Tennessee small forward Josiah-Jordan James is out for the Vols’ Saturday evening matchup against Missouri, a Tennessee spokesperson confirmed to RTI.
James exited Tennessee’s loss at Vanderbilt in the final minute after suffering a left ankle injury. That injury proved to be an ankle sprain and made the senior day-to-day as the Vols continue through their February SEC schedule.
Lower body injuries have plagued James this season as the senior missed eight games early in the season with a left knee injury that limited him throughout the preseason and into the season’s first two months.
More From RTI: Tennessee Preparing To Face A Much Different Missouri Team
James hadn’t played more than three consecutive games in the first two months of the season as the Vols struggled to limit the knee pain as he played consistently on it. After returning against Mississippi State, James said he was taking new medicine and changing the treatment for the knee.
It proved beneficial as James had played in 10 consecutive games before missing Saturday night’s matchup with Missouri.
James is averaging 9.5 points per game on 38% shooting from the field and 30% shooting from three-point range. The Charleston native has struggled from the perimeter as late, shooting two-of-24 from three-point range in his last five games.
Tip-off between the Vols and Tigers is at 6 p.m. ET Saturday night. Kevin Fitzgerald and Perry Clark are on the call for the SEC Network.
