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Auburn’s leading shot-blocker suffers devastating ankle injury

Kentucky v Auburn

AUBURN, AL - FEBRUARY 14: Anfernee McLemore #24 of the Auburn Tigers reacts against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half of a game at Auburn Arena on February 14, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

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Things went from bad to worse for No. 10 Auburn in a hurry.

The Tigers currently trail South Carolina 46-25 at the half in Columbia. The deficit is not impossible to overcome -- right, Michigan State? -- but it will be very hard to do without their leading shot-blocker and best frontcourt defender.

With a minute left in the first half, Anfernee McLemore suffered a devastating left ankle injury that will almost assuredly end his season. Think Gordon Hayward. Video of the injury can be seen below. Be warned: It’s graphic, and McLemore can clearly be heard screaming in pain:

McLemore is one of just three players in Auburn’s rotation over 6-foot-7. He’s also Auburn’s leading shot-blockers at 2.7 per game and second-leading rebounder despite averaging fewer than 20 minutes. Without him available, Chuma Okeke and Horace Spencer are going to be asked to carry the entire load up front for a team whose biggest question mark was already their complete lack of size and depth up front.

This is a brutal blow for a team that has gone from an SEC afterthought to a projected No. 1 seed.

McLemore was taken off the floor on a stretcher.