Gonzaga big man Przemek Karnowski had to leave the game and went to the locker room early before halftime after getting poked in the eye by South Carolina’s Chris Silva. 

Even South Carolina coach Frank Martin came out to check on Karnowski on the floor. 

According to CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson, Karnowski told trainers he injured his right eye on the play and was escorted to the locker room with a few minutes left to play in the first half. According to the broadcast, the 7-1, 300-pound senior expects he will be able to return to the game. 

“He got poked in the eye pretty good. They’re checking on him right now. Hopefully they can protect it...we’ll know at the end of the half,” Mark Few said at halftime. 

The game was tied at 31 when Karnowski was poked in the eye with five minutes to play in the first half and then Gonzaga finished the half on 14-5 run. 

Wolfson reported he saw an eye specialist at halftime and then he started the second half, picking up a put-back bucket int he first minutes.