MERIDIAN – Bruce Stevens slammed home a dunk with 1:39 left to break an 85-85 tie and lift Jones County to an 87-85 victory over Meridian Community College here Tuesday night at Graham Gymnasium.
The Eagles had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but Devin Paicley-Smith missed a shot on a drive to the goal.
It was a hotly contested contest throughout with the Eagles leading by as many as 13 points in the first half.
Rickey Holden's free throw pulled JCJC within 24-21 with 8:24 left in the first half.
Meridian then went on a 15-5 run and took a 39-26 lead with 2:34 remaining when Paicley-Smith hit a 3-pointer from the right corner.
The Bobcats battled back and Holden's 3-pointer with 12 seconds left trimmed the lead to 44-35 going into halftime.
JCJC continued the rally and took its first lead of the game at 51-49 with 14:39 left on a Maurice Dunlap 3-pointer. They stretched the lead to 67-59 with 10:12 remaining on a Tristin Walley free throw.
A Stevens' basket with 7:02 left put the Bobcats up 75-67. But the Eagles came back and tied the game at 77-77 with 5:13 remaining on two Paicley-Smith free throws.
JCJC would later take an 85-82 lead with 2:16 left on two Stevens' free throws.
But Frankie Collins hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 85-85 with 2:07 to play.
The Bobcats would then score the game-winner on its next possession. They milked the shot clock down to two seconds and Dunlap dished to Stevens for the dunk.
The Eagles had a couple of chances to tie, but could not connect.
JCJC's Christian Robertson grabbed an Eagle miss and was fouled with 23 seconds left. He missed both shots and Meridian got the rebound.
After each team called time out with 12.4 seconds to play, the Eagles set up for the final play.
Paicley-Smith had a chance for the tie, but he missed on a drive to the basket as time expired.
Stevens had another solid game for the Bobcats with 32 points, including 26 in the second half, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots. Dunlap added 19, Holden had 17 and Walley added 10. Walley also had four assists and Andrew Riley had four steals. 
Ken'Darrius Hamilton led the Eagles with 22 points, while Collins added 17 and Paicley-Smith finished with 16.
JCJC was 28-of-55 from the floor (5-of-13 from 3-point range) for 51 percent. The Bobcats were 26-of-39 from the free throw line. JCJC had 40 rebounds as a team.
The Bobcats improved to 8-4 overall and 3-2 in the MACJC South Division. Meridian fell to 5-9 and 1-4.
JCJC hosts Southwest Mississippi at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at A.B. Howard Gymnasium. The game will air on www.jcjc.tv.
Meridian travels to Copiah-Lincoln on Thursday.
 
MEN
Tuesday's game
Meridian
At Graham Gymnasium
Jones County 87, Meridian 85
JONES COUNTY (8-4, 3-2) – Bruce Stevens 32, Maurice Dunlap 19, Rickey Holden 17, Tristin Walley 10, Christian Robertson 6, Davin Powell 3, Andrew Riley 0, David Davis 0, Andre Johnson 0, Xavier Howard 0, Albert Goss 0.
MERIDIAN (5-9, 1-4) – Ken'Darrius Hamilton 22, Frankie Collins 17, Devin Paicley-Smith 16, Denarrius Gray 8, Javontay Rogers 7, Darrin Mitchell 6, Demarius Calvert 4, Tevin Smith 3, Kendall Moore 2, Johnny Knox 0.
 
Jones County          35 52 – 87
Meridian                   44 41 ­– 85