Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | 1:52 p.m.
BYU basketball player Chris Collinsworth suffered several non-life threatening stab wounds Tuesday night during a mission in Sydney, Australia.
Collinsworth and fellow missionary David Ferguson were attacked by at least three men in Sydney's 'Little Lebanon' section while heading back to their apartment.
Jeff Collinsworth, Chris' father, confirmed the details of the attack. One of the stab wounds was deep in his back, and various other cuts and bruises were treated as he stayed in the hospital overnight. He was released to the mission home Wednesday morning. Ferguson is still hospitalized after surgery was performed to mend stab wounds and lacerations.
Collinsworth, a 6-foot-9 forward from Provo, played for BYU as a freshman last season before taking off for a two-year mission.
He averaged roughly 16 minutes per game, with 3.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg marks for the Cougars, who won the Mountain West regular season title before bowing out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
BYU coach Dave Rose was told of the attack while in Las Vegas this week for MWC media day.
"I have had the opportunity to speak with Chris' family about what happened and share my feelings and concerns for the well-being of both Chris and one of his fellow missionaries," Rose told the Salt Lake Tribune. "It's a very unfortunate situation and my thoughts and prayers are with both families that are dealing with this right now ... Chris is a great young man who is proud to be serving his mission. I am sure he will rise above this and respond in a positive way as he does with everything else in his life."
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