SUMMIT – Jones College took the lead for good midway through the second half and went on to defeat Southwest 71-68 here Thursday night at Horace Holmes Gymnasium.
 
It was a big victory for the Bobcats as they improve to 15-5 overall and 7-5 in the MACJC South Division. The Bobcats are tied with Hinds and Southwest for second place in the division with just two games remaining. The top four teams qualify for the MACJC Tournament.
 
Thursday's win also avenged a 75-67 loss to the Bears on Jan. 21 in Ellisville.
 
SharDarrion Allen (Raymond) continued to excel for the Bobcats, recording his 11^th 'double-double' of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Kenneth Rogers (Starkville) had 17 points and six rebounds and Casey Smith Jr. (Columbus) had 14 points and seven assists.
 
Leading 29-27 at halftime, Jones opened the second half on a 15-6 run and took its longest lead at 44-33 when Kevin Charles (Metairie, Louisiana) scored on a tip-in with 13:13 left. The Bears would then score 11 straight points and tie the game at 44-44 when Goodnews Kpegeol hit a 3-pointer.
 
Allen's layup at 10:09 gave the Bobcats the lead for good at 49-47. Two Allen free throws with 2:17 to play put Jones ahead, 65-59.
 
Damian Dear's 3-point play cut the lead to 67-66 with 53 seconds remaining, but Allen answered with a layup with 21 seconds to play. 
 
The Bears missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with five seconds to play, but Ryan Black's putback made it 69-68 with three seconds to go.
 
Rogers was fouled on the inbounds pass and made both free throws with two seconds to go to give Jones a 3-point lead.
 
A long 3-point attempt by Southwest hit the backboard and missed at the buzzer.
 
Jones connected on 27-of-51 shots for 53 percent. They were 6-of-17 from 3-point range and 11-of-18 from the free throw line. 

Kpegeol had 21 points and Black added 11 for Southwest.
 
The Bears were 24-of-53 from the field for 45 percent. They were 7-of-18 from the 3-point line and 13-of-18 from the free throw line.
 
The Bobcats outrebounded Southwest, 35-24.
 
Jones plays its final home game of the season at 7:30 p.m. on Monday vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast. It will be "Sophomore Night" and the game will also be streamed on JCJC.TV. 
 
It will also be "Samaritan's Feet" night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium. Fans are encouraged to bring a pair of new or slightly used tennis shoes Monday to provide children in our community and nationwide with new shoes. Admission is free with your donation. 


Southwest, 13-8 overall and 7-5, goes to No. 2 Pearl River on Monday.