Jackets' Oliver to have thumb surgery

Published Feb. 8, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Georgia Tech forward Brian Oliver, the team's third-leading scorer, will have surgery for a broken left thumb and is expected to miss three weeks.

The loss of Oliver, announced by the team on Tuesday, will make it more difficult for the Yellow Jackets to improve their record in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Yellow Jackets are 10-12 overall and 3-6 in the ACC.

Oliver, a sophomore, suffered a small fracture at the base of the thumb in Saturday's loss to Clemson.

Oliver is averaging 10.9 points and 4.5 rebounds while starting in 12 the team's 22 games.

Georgia Tech plays Florida State at home on Thursday.