UCI’s Rodenberg sidelined indefinitely due to hernia

UC Irvine junior men’s basketball forward Adam Rodenberg has been sidelined indefinitely with a hernia that may require season-ending surgery.

He will be evaluated by a surgeon in the next several days to see if surgery is required, UCI Coach Pat Douglass said Wednesday.

The 6-foot-7 Rodenberg, a transfer from Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, is averaging 6.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He has started the season’s first six games, scoring a high of 14 points in the season-opening, 74-61 win over Loyola Marymount Nov. 9.

Douglass indicated that 6-7 senior Darren Fells will move into the starting lineup. Fells, suspended the first two games due to personal misconduct, is averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season, shooting 56% from the field.

UCI has also been without sophomore guard Justin Johnson, who did not suit up in three games at the recent Anaheim Classic due to a lower back problem, Douglass said. It is not known when Johnson, a reserve who is scoreless in six minutes this season, will return.

The Anteaters (2-4) play at Utah Saturday at 11 a.m.

— From staff reports