Florida Guard Tyree Appleby Elbowed in Face, Exits vs. Virginia Tech

Appleby exited the contest in the second half with a forehead laceration.

Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Florida guard Tyree Appleby exited Florida's first-round contest on Friday after taking an elbow to the nose from Virginia Tech forward Keve Aluma.

Appleby left the game and was taken to the locker room with a forehead laceration, per CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson. His return is questionable. 

Florida's Tyree Appleby heads to the locker room after taking a hard elbow to the face.https://t.co/fdqcFS96yg

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 19, 2021

Appleby is Florida's fourth-leading scorer in 2020-21, averaging 11.4 points per game on 36.4 percent from three. He tallied six points and five rebounds before exiting on Friday.

Florida entered the 2021 men's tournament as the No. 7 seed in the South Region, entering the tournament at 14-9. The Gators trailed Virginia Tech 33-27 at the half, though they seized a 64-61 lead in the final seconds. But the Hokies came through in the clutch before time expired. Virginia Tech guard Naheim Alleyne drilled a three with less than a second left, sending the game to overtime after scoring Virginia Tech's last 12 points.

Naheim Alleyne just put the squad on his back. Florida & Virginia Tech are headed to OT pic.twitter.com/zLB9iIAzo2

— Infue (@weareinfue) March 19, 2021

Alleyne enteres overtime leading all scorers with 26 points. Forward Colin Castleton leads the Gators with 14 points.

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