ELLISVILLE – Two free throws by Cowandric Samuel (Jackson Callaway) with 7:02 to play gave Jones College the lead for good and helped the Bobcats to a 75-71 victory over East Central here Monday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
The Warriors were up 57-54 when Jeff Blackmon II (Ridgeland) made a 3-pointer with 7:39 remaining to tie it. After Samuel's free throws, John Rawls (East Marion) scored on a driving layup and Samuel followed with two more free throws to end the 9-0 run and give the Bobcats a 63-57 lead with 6:14 to play.
 
ECCC pulled within 66-65 with 2:34 left on a 3-pointer by Devin Carter. Carter would make another trey with four seconds left to trim the lead to 74-71. But Ashton Campbell's (Forrest County AHS) free throw with three seconds remaining iced it for the Bobcats
 
The Warriors held the edge for most of the first half, including its longest of the night at 15-7 with 14:41 showing. But Jones fought back and tied it up at 36-36 at halftime.
 
Blackmon led the Bobcats with 22 points. Tradavis Thompson (Raymond) added 14 and Samuel finished with 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Thompson had seven assists and Campbell added four.
 
Carter paced the Warriors with 20 points, including five 3-pointers. Demajion Topps had 17, Darien Newchurch finished with 16 and Timothy McElroy added 11.
 
The Bobcats were 26-of-52 from the field for 50 percent and made 7-of-18 3-pointers for 39 percent. Jones was 16-of-23 from the foul line for 70 percent.
 
East Central made 25-of-60 shots for 42 percent and was 10-of-31 from 3-point range for 32 percent. The Warriors were 11-of-15 from the free throw line for 73 percent.
 
Jones outrebounded ECCC, 39-31. The Bobcats committed 19 turnovers, compared to 14 for East Central.
 
The Bobcats, 1-2, visit Southwest for a 6 p.m. game on Thursday.
 
East Central, 0-3, hosts Meridian on Thursday.