Auburn has 17 blocks, beats Nicholls State

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Kenny Gabriel and Willy Kouassi had five blocks apiece as Auburn swatted a program-record 17 shots in a 78-57 win over Nicholls State on Friday night. With the 6-foot-8 Gabriel and 6-10 Kouassi leading the way, the Tigers used size to their advantage against the Colonels (1-5), who don't have a player taller than 6-7. The Tigers tied Kentucky -- which blocked 17 shots against Morehead State in 1998 -- for second on the Southeastern Conference's all-time, single-game list and came up one short of the record set by Arkansas against Missouri in 1996. Auburn had recorded 15 blocks twice before, against Jacksonville State in 1998 and against Miami in the 2001 NIT. Varez Ward set a career high with 20 points, tied his career high with eight rebounds and had five assists. Chris Talkington scored 20 for the Colonels and Trevon Lewis added 15 points and 12 rebounds.