After suffering an injury in the victory against Kentucky on Saturday, Denver Jones went through warmups for Auburn before the Tigers took on Texas A&M on Tuesday night in College Station, hoping to be able to return against the Aggies.

Unfortunately, the guard didn't feel healthy enough to play. Bruce Pearl's squad definitely needed him.

"We really, really missed his defense and missed his leadership," Pearl said. "He couldn't go. I mean, it wasn't like we were saving him. If he could have played, he was going to play. He was a game-time decision, and I was hoping that he could play through the pain."

Jones' absence was most evident when the Tigers tried to guard Wade Taylor IV, someone the New Market, Ala., native had helped shut down in last season's matchup against the Aggies. Taylor didn't go off, scoring 16 points, but did come through with some clutch baskets when the A&M needed them to stave off an Auburn run.

"I feel like he's the best defensive guard in our league," Pearl said of Jones. "If you look at last year, A&M had 22 points at halftime at our place. Wade Taylor struggled to score. Denver is the best 1-on-1 cover guy we've got. Obviously, missing Denver was a factor. And then you let those guys get downhill, and then they rotate, and they rebound on the backside — it just plays right into their hand."

After diagnosing Jones' injury as a bone bruise on Saturday in Lexington, Pearl called it a soft-tissue issue on Tuesday night, saying it was painful. With Alabama and its slew of guards coming into Neville Arena on Saturday in the final game of the regular season, Auburn is hopeful that Jones can heal up in time for him to make a difference against the rival Crimson Tide.

"He just didn't feel like he could push off the floor," Pearl said. "I hope he gets to feeling better."