Earl Timberlake injured but returned to play for Bryant

Earl Timberlake, a star player for Bryant, was injured during an NCAA Tournament game against Michigan State on Friday night. While trying to grab a rebound, he got hit in the head by Michigan State's Carson Cooper. This caused a serious cut, and Timberlake ended up with blood all over his face. Phil Martelli Jr., Bryant’s head coach, did not see the accident happen. He was prepared for a team huddle when he heard calls for help. The game was paused as officials reviewed the foul and personnel cleaned up the blood from the court. Despite the injury, Timberlake quickly returned to the game, bandaged but ready to play again. Timberlake scored 14 points during the game, including eight in the first half. His performance helped keep Bryant competitive for much of the game. However, without him for a brief period, Michigan State gained the lead and ultimately won 87-62. Timberlake reflected on his journey back to basketball, mentioning he was in a dark place before coming to Bryant. He expressed gratitude to his coaches for helping him rediscover his passion for the sport. Even with the injury, Timberlake was determined to support his team, stating that he wanted to be there for his teammates "bloody or not." Coach Martelli believes Timberlake's injury and bravery deserve to be featured in the tournament's iconic highlight reel, "One Shining Moment." He commented, “If him walking off the floor covered in blood isn’t a ‘One Shining Moment’ clip, I don’t know what is.”