Out a while

AUBURN | Auburn junior guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen will be out for an extended time and possibly the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder separation during Saturday’s 85-61 loss at Xavier.

It’s his third separation of his right shoulder in the last couple of months. Shamsid-Deen underwent surgeries on both shoulders earlier this year after a series of separations at the end of last season.

“It’s really a difficult time for our program because one of our leaders, our point guard, playmaker, our best defensive guard and just a really good person is down,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “Your heart goes out to him for all he has gone through to try to get himself back and to be absent so early in the season.”

Shamsid-Deen is expected to be examined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who will determine if another surgery is necessary.

“I know that this time around we are going to make sure Dr. Andrews takes a good, hard look at it,” Pearl said. “They are going to a MRI and see where it is at. It is obviously coming out way to easily. He is probably going to be out for a while and may require surgery.”

Auburn (5-3) is in Honolulu, Hawaii this week for the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. The Tigers will play New Mexico Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU. The eight-team tournament, which will conclude with the championship game Dec. 25, includes BYU, Harvard, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Washington State and Northern Iowa.