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Iowa forward Owen Freeman will have surgery to address a finger injury on his right hand, ending his season, the school announced Monday.

A sophomore, Freeman was averaging a team-high 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game through 19 games (all starts). He was shooting 63.8 percent from the field and also leads the Hawkeyes in blocks (35).

“After discussions with Owen, his family and our medical staff, surgery is the best course of treatment in terms of proper healing and rehabilitation,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said in a statement. “We expect Owen to make a full recovery. He has the full support of his teammates and coaches during this entire process.”

In 53 games (44 starts) in his two seasons at Iowa, Freeman has averaged 12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.

McCaffery said Freeman recently sustained the injury.

“Obviously, it’s serious enough to have surgery. And he needed it. It’s unfortunate timing – for him and for us,” McCaffery said. “But it’s one of those things where, as we said in the release, the risk of permanent injury was there. And that’s not something we’re going to deviate from. His health and welfare is the most important thing.”

The Hawkeyes (13-8, 4-6 Big Ten) have dropped four of five games and host No. 7 Purdue on Tuesday.

–Field Level Media