Trendon Watford scored 24 points and Darius Days had a double-double as LSU defeated Ole Miss 76-73 in the SEC tournament quarterfinals Friday night in Nashville, Tenn.

The third-seeded Tigers (17-8) advanced to face No. 8 Arkansas game in the semifinals Saturday.

Days had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Cameron Thomas scored 18 points and Javonte Smart added 10.

Jarkel Joiner had 26 points, Romello White had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Luis Rodriguez scored 10 points to lead the sixth-seeded Rebels (16-11), who had won their last three and eight of their last 10.

LSU led by two after a low-scoring first half and got its offense going inside and outside to start the second half.

Days made two layups, Smart hit a 3-pointer, Thomas had a jumper and Watford a layup during an 11-2 run that gave the Tigers a 40-29 lead.

Then the Rebels offense came to life.

Joiner made four 3-pointers and scored 16 points during a 22-6 run that gave Ole Miss a 51-46 lead.

Thomas scored five straight points to put LSU back on top, 56-55.

The score was tied at 56 and 58 before the Tigers scored seven straight.

KJ Buffen made two free throws to end the Rebels' 3 1/2-minute scoring drought, and White's layup ended their 4 1/2-minute field-goal drought.

Devontae Shuler's 3-pointer pulled the Rebels within 69-68 with 1:17 left, but Days answered with a 3-pointer and Watford added a put-back.

Joiner's 3-pointer pulled Ole Miss within 74-71 with 21 seconds left, but Thomas hit two free throws.

Watford had two baskets during a 9-0 run that gave LSU a 16-11 lead.

Sammy Hunter's layup stopped the run, but Watford's jumper gave the Tigers a 20-13 lead.

Two baskets by White and one by Joiner pulled the Rebels within 22-21.

They got within one point on three other occasions before LSU took a 29-27 lead at the end of the half.

--Field Level Media