Auburn center Anfernee McLemore's surgery for a dislocated ankle, fractured tibia and torn ligaments went "extremely well," according to coach Bruce Pearl, and his recovery time could be on the faster side of the initially expected timetable.

"The surgery went extremely well," Pearl said. "Prior to the surgery the doctors were talking about four to six months (until McLemore returns), and after the surgery we're talking about four months. It went that well."

McLemore suffered his gruesome injury late in the first half of Auburn's game at South Carolina on Saturday and had surgery on Sunday. He was taken off the court on a stretcher and evaluated at a local hospital.

"It was sad in the moment," center Horace Spencer said. "A couple of guys broke out in tears, me being one of them, but I felt like me being a leader of the team I Had to show the guys what we had to do in the second half. We got to come back with a fire and a spark and pick up for Anfernee. Even though we didn't win the game, we showed we had a fight in our heart."

McLemore made 21 starts in 27 games this season and averaged 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, which is tied for 11th nationally.

Pearl said McLemore, who is in Auburn recovering, is expected to be in attendance when the No. 12 Tigers (23-4, 11-3 SEC) host rival Alabama on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network).

"We have eight players available to us," Pearl said, "and it'll be next man up."

James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.