Auburn standout Johni Broome will not need surgery on his sprained left ankle, as confirmed by the school in a statement released on Sunday.
Broome, who is recognized as the Tigers’ leading scorer, sustained what coach Bruce Pearl described as a “significant sprain” during No. 2 Auburn’s narrow 66-63 victory against South Carolina on Saturday.
The injury occurred when Broome landed awkwardly on the foot of a South Carolina defender while attempting to grab a rebound in the second half. He was seen clutching his ankle and needed assistance from two trainers to reach the locker room.
“Without our player of the year, it’s going to be hard to find offense down there. Johni’s unstoppable when he’s on the court,” Pearl remarked after the Tigers improved to 3-0 in the SEC and 15-1 overall. “We’ll wait for the doctor’s assessment, and we’ll have to step up like we did in the second half. It’s time for the next man to rise to the occasion.”
Dylan Cardwell made a crucial go-ahead dunk to secure the win for the Tigers and is one of the players highlighted by Pearl as a potential replacement for Broome. Other players, including Chaney Johnson, Chris Moore, and Ja’Heim Hudson, are also expected to step up in Broome’s absence.
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