Darius Days and Javonte Smart scored 18 points each as visiting LSU held off South Carolina in an SEC game Saturday night in Columbia, S.C.

Days needed just eight shots from the field, making four 3-pointers, and also had nine rebounds. Trendon Watford added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Skylar Mays scored 13 for the Tigers (19-8, 10-4), who had lost four of their previous five games following a 10-game win streak.

Redshirt freshman Aundre Hyatt made his first career start in place of Emmitt Williams as coach Will Wade shook up his starting lineup. Williams had eight points and Hyatt three.

LSU remained in a second-place tie with Auburn, two games behind SEC-leading Kentucky.

Keyshawn Bryant led the Gamecocks (16-11, 8-6) with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jair Bolden and Jermaine Couisnard also scored 15 each. A.J. Lawson had 13 and Maik Kotsar 10.

Watford started the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer that gave LSU a 47-37 lead.

South Carolina got within four, but 3-pointers by Hyatt, Charles Manning Jr. and Smart increased the Tigers' lead to 60-46. Smart made another 3-pointer as LSU pushed the lead to 65-49 with 12 minutes remaining.

The Tigers led by 16 on two more occasions before taking their biggest lead when Watford's layup pushed the advantage to 77-58 with five minutes left. The Gamecocks got within 80-75 before LSU made three free throws, then within four but could get no closer.

Early on, the score was tied four times, and the third lead change took place when LSU edged in front at 19-17. That was part of a 9-0 run that ended on Days' 3-pointer, putting the lead at 24-17.

South Carolina went on a 7-0 run to tie the score before the Tigers had their own 7-0 run.

Mays made two free throws to give LSU its biggest lead of the half at 39-29, capping an 8-0 run.

The Gamecocks scored eight straight points, but Mays hit and a 3-pointer and a made a steal and dunk to give LSU a 44-37 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media