Hamilton report of a broken nose for Illinois star guard Ayo Dosunmu. Illini play tonight vs. Nebraska; his availability is uncertain. Dirty play by Michigan State's Mady Sissoko, which got him ejected, has further consequences.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) February 25, 2021

Illinois is in the midst of its best season in over a decade as it looks to end a six-year tournament drought. Brad Underwood's team is 16–6 and 12–4 in Big Ten play this season, registering wins over No. 9 Iowa, No. 23 Wisconsin and Duke.