Alex Condon injury update: Florida star leaves Mississippi State game with ankle injury
Florida men’s basketball is without one of its biggest pieces in its road matchup against Mississippi State — metaphorically and literally.
Just 30 seconds into his team’s game against the Bulldogs on Tuesday night, Gators forward Alex Condon left the game with what appeared to be an ankle injury.
No. 3 Florida was already shorthanded entering the contest, with guard Alijah Martin sidelined with a hip injury he suffered last Tuesday in a win against Vanderbilt. Without Martin and Condon, coach Todd Golden’s Gators were down two of their top four scorers. Still, they were able to come out with an 81-68 victory behind 16 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two blocks from forward Thomas Haugh, who came off the bench.
Here’s an injury update on Condon and whether he’s expected to return to the game for Florida:
Alex Condon injury update
On Florida’s opening offensive possession of the night, Condon landed on an opponent’s ankle, had his own ankle turn at an awkward angle and went to the ground in visible pain.
After being tended to by team trainers, he was unable to put weight on his ankle as he was taken off the court and back to the Gators’ locker room.
Condon will not return to Tuesday night's game, a school spokesperson told ESPN.
Condon was diagnosed with a low right ankle sprain, with x-rays coming back negative, according to Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.
In his postgame radio interview, Golden took exception with the play on which Condon was injured, noting that Mississippi State forward RJ Melendez yanked on Condon's jersey.
"It looked like a dirty play on film," Golden said.
Condon has been an instrumental force in Florida’s 20-3 start to the season, which most recently included a 90-81 road victory against then-No. 1 Auburn Saturday, which snapped the Tigers’ 14-game win streak.
The 6-foot-11 sophomore had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the win, while making seven of his 10 shots from the field. For his efforts, he was named SEC Player of the Week on Monday.
Condon is averaging 11 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game — the last two of which are team highs — this season.