UTICA – Jones County Junior College only led Hinds 36-32 at halftime.
But the Bobcats stifled the Bulldogs in the second half, outscored them 37-21 and pulled away for a 73-53 victory here Monday night at J.D. Boyd Gymnasium.
The win gives JCJC a 10-4 overall record, 5-2 in the MACJC South Division. The Bobcats are in a four-way tie for the division lead along with Mississippi Gulf Coast, Pearl River and East Central.
Hinds falls to 4-12 overall, 1-6 in the division.
The first half featured nine lead changes.
The Bobcats took an 18-14 lead with 10:32 left when Rickey Holden scored. But the Bulldogs rallied and would take its longest lead of the game at 23-20 with 6:53 left when DeAndre King hit an 18-footer. A Marcus Roberts' 18-footer gave the Bulldogs a 32-30 lead with 2:44 showing.
JCJC would score the final six points of the half. The Bobcats took the lead for good at 34-32 with 1:13 left on an Andre Johnson 3-pointer. Holden's drive to the goal with 10 seconds showing gave the Bobcats a 36-32 halftime advantage.
The Bobcats were only up 42-40 in the second half when they took command with a 10-0 run. A Johnson basket gave JCJC a 52-40 lead with 10:31 left.
Another 10-0 run late clinched it for the Bobcats. Two Maurice Dunlap free throws with 3:24 left capped that stretch and gave JCJC a 67-46 lead with 3:24 to play.
Holden, Tristin Walley and Bruce Stevens had 14 points each to lead the Bobcats, while Johnson had 12.
Stevens had 11 rebounds with Holden getting six assists. Holden and Dunlap each had three steals.
Hinds did not place anyone in double figures. Tyler Jackson led the way with nine points.
The Bobcats were 25-of-51 from the field (3-of-11 from 3-point range) for 49 percent. They were 20-of-24 from the free throw line.
Hinds was 22-of-61 from the floor (6-of-21 from the 3-point line) for 36 percent. The Bulldogs were 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
JCJC outrebounded Hinds, 30-28.
JCJC opens the second half of division play at home at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast. The game will air on www.jcjc.tv.
Hinds entertains Copiah-Lincoln on Thursday.
 
 
 
MEN
Monday's Game
Utica
Boyd Gymnasium
Jones County 73, Hinds 53
JONES (10-4, 5-2) – Tristin Walley 14, Bruce Stevens 14, Rickey Holden 14, Andrew Johnson 12, Maurice Dunlap 9, David Davis 6, Christian Robertson 2, Albert Goss 2, James Williams 0, Davin Powell 0, Xavier Howard 0, Zebedee Rice 0, Emetric Fells 0.
HINDS (4-12, 2-5) – Tyler Jackson 9, David Robinson 8, Marcus Roberts 8, Trojuan White 7, Corey McLaurin 6, Bobby Powell 6, Joshua Skinner 5, DeAndre King 2, Zackery Hudson 2.
 
Jones County                       36 37 – 73
Hinds                                     32 21 – 53