Will Alabama basketball's Noah Clowney be available for Auburn after injury in Florida win?

Alabama basketball starter Noah Clowney has a facial injury but does not have a concussion, coach Nate Oats said after the Florida game.

Oats expects Clowney to be available on Saturday against Auburn.

"We're assuming he will be good to go Saturday," Oats said. "They told me it was a facial injury."

Clowney, a starter at forward, had to leave the court in the second half with help from a trainer. He went straight to the locker room and did not return as No. 3 Alabama went on to beat Florida 97-69 at Coleman Coliseum.

Clowney scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds over 16:46 minutes of play for the Crimson Tide (21-3, 11-0 SEC).

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Clowney has been averaging 10 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this season. He entered Wednesday third on the team in minutes (25.4 per game) behind only Brandon Miller and Mark Sears.

Why didn't Noah Gurley play vs. Florida?

Meanwhile, another Noah, Noah Gurley, did not play in the game. Oats explained it was for matchup reasons.

"They played four guards," Oats said. "We started with the same lineup. Once we moved Clowney to the five (position), Clowney, Charles or Pringle at the five, which is why Noah Gurley didn't play tonight. He's doing fine, and he's not a guard. So he would be our fourth center. So once we got away from the starting group in both halves, we pretty much went four guards out there and played either Brandon or Dom Welch at the four. We felt like that was better matchups with what they had on the floor."

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Will Alabama basketball's Noah Clowney be available for Auburn game?