Antoine Mason returns to practice, still questionable

AUBURN -- After missing the last four games with an ankle sprain, guard Antoine Mason is inching closer to a return to Auburn's starting lineup.

The graduate transfer took part in a non-contact practice on Sunday, his first since injuring his right ankle in the Nov. 14 season opener against Milwaukee.

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said Mason did not have any swelling or soreness but was still "stiff" on Monday morning, and would participate in Monday afternoon's contact practice but his status for Wednesday's game at Texas Tech is still up in the air

"Based on his ability to move, if we were playing today he would not play today," Pearl said. "He was not able to move effectively enough to play but he will practice again today in a contact practice and we'll see how he does. So it's good that he's back out there. Still very questionable for Wednesday."

Mason, the nation's leading returning scorer, scored 19 points in the season opener and was hoping to return on Nov. 21 against Louisiana-Lafayette but ended up unable to play in that and both games in last week's MGM Grand Main Event in Las Vegas.

While Mason did take part in the game day shootarounds, his return to practice was a welcome sight for his teammates.

"We almost forgot about him," guard K.C. Ross-Miller quipped. "But it was good to see him back out there trying to get ready to hopefully play in the next game. ... He gives us another piece."

Mason's absence was particularly noticeable against Oregon State, which Auburn defeated 71-69. The Tigers had a very difficult time moving the ball inside OSU's zone defense without Mason on the court as a penetrator who could also attack the rim.

"Antoine's game is based on explosiveness and power, it's not just based on finesse and skill," Pearl said. "He needs to be more closer to 90 to 100 percent to be effective whereas if it was a finesse player or a skill player he could get away without that explosiveness because that's never been part of his game. For Antoine, that is his game."

As important as it would be to have Mason's driving ability on the floor against Texas Tech (4-1), another team that will play a lot of zone defense, Auburn needs another healthy body in a thin rotation, which was put to the test in both games in Las Vegas.

"More so than having Antoine against man or zone because of his ability to explode and be effective - yes, no question," Pearl said, "but also numbers wise we're susceptible to foul trouble."