Tennessee's standout freshman, Nate Ament, faced a tough moment in the Vols' clash with Alabama, exiting the game due to a lower body injury. The incident occurred when Ament was hustling for a loose ball, only to have an Alabama player inadvertently fall on his right leg, causing it to bend awkwardly.
Despite the scare, Ament managed to walk off the court under his own power, heading straight to the Tennessee locker room. Not long after, he reappeared in the tunnel, testing his leg with tentative small jumps.
The injury struck with 7:42 left in the first half, as Tennessee held a 20-16 lead over the Crimson Tide. Ament had a challenging start offensively, missing his first four shots, including an open layup. However, he did contribute by snagging three rebounds in just eight minutes of play.
In a surprising move, Ament returned to start the second half but only lasted a little over two minutes before leaving the game again. According to a UT spokesperson, he is doubtful to return. During his brief second-half stint, Ament managed to score once.
Ament has been a key player for Tennessee this season, ranking as the team's second-leading scorer with an average of 17.9 points per game. His shooting percentages stand at 41.7% from the field and 32.8% from beyond the arc. Ament also leads the team with 6.5 rebounds and adds 2.5 assists per game.
Standing at 6-foot-10, Ament has elevated his performance in SEC play, boasting averages of 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He was instrumental in Tennessee's previous victory over Alabama, where he racked up 29 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in a 79-73 win.