SCOOBA – Casey Smith Jr. poured in a career-high 28 points and SharDarrion Allen added his 15th double-double of the year in an instant classic against No. 2 Pearl River in the MACJC Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday in Scooba. Jones fell 90-86 in overtime.

PRCC stayed unbeaten on the year at 24-0 while Jones fell to 18-6. 

The Bobcats gave the Wildcats all they could handle for a third time this season, ultimately falling short a third time. The three meetings have been decided by a total of 16 points. 

Jones led 20-19 midway through the first half after a corner three-pointer from Ladarius Anderson off a Sai Fisher assist. 

PRCC would answer with a 7-0 run and eventually take a 40-35 lead into the locker room.

JC fell behind 74-62 with under five minutes to play, but found new life after being whistled for a technical foul.

The Bobcats would outscore PRCC 16-4 down the stretch and Kenneth Rogers hit a floater in the paint to send the game into overtime, tied 78-78. 

In the extra period, Rogers hit another key jumper to tie the game at 86-86 with 49 seconds to play to answer a Tae Hardy bucket.

Jones forced a missed shot and appeared to have possession with the game tied and one final shot to win the game, but a foul call on a rebound put PRCC on the free throw line. Tradavis Thompson, listed at 6-foot-1, was able to box out 6-foot-10 Isaih Moore and get a good angle under the rim for a rebound before being whistled for the controversial foul.

Moore calmly hit two free throws and PRCC finished with an alley-oop to close out the win.

Behind Smith's career-high 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting, Allen had 17 and 11, Anderson had 14 off the bench and Rogers finished with 12 points.

JC shot 41 percent compared to 53 percent for the Wildcats. The teams combined for over 50 fouls and 50 free throws.

The Bobcats will return to action on Tuesday, March 3 at 1 p.m. against LSU Eunice in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.