Jace Tavita exuded relief.
The Hawaii senior point guard still seems likely to play in Thursday’s Big West regular-season finale at Cal State Northridge after minor surgery to repair a dislocated left (non-shooting) pinkie finger went well on Tuesday morning.
He played the final minutes with it out of alignment in Saturday’s 64-61 senior night loss to Cal Poly, during which time he hit two 3-pointers to help UH cut a 13-point deficit to three. Tavita wasn’t sure how it happened in the flow of the game.
"After the senior night stuff, when I went back to the training room, the docs were looking at it and fiddling with it," Tavita said. "I was just worried, like ‘man, I hope that’s not the last time I play college basketball.’ So I’m just grateful that everything’s all right."
Tavita sat out Tuesday afternoon’s team practice with the finger heavily wrapped.
"It was about 15 to 30 minutes, I was knocked out. It was good, a good procedure," said Tavita, the conference assists leader at 5.6 per game. "It got real stiff over the weekend, so I couldn’t really move it. I couldn’t curl my hand up or anything. They just went in and took some of the tissue out, got my finger more straight. …Feeling a little better, but we’ll see.
"I only got two more guaranteed games, so might as well play."
Tavita said he hopes to partake in some dribbling and shooting today once the team arrives in Los Angeles from its red-eye flight.
UH coach Gib Arnold said Tavita was "probable" for the game against the Matadors (13-17, 4-13). However, doctors told the coach Tavita would not be cleared for full contact through today.
"Kind of see how it goes," Arnold said. "Maybe mostly looking for infection or anything like that. But if he’s not infected, he’s probable for Thursday night. That’ll be a game-time decision on how it’s feeling."
If Tavita is unable to go, his probable replacement in the starting lineup is junior Garrett Jefferson. Junior shooting guard Brandon Spearman is still not close to a return from his sprained left ankle.
Fifth-place UH (17-12, 10-7 Big West) can finish anywhere from third to sixth going into the conference tournament, depending on the outcome of Thursday’s game as well as finishes by Pacific, UC Irvine, Cal Poly and UC Davis.
Northridge is playing its last game of the season; it is out of contention for the conference tournament.
