Cameron Thomas scored 25 points and Javonte Smart had 20 as LSU defeated No. 16 Tennessee 78-65 in an SEC game on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.

Darius Days added 14 points for the Tigers (13-6, 8-4), who strengthened their case for an NCAA Tournament berth and separated from the Volunteers (14-5, 7-5) in a log-jammed battle for second place in the SEC.

Jaden Springer scored 21, Santiago Vescovi scored 13 and Keon Johnson had 10 points to lead Tennessee.

LSU shot 51.9 percent (27 of 52) from the field and Tennessee shot 35.5 percent (22 of 62).

The Tigers played just eight players and had just two points from their bench. The Volunteers had nine points from their bench.

LSU led by five at halftime and saw its advantage shrink to one on two occasions before extending it.

The Volunteers got within four at 50-46 with just under 13 minutes remaining, but the Tigers responded by going on a 9-1 run to take a 59-47 lead with 9:45 left on a basket by Eric Gaines -- the only scoring the Tigers' bench provided all game.

Thomas' jumper seemed to put the Tigers in command with a 68-51 lead with 5:17 remaining.

But Tennessee got within 10 points on two occasions before LSU regained command by making a series of free throws in the final three minutes.

The Tigers finished 17-for-18 at the free-throw line, led by Thomas, who made all 11 of his attempts.

In the first half, Smart and Aundre Hyatt each made a 3-pointer as LSU took an early 12-7 lead.

Vescovi's 3-pointer pulled the Volunteers even at 12 before Smart scored the game's next four points to push the lead to 16-12.

Trendon Watford hit a jumper and a free throw to help the Tigers take a 28-16 lead with just under five minutes left in the half before Tennessee made a push.

Johnson made two 3-pointers during a 10-3 run that cut LSU's lead to 31-26 at halftime as the Tigers scored just three points in the last 4 1/2 minutes of the first half.

--Field Level Media