AUBURN, Ala. – Walker Kessler set Auburn's season record for blocked shots and the Tigers' point guards combined for 29 points Wednesday to lead No. 3 Auburn to a 77-64 victory over Ole Miss to sweep the season series.
The Tigers (25-3, 13-2) improved to 15-0 at Auburn Arena and maintained their one-game lead over Kentucky in the race for the Southeastern Conference championship with three games remaining.
"I thought Wendell [Green Jr.] and Zep [Jasper] were terrific tonight," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "We're best when everybody contributes. We got 30 off the bench tonight. Our bench was terrific."
Needing three blocks to tie Kyle Davis' season record of 126 in 2002-03, Kessler blocked five in the first half and finished with eight to bring his total to 131.
Kessler came within two blocks of his third triple-double of the season, scoring 12 points and adding 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season.
"It's crazy the impact he has," Pearl said. "The rest of the way we need that from Walker. I told him after the game, 'I want more.' Walker's the best shot blocker I've ever coached."
Zep Jasper made 4 of 5 3-pointers and scored a season-high 15 points and Wendell Green Jr. added 14.
"The first half I felt it," Jasper said. "I thought I could get it going tonight. My shot was falling."
"Zep shot it really well," Pearl said. "He's such an unselfish kid. I had to encourage him to be a little more aggressive. It was really encouraging to see. Zep made the plays."
Jabari Smith came within one rebound of a double-double, tying Jasper for the scoring lead with 15 points while adding nine rebounds and a team-high five assists.
Ole Miss (13-15, 4-11) scored the first nine points of the second half to pull within three but Smith stopped the run with a pair of free throws before Kessler's post-up dunk restored Auburn's lead to 47-40.
Devan Cambridge followed a missed jumper with a thunderous left-handed putback dunk, generating the loudest ovation of the night until walk-on Chandler Leopard's 3-pointer in the final minute accounted for Auburn's final points.
Jasper hit back-to-back 3-pointers down the stretch, giving Auburn its biggest lead of 16 points.
"It's not a surprise to me when he makes shots," Green said of his fellow point guard. "We want to turn it on at the right time. This is us. A slump doesn't define us. Hopefully we can keep it going into March."
Green and Jasper made their first five 3-point attempts to help the Tigers take a 43-31 halftime lead.
"He and Zep both stepped up to the challenge in a big way," Pearl said.
Green's 3-point barrage came early, putting the Tigers on top 15-11. Jasper's second 3 increased Auburn's lead to 30-21.
"Felt good about my shot," Green said. "Getting my confidence back. We've been working all week. Once we hit our shots, that's what our offense looks like."
Green scored on a pick-and-roll with 3 seconds remaining to give Auburn a 12-point lead at the half. He led the Tigers in the half with 11 points.
Auburn travels to Tennessee Saturday to play the Volunteers at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN.
"We've got a long way to go to play better," Pearl said. "The good news is we know there's room to get better. We're going to have step up pretty significantly. I think we're through the grind. It's time for a second wind."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
