ELLISVILLE – The East Central Community College Warriors outscored the 8th-ranked Jones County Junior College Bobcats 12-2 over the game's final 1:11 and handed JCJC its second straight loss, 78-68, here Monday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
East Central closed the game with a flourish to knock off the Bobcats.
After Zeb Rice hit a 3-pointer with 1:43 left to give JCJC a 64-63 lead, ECCC's Isaiah Taylor tied it at 64-64 with 1:38 to play with a free throw. Taylor then scored with 1:27 left to put ECCC up 66-64.
After JCJC's Rodrigus Palmer scored on a drive to the goal to tie the game at 66-66 with 1:11 remaining, it would be all East Central after that.
Quinton Campbell made two free throws for the Warriors with 57.7 seconds to play to make it 68-66. After a Bobcat miss, Taylor was fouled with 37.1 seconds to play. He converted both free throws to make it 70-66.
The Bobcats then missed two more shots and a jump ball was called after the second miss. The possession arrow favored ECCC.
The Warriors got the ball inbounds to Taylor, who fouled with 19.5 seconds left. Bobcat head coach Rahim Lockhart was then called for his second technical foul of the night and was ejected.
Taylor stepped to the line and made all four foul shots, giving the Warriors a 74-66 lead.
Palmer's slam dunk made it 74-68 with 14.5 seconds to play, but Taylor hit two more foul shots with 12.3 seconds to play. Taylor, who scored 13 of ECCC's final 15 points, ended the scoring with a dunk with 3.2 seconds left.
The Bobcats led for almost the entire first half and took a 30-24 lead at intermission.
JCJC was up 46-42 with 11:22 to play after Palmer scored, but ECCC went on an 8-0 run and led 50-46 with 8:42 to play when Demarkus Jones made a free throw.
East Central was 32-of-48 from the free throw line, while the Bobcats were 16-of-26.
Bryce Jones led JCJC, 14-2 overall and 7-2 in the division, with 25 points and Palmer added 13.
Taylor had 23 for the Warriors, 10-8 overall and 5-4 in the league. Prince McDaniel added 12, Ravion Henry and Campbell had 11 each and Derrick Dandridge finished with 10.
JCJC returns home on Thursday to meet Copiah-Lincoln Community College in MACJC South Division play. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. and the game will air on www.jcjc.tv.
East Central hosts Mississippi Gulf Coast on Thursday.
 
Monday's game
Ellisville
At A.B. Howard Gymnasium
MEN
East Central 78, Jones County 68
EAST CENTRAL (10-8, 5-4) – Isaiah Taylor 23, Prince McDaniel 12, Ravion Henry 11, Quinton Campbell 11, Derrick Dandridge 10, Demarkus Jones 4, Kristin Clark 3, Randy Phillips 3, Monte Bowie 1, Ramone Tate 0, Keon McKinney 0.
JONES COUNTY (14-2, 7-2) – Bryce Jones 25, Rodrigus Palmer 13, Zeb Rice 9, Bryce Perry 7, Christopher White 7, James Williams 4, Otis Harvey 3, Andrew Riley 0, Kendarius Murry 0, Marquis Cunningham 0, Nigel Bradley 0, Albert Goss 0, Bennett Davis 0.
East Central              24 54 – 78
Jones County           30 38 – 68