National player of the year front-runner Johni Broome exited Tuesday night’s home win over Georgia State early with an injury during a rebound attempt at the 17:42 mark of the first half.
The All-American center got his right arm tangled up with Georgia State’s Nick McMullen in the effort to collect his first rebound of the night and immediately ran into the locker room for further evaluation.
“Obviously his right shoulder kind of came out, came right back. He did it a year ago, so he's had some experience with it. We'll take a look at it tomorrow and tell you more,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said following the game.
Broome returned to the bench later in the first half, sitting at the end in a light-blue hoodie with ice wrapped around his shoulder.
During a reevaluation at the half Broome was ruled out for the rest of Tuesday night’s contest, per a team spokesman. Broome then made his way back to the bench during the first timeout of the second half with his right arm in a sling.
Combined with Dylan Cardwell’s second personal foul just under two minutes following Broome’s injury, Bruce Pearl and the Tigers were put in a unique spot in terms of who would play the majority of the minutes at center.
Ja'heim ‘Turtle’ Hudson saw eight minutes of first half action but also picked up two personal fouls causing Pearl to put Cardwell back on the floor.
Cardwell’s third foul, committed at the 7:03 mark, saw Chaney Johnson become the Tigers’ newest center. Johnson immediately scored back-to-back possessions and ended the first half with 13 points, shooting 6-for-8, along with six rebounds and four assists.
Johnson would end the game with a career-high 26 points, shooting 12-of-14 from the field with eight rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes of action.
“Again, we'll know more tomorrow. But if you wouldn't be available, I'm sure Chaney Johnson would be moving in, because Chaney could be starting this year very easily,” Pearl said of a potential plan if Broome isn't available against Purdue on Saturday.
Neither Cardwell or Hudson committed a personal foul the rest of the way and finished with a combined 10 points.
“Chaney Johnson, he delivers a great example of staying right there,” Pearl said. “He was ready. And I thought Ja'heim also did a good job of just feeling it. plays 16 minutes, or whatever he plays and doesn't have a turnover.”
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Patrick is a junior from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @patrickabingham
