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Come Fan with UsWednesday, August 5, 2026

Michigan State’s Branden Dawson out 4-5 weeks with broken hand

The Spartan forward suffered the injury after slamming his fist on a table out of frustration while watching game film.

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State forward Branden Dawson will miss the next 4-5 weeks with a broken hand, the team announced on Thursday.

Dawson, who has started 14 games this year for the Spartans, says he sustained the injury after slamming his fist on a table in frustration while watching game film. He was scheduled to have surgery Thursday night.

With an unbeaten Big Ten record on the line Saturday against red-hot Michigan, the loss comes at an inconvenient time for the Spartans. The junior had been averaging nearly a double-double, with 10.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Michigan is also down a starting forward, having lost All-American candidate Mitch McGary in mid-December.

Though the Spartans expect Dawson to be back in time for the stretch run, his is just another big injury to hit a contending team over the last couple weeks. Most notably, Colorado lost leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie to a torn ACL during a loss on Jan. 12. The Buffaloes have lost two of three games since.

Earlier this week, Syracuse announced that big man DaJuan Coleman will miss the remainder of the season with a leg injury that now requires surgery.

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