Gators’ Micah Handlogten suffers fractured leg in SEC final

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Florida center Micah Handlogten fractured his lower left leg in the opening minutes of the Southeastern Conference tournament final Sunday and was taken off the court on a stretcher.

Handlogten, a 7-foot-1 sophomore, had two rebounds in two minutes and was trying to come down with a third when he landed awkwardly on his left foot with 17:46 remaining in the first half. He immediately went down in pain and rolled onto his side, putting his hands to his face.

The sound of bone apparently breaking could be heard on TV with blood immediately visible on the back of his calf.

Play continued as Aden Holloway took a pass and finished a layup on the other end for No. 12 Auburn, who pulled away in the second half for a 86-67 victory. Play then stopped as trainers rushed out to tend to Handlogten, and everyone inside Bridgestone Arena went silent.

Handlogten’s parents were brought to the court from their seats in the stands. His mother, Danielle, wearing his No. 3 jersey, kneeled near his head as her son was treated on the court with his father, Ben, close as well.

Handlogten’s leg was placed inside an air cast before he was placed on a backboard, then lifted onto a stretcher. Teammates came over to him as Handlogten was taken off the court. Fellow sophomore Riley Kugel could be seen crying on the Florida bench.

Handlogten was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for tests, and Florida coach Todd Golden confirmed the fracture to ESPN’s Marty Smith at halftime of Sunday’s game.

Handlogten averaged 5.5 points and was fifth in the SEC with 7.1 rebounds per game during the regular season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.