Ian Mahinmi Returns to the Toros

With the Austin Toros suffering through a brutal month of March in which the team played nearly every game on the road and came away with only two wins for their bus-punishing efforts, the team was greeted with good news last week with the San Antonio Spurs’ reassignment of Guard Malik Hairston. Today they were greeted with more good news - the reassignment of center Ian Mahinmi.

Mahinmi has spent much of this season with the Spurs, albeit on the DL. A right ankle injury has nagged him all season and was operated on January 31. Recuperation has been on the long end of the 6 to 10 weeks anticipated but Spurs and Toros fans hope the lengthy rehabilitation will bring Mahinmi back to the team in the sort of condition that got him All-NBA D-League First Team honors last season.

The Toros defeated the lowly Tulsa 66ers last night 131-119 by whipping up 41 points in the first quarter and cruising to victory from then on. The win snaps a three game losing streak and secures the Toros second place in the Southwest Division going into the playoffs with five games left. The Toros can clinch a playoff spot by defeating the Iowa Energy this Saturday night at the Austin Convention Center. Be there.

The Austin Toros host a Basketball Skills Competition at the 2009 Texas Testosterone Festival. More details as they are available.