Alabama men’s basketball forward Mohamed Wague has been suspended for one game after he struck Florida’s Alex Condon in the back of the head. The Southeastern Conference announced the suspension Thursday evening.

The NCAA has an automatic suspension rule in place for “an act of fighting.” Wague, a transfer from West Virginia, will miss No. 13 UA’s game against No. 17 Kentucky on Saturday.

“After video review in the conference office, it was determined that Wague committed the fighting act of striking Florida’s Alex Condon in the back of the head with his elbow/forearm with 9:25 remaining to play in the first half of Wednesday’s game,” the SEC said in its statement.

Wague totaled three minutes against the Gators, missing one shot and grabbing a defensive rebound. Alabama overcame a late eight-point deficit to beat Florida, 98-93, in overtime. UA was also without its second-leading 3-point shooter Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (head).

“We received the discipline for Mo from the SEC and agree with the suspension. After reviewing the film, the penalty is understandable and appropriate,” head coach Nate Oats said in a statement.

Wague’s suspension leaves Oats with one fewer scholarship player before facing the Wildcats. UA mainly rotated seven players versus Florida. The 6-foot-10 Wague averaged 4.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and a 66% field goal rate in 10.1 minutes per game.

Wague’s absence will likely yield more playing time to Jarin Stevenson, who started his first game against UF, Nick Pringle, who’s been a spark off the bench but has been suspended twice this season and Mouhamed Dioubate, a freshman and former four-star prospect.

The Tide is 19-7 overall and 11-2 in league play, holding a one-game lead over Tennesse and a two-game advantage over South Carolina and Auburn. When Kentucky suffered an upset loss to LSU, it dropped to three games behind in the loss column.

Alabama and Kentucky tip off at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be aired on CBS at 3 p.m.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].