ELLISVILLE – The Jones County Junior College Bobcats opened MACJC South Division play with a hard-fought, 70-62 victory over Mississippi Gulf Coast Community here Thursday night at A.B. Howard Gymasium.
MGCCC led 12-9 midway through the first half and the game was knotted 30-30 at halftime.
JCJC came out and took a 44-37 lead with around 12 minutes left to play and was up 66-55 with just over two minutes remaining.
But the Bulldogs came back and pulled within 67-62 with just over one minute to go. However, the defending national champions held on for the win and upped their record to 7-0 overall, 1-0 in division play.
Bryce Jones led the Bobcats with 17 points, while Otis Harvey added 15 and Rodrigus Palmer had 13.
Anfernee Hampton paced the Bulldogs, 3-5 overall and 0-1 in the division, with 22 points. Denarius Odell added 11.
The Bobcats will conclude play for the 2014 portion of the season when they travel to Decatur on Monday to battle East Central Community College. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. at the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.
MGCCC entertains Meridian on Monday.
 
Thursday's game
Ellisville
A.B. Howard Gymnasium
MEN
Jones County 70, Mississippi Gulf Coast 62
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST (3-5, 0-1) – Anfernee Hampton 22, Denarius Odell 11, Justin Coleman 7, Maurice Stephens 7, Jamarri Johnson 6, Austinn Jones 6, Micheal Lewis 2, Jalil Francois 1, Charles Smith 0.
JONES COUNTY (7-0, 1-0) – Bryce Jones 17, Otis Harvey 15, Rodrigus Palmer 13, Bryce Perry 9, Marquis Cunningham 6, Christopher White 4, Andrew Riley 3, Bennett Davis 2, Zeb Rice 1, Albert Goss 0, Andre'co Calender 0.
Halftime: 30-30.