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JD Notae scored 27 points and Justin Smith had 16 as No. 8 Arkansas defeated Missouri 70-64 in the SEC tournament quarterfinals Friday night in Nashville, Tenn.

Davonte Davis added 11 points as the second-seeded Razorbacks (22-5) won their 12th consecutive SEC game and advanced to play third-seeded LSU, who defeated sixth seed Ole Miss 76-73 in the quarterfinals, on Saturday.

Xavier Pinson scored 14 points and Dru Smith added 11 to lead the seventh-seeded Tigers (16-9), who are still in a strong position for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Missouri led by one point at halftime, but Davis had a basket and assisted on Justin Smith's layup to start the second half scoring and give Arkansas a 36-33 lead.

Mark Smith made two baskets and Dru Smith hit a 3-pointer as the Tigers took a 44-40 lead.

The Razorbacks scored the next seven points as Missouri went nearly four minutes without scoring.

Pinson ended the drought by making three free throws that tied the score at 47 midway through the half.

The score was tied again at 49 before Justin Smith scored six points and Notae four during an 11-1 run that gave Arkansas breathing room with five minutes remaining.

The Tigers got within three points with 1:49 left, but Notae hit a jumper and the Razorbacks made five free throws in the final minute.

The defenses set the tone in the early going and the score was tied at six after more than five minutes.

Drew Buggs' 3-pointer broke the tie in the Tigers' favor and Dru Smith hit a 3-pointer and a layup that pushed the lead to 23-13 midway through the half.

Notae had nine points during a 16-0 run that gave the Razorbacks a 29-23 lead.

Jeremiah Tilmon's jumper ended a more than five-minute scoring drought for Missouri. He totaled five points during a 10-3 closing run that gave the Tigers a 33-32 halftime lead and finished the game with nine.

--Field Level Media