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Auburn guard Antoine Mason will miss Saturday’s game to deal with the death of his father

Auburn Alabama Basketball

Auburn guard Antoine Mason (14) shoots over Alabama’s Levi Randolph during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/AL,com, Vasha Hunt)

AP

Auburn senior guard Antoine Mason will miss Saturday’s game for the Tigers against Texas A&M as he deals with the loss of his father, former NBA forward Anthony Mason.

According to a release from Auburn’s athletics department, Anthony Mason, a 13-year NBA veteran, passed away on Saturday morning from complications after a heart attack suffered last month. The 48-year-old Mason often attended Antoine’s college games and watched as his son became the nation’s second-leading scorer last season at Niagara with an average of 25.6 points per game.

For his final season of college basketball, Mason transferred to Auburn and twice this season he’s flown to New York to be with his ailing father, only to return in time to play. This time, however, Mason won’t be returning for the Texas A&M. The release from Auburn’s athletics department doesn’t specify how much time Mason will miss.

Mason is averaging 15.1 points per game during his senior season with the Tigers as the 6-foot-1 guard is shooting 42 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.