WATCH: Indiana's Race Thompson Returns From Injury Against Michigan State

Indiana sixth-year forward Race Thompson has been out since suffering a knee injury on Jan. 5 at Iowa, but he returned to action on Sunday against Michigan State.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Race Thompson is back.

After suffering a knee injury on Jan. 5 at Iowa, Race Thompson returned to action on Sunday against Michigan State. Reported as an MCL sprain, the timetable for Thompson's return was expected to be some time in February, but he was clearly ahead of schedule in his recovery.

Thompson received a huge standing ovation from the Assembly Hall crowd on Sunday.

Welcome back, Race Thompson! 👏 #iubb pic.twitter.com/mqyCb4dyNU

— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) January 22, 2023

Thompson has started 76 games and played in 114 total contests across six years at Indiana. In 14 games in 2022-23, the 6-foot-8 Thompson is averaging 8.4 points and 6.1 rebounds. 

In his return from injury on Sunday, Thompson played four minutes and did not attempt a shot. He finished with three fouls and one steal, and coach Mike Woodson was careful to not rush Thompson back with too many minutes. Jordan Geronimo earned another start and scored five points and fouled out in 13 minutes of action. Freshman Malik Reneau played 21 minutes off the bench and also fouled out after scoring six points and five rebounds.

Next up for Indiana is a road trip to Minnesota on Wednesday for a 9 p.m. ET tipoff at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. The Golden Gophers are last in the Big Ten standings with a 7-10 overall record and a 1-6 mark in Big Ten play. Minnesota has lost its last two games to Illinois and Purdue, both at home. The Golden Gophers are also in action on Sunday at Michigan at 1 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.

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