AUBURN AUTHORITY

Antoine Mason 'unlikely,' game-time decision tonight

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Auburn guard Antoine Mason is "most likely" going to miss Friday's game with Coastal Carolina.

AUBURN -- Antoine Mason is unlikely to play in tonight's game against Tulsa and will be a game-time decision, according to a source.

It would mark the third straight game Mason missed due to an ankle sprain he suffered in the Nov. 14 season opener against Milwaukee. The graduate transfer scored 19 points in the 83-73 win.

Mason, the nation's leading returning scorer, was optimistic for a return against Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 21, but was unable to play. He was able to take part in Monday's morning shootaround, according to a source.

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl pegged tonight's game, which is part of the MGM Grand Main Event in Las Vegas, as a possible return Mason, but didn't expect him to be at full strength whenever the 6-foot-1 guard returns.

"When it comes to an ankle sprain, you are never coming back 100 percent. Never," Pearl said. "We will get him to about 80 and then as long as it is strong enough he can play. So he is not going to be as explosive when he first comes back. When he first comes back it will be a 20-minute assignment."

Auburn (2-1) and Tulsa (2-1) will tip at 10 p.m. CT on ESPNU.