ELLISVILLE – Southwest Mississippi scored the game's final eight points and surprised 9th-ranked Jones County 97-92 here Thursday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
It was JCJC's first loss of the season, as they fall to 12-1 overall and 3-1 in the MACJC South Division.
JCJC went ahead 90-85 with 3:58 remaining when David Davis (Purvis) converted a 4-point play.
But Rodrick Sikes answered quickly with a 4-point play of his own to make it 90-89 with 3:47 left.
Rickey Holden (Laurel) hit two free throws at 3:02 to give Jones a 92-89 lead. But that would be the final two points of the game for the Bobcats.
Sikes, who finished with 38 points, made two free throws at 2:42 and Sean Smith hit a 15-footer to give the Bears the lead for good at 93-92 with 1:14 left.
After a Bobcat miss, Sikes got a slam dunk with 37.8 seconds to play to make it 95-92.
Bruce Stevens (Bay Springs) missed a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left. Southwest's James Hawthorne got the rebound, was fouled and made both free throws with 13.1 seconds to play to seal it.
The Bears got off to a strong start and took a 17-7 lead with 14:48 showing in the first half when Sikes hit a 3-pointer.
JCJC fought back and took its first lead at 28-26 when Xavier Howard (Pearl) made a 3-pointer. The Bobcats stretched the lead to 41-34 with 5:14 left when Holden scored.
Jones led 53-47 at halftime.
JCJC would take its longest lead of the game at 59-49 with 17:56 left when Davis made two free throws. A Tristin Walley (Hattiesburg) basket gave the Bobcats a 71-62 lead with 12:36 remaining.
The Bears would come back and tie it at 72-72 with 10:08 left when Guy Johnson made a 3-pointer.
Stevens led the Bobcats with 29 points, while Davis added 19, Holden had 14 and Walley finished with 11.
Sikes had 20 points in the first half and 18 in the second half to account for his 38. Hawthorne and Johnson had 12 each, Emanuel Thompson added 11 and Mike Parks had 10.
The Bears are now 10-3 overall, 4-0 in the division.
JCJC will Mississippi Gulf Coast at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The game will air on www.jcjc.tv.
Southwest visits Co-Lin on Monday.

Thursday's game
Ellisville
A.B. Howard Gymnasium
MEN
Southwest 97, Jones County 92
Southwest  (10-3, 4-0)        47 50 – 97
Jones County (12-1, 3-1)    53 39 – 92
SOUTHWEST (97) – Rodrick Sikes 38, James Hawthorne 12, Guy Johnson 12, Emanuel Thompson 11, Mike Parks 10, Antonio Cowart 6, Sean Smith 6, Jeremy Harrell 2.
JONES COUNTY (92) – Bruce Stevens 29, David Davis 19, Rickey Holden 14, Tristin Walley 11, Xavier Howard 8, Leito Holloway 6, Enrique Milton 3, Maurice Dunlap 2, Omar Steele 0.