This past Saturday, Auburn’s basketball team narrowly secured their second consecutive SEC road victory of the season, defeating South Carolina.

However, during their thrilling 66-63 victory over the Gamecocks, Auburn’s team might have lost their standout forward, Johni Broome, due to a serious ankle injury.

Midway through the second half, Broome suffered what appeared to be a notable left ankle injury while attempting a layup. He needed assistance from two trainers to leave the court and was unable to continue in the game.

This injury comes at a challenging time for Auburn, as they anticipate climbing to the top of both the AP Top 25 and the YSL News Sports Coaches Poll on Monday, following Tennessee’s loss to No. 8 Florida on Tuesday.

So far this season, the 6-foot-10 Broome has established himself as a frontrunner for the National Player of the Year award, leading Auburn with averages of 18.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. In the SEC, his 11.2 rebounds ranks first and his scoring average ranks second.

Auburn (15-1 overall, 3-0 in SEC) is set to face No. 13 Mississippi State at Neville Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. ET.

Here’s the latest information regarding Broome’s condition:

Johni Broome injury update

Broome appeared to injure his left ankle at the 13:45 mark in the second half while going for a rebound. He was seen holding his ankle as he fell to the floor.

Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman shared footage on X (formerly Twitter), showing Broome limping on his right leg while being escorted off the court by Auburn’s training staff.

Broome did not return for the remainder of Auburn’s victory over South Carolina, finishing the game with six points, hitting 3 of 11 shots, alongside three rebounds and two blocks.

Bruce Pearl on Johni Broome injury

Coach Pearl spoke about Broome’s injury during the postgame press conference, confirming that he has a sprained ankle and will undergo further testing upon returning to campus.

“Johni Broome has a sprained ankle,” Pearl stated. “We’ll go back to Auburn and get both an MRI and X-rays to see if there is anything more serious.”

Johni Broome stats

Entering Saturday’s matchup against South Carolina, Broome was ranked fifth nationally in rebounds per game at 11.2. He also held the fifth spot in the conference for field goal percentage at 56.2%.

Here’s a breakdown of Broome’s stats for the season at Auburn:

• 2024-25: 18.7 points per game, 11.2 rebounds per game, 2.7 blocks per game and 56.2% field goal shooting (29.3% from three-point range)