Missouri freshman forward Mitchell Smith will miss the rest of the season after injuring the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Wednesday�s loss to LSU.

Smith was injured on the final play of the first half. He appeared to plant his left leg awkwardly while guarding Skylar Mays� drive to the basket and immediately collapsed. He was carried to the locker room.

�He will have surgery soon and begin the rehabilitation process with our medical and training staff,� Coach Kim Anderson said in a statement. �Mitchell has been an absolutely outstanding representative of the Mizzou basketball program this season. He has always brought a tireless work ethic and incredible willingness to learn on a daily basis, and we have no doubt that will continue as he works to recover from this setback. We will support Mitchell the whole way, and I hope all Mizzou fans do the same.�

Smith appeared in 11 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game.

�It�s definitely hard to hear that your season will be cut short, but the support I�ve received from Coach Anderson, our trainer Pat Beckmann, the team doctors and my teammates has been really comforting,� Smith said in the statement. �All of my effort this season will now go towards cheering on my teammates and focusing on getting healthy.�

His injury further depletes a thin frontcourt. The only available scholarship players who are at least 6-foot-7 are Kevin Puryear, Jordan Barnett, Russell Woods and Reed Nikko.

Anderson said Woods played through back spasms Wednesday. Nikko, who has already missed four games this year because of a high ankle sprain, tweaked the same left ankle in the first half against LSU. He was taken to the locker room but returned and played 13 minutes.

This story was first published online on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.