ELLISVILLE – The 10^th-ranked Jones County Junior College Bobcats had a battle vs. Hinds Community College.
But the defense pulled them through.
JCJC held Hinds without a field goal for almost six minutes down the stretch and beat the Bulldogs 64-54 here Monday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
The Bobcats were down 47-43, but outscored Hinds 21-7 over the game's final 9:07.
The victory improves the Bobcats to 14-0 overall and 7-0 in the MACJC South Division. Jones has won 22 straight contests going back to last year's NJCAA Division I championship run.
Rodrigus Palmer drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key extended to give JCJC the lead for good at 50-49 with 8:25 remaining. Bryce Jones then followed with another 3-pointer from the left wing at 7:52 and Christopher White capped the 8-0 run with an inside basket at 5:49 to give JCJC a 55-49 lead.
A Jones' basket made it 57-50 at the 3:57 mark. Hinds' Clayton Tate scored inside with 3:37 left to make it 57-52. That was the only shot from the floor the Bulldogs made in the game's final 9:17.
Jones then scored at 3:22 and Marquis Cunningham followed with a 5-footer with 2:00 left to make it 61-52. After two free throws by Hinds' DeAndre Bolton at 1:44 made it 61-54, Otis Harvey made a 3-pointer with just 15 seconds to play to give the Bobcats their longest lead at the end of the game.
JCJC led 10-2 early, but Hinds battled back to within 26-25 at halftime.
The Bobcats took a 36-33 lead with 14:11 left when Bryce Perry made two free throws. However, Hinds rallied and took a 47-43 lead with 9:17 remaining when Ry'Yale Brown made a 15-footer.
But the Bobcats took control down the stretch.
JCJC made 10 3-pointers – five in each half. Hinds had four 3-pointers in the first half and none in the second half.
Jones was the only Bobcat in double figures with 19 points. Harvey and White added nine points each.
Kaleb Williams had 12 points and Kourey Davis added 11 for the Bulldogs, 8-8 overall and 3-4 in league play.
The Bobcats open the second half of division play on Thursday at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m.
Hinds travels to Copiah-Lincoln on Thursday.

Monday's game
At Ellisville
A.B. Howard Gymnasium
MEN   
Jones County 64, Hinds 54
HINDS (8-8, 3-4) – Kaleb Williams 12, Kourey Davis 11, Clayton Tate 9, Ry'Yale Brown 8, DeAndre Bolton 6, LaDarrius Drain 4, Corey McLaurin 2, Edward Walker 2, Victory Price 0.
JONES COUNTY (14-0, 7-0) – Bryce Jones 19, Otis Harvey 9, Christopher White 9, Rodrigus Palmer 8, Marquis Cunningham 6, Bryce Perry 5, Nigel Bradley 3, Zeb Rice 3, Andrew Riley 2, Kendarius Murry 0, Albert Goss 0, Bennett Davis 0.
Hinds                         25 29 – 54
Jones County            26 38 – 64