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Wichita State's Anton Grady 'in good spirits' after collapsing vs. Alabama

Rick Osentoski / USA TODAY Sports

Though they lost to Alabama, Wichita State Shockers received some good news Friday night regarding the status of redshirt senior Anton Grady.

The school announced that Grady was "alert, responsive, and in overall good spirits and had feeling in his extremities" after suffering what the team called a "spinal concussion" against the Crimson Tide.

Spinal concussions are a temporary injury to the spinal cord, caused by the neck bending or twisting sharply, explains The Wichita Eagle's Paul Suellentrop. Recovery is expected within 24 hours.

"Anton is alert, awake and talking," Shockers head coach Gregg Marshall told reporters after the game. "He said he has feelings in his extremities, but can’t move."

In the closing minutes of the game, Grady was involved in a collision when he turned to run up the court and his chin struck an opposing player, causing his neck to twist. He slowly lost his balance after several steps and stumbled to the ground motionless.

Grady lay face down for several minutes while being attended to by medical staff. He was eventually loaded onto a stretcher and taken to a nearby trauma center for tests.

Despite upsetting the Shockers 64-60, Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said Grady's health, not the score, was the focal point.

"I did hear what hospital he's going to, so I'm going to be on standby and see whenever I can go and visit, if they would allow any visitors," Johnson said.

More information on his diagnosis is expected to be revealed Saturday.

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