COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Sophomore point guard Pe'Shon Howard will be out for the remainder of the 2011-12 basketball season, head coach Mark Turgeon announced Friday.

Howard tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during practice on Thursday. Final reports of medical tests and a prognosis were not available until during Friday afternoon’s practice. Howard also tore some cartilage in the knee.

"We're heartbroken for Pe'Shon," said Turgeon. "He's done everything we've asked of him this season and he was playing very well. Obviously it's been a tough year for him, but he's a great kid."

Howard was averaging 6.5 points per game and had a team-high 52 assists despite missing the first nine games of the season, when he was recovering from a broken bone in his foot.

Maryland's sports medicine staff anticipates surgery to be scheduled within the next couple weeks. Howard is expected to return next season.

Maryland Release