Bryce Officially Out For Today's Game At Clemson

The senior wing has been in concussion protocol since being injured in a pregame shootaround last Sunday

CLEMSON, S.C. -- NC State has announced that C.J. Bryce will miss today's game at ACC rival Clemson.

The senior wing, who leads the Wolfpack in both scoring and rebounding, has been in concussion protocol since the team's pregame shootaround before last Sunday's win against Appalachian State.

C.J. Bryce will not play in today’s game at Clemson.

— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) January 4, 2020

According to coach Kevin Keatts, Bryce was injured when he took an accidental shot to the head from teammate Manny Bates.

"It's the weirdest thing," Keatts said. "We were in shootaround and our shootarounds are nothing like they used to be. We go 45 minutes, a lot of shooting and going over stuff.

"It was the last play. We were anticipating they might run a 1-2-2 press against us and we' were going over our press breaker. Somehow they broke the press and Manny gets a dunk. Somehow C.J.'s right there challenging it and (Bates) hit him with his hand right up in here (point to his chin). He was a little bit woozy and we wanted to make sure he was okay."

Bryce is averaging 16.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. He is also tied for the team lead with 21 steals.

His absence will leave the Wolfpack with only eight available scholarship players, the same as last week's 72-60 win against App State. In addition, State will be without walkon guard Chase Graham, who wearing a walking boot and not participating in pregame warmups at Littlejohn Coliseum.