Bruce Pearl: Injured Auburn forward Chris Moore will travel for LSU game

Bruce Pearl: Injured Auburn forward Chris Moore will travel for LSU game

The status of starting small forward Chris Moore remains up in the air for No. 16 Auburn this week, but head coach Bruce Pearl provided a glimmer of hope for the availability of the junior wing.

Moore, who is dealing with a right shoulder injury, will travel with Auburn to Baton Rouge, La., for the team’s matchup with LSU, Pearl said Tuesday. No. 16 Auburn (14-3, 4-1 SEC) will take on LSU (12-5, 1-4) at 6 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN2.

Read more Auburn hoops: Where Auburn basketball stands with 2 months until the NCAA Tournament

Auburn basketball ties school record with 30th consecutive week ranked in AP poll

Wendell Green Jr. is more than No. 21 Auburn’s leading scorer. He’s the Tigers’ closer

Moore was held out of Auburn’s win against Mississippi State over the weekend after injuring his shoulder during the team’s win at Ole Miss last week. The 6-foot-6 junior watched from the bench with his right arm in a sling as Auburn defeated Mississippi State, 69-63, at Neville Arena.

Moore sustained the injury in the opening minutes of Auburn’s game at Ole Miss. He left that game less than three minutes into the first half and clutched his right shoulder as he walked to the bench. He did not return to the game and spent the second half on the bench with his arm in a sling. Moore underwent an MRI last week after the team returned to the Plains, but he did not practice prior to the Mississippi State game.

Prior to missing Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs, Moore started all 16 of the Tigers’ games this season, with 15 starts at small forward and one at power forward. He’s averaging a career-best six points and 2.7 rebounds per game this season in an enhanced role for Auburn.

In his absence against Mississippi State, Allen Flanigan started at the three for Auburn, marking his second start of the year. Auburn has also leaned on walk-on Lior Berman for some minutes off the bench to provide some added depth at small forward.

AL.com will update this post.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.