After scoring 16 points in Auburn men’s basketball’s road win over Alabama, senior guard Denver Jones was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week.

In two games last week, Jones averaged 18.5 points and had 21 in Auburn’s 80-68 win over Vanderbilt. The performances came after Jones struggled in Auburn’s loss to Florida, scoring just two points and not making a shot from the field.

“I just loved it for Denver,” Bruce Pearl said after the Vanderbilt win. “Steven Pearl and Denver had some time together and Steven said, ‘Look, you are a scorer that we have playing point guard. Go score. That’s what you do. You don’t have to be a great passer, be a solid passer, but score the ball.’ And he did.”

After the Alabama game, Pearl was even more complimentary of Jones, this time for his defense. Jones held star Alabama guard Mark Sears to 4-for-17 shooting from the field, helping the Tigers stifle a red-hot Crimson Tide offense.

“How do you stay in front of Mark Sears? Hardly anybody can. Denver Jones did, and nobody talked about it,” Pearl said postgame. “He’s one of the best defensive players in college basketball. He needs to be on the Naismith All-Defensive team.”

Jones still added 16 points, including three 3-pointers to start the second half, allowing Auburn to take control of the game. He now averages 10.7 points per game and leads Auburn (among players with 10 or more attempts) in 3-point percentage at 44.5%.

Auburn will be back at home for two more SEC games this week, facing Arkansas Wednesday night and Georgia Saturday afternoon. Wednesday’s game against the Razorbacks is set to tip off at 8 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m