BOONEVILLE – Jones knew it had a tall task heading into hostile enemy territory Monday night at Bonner Arnold Coliseum.
Northeast, ranked 23rd in the NJCAA, broke a 65-all tie on a pair of free throws with 2:48 to play to hold off Jones 76-69 and keep their unbeaten streak alive on their home floor.
The Tigers won their 31st consecutive home game to improve to 16-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play. Jones fell to 13-4 and 5-4 in the league.
Jones led by as many as seven, 31-24, with under five minutes left in the opening half, but Northeast rallied to within 35-34 at the break.
Calvin Temple and
Lovell Smith had nine points apiece on a combined 5-of-9 shooting from downtown the first 20 minutes.
Jones scored the first five points to start the second half on a three by Temple and jumper by Smith, but missed eight of its next 10 shots to allow the Tigers to go on a run.
Northeast led 58-53 with 7:56 to play after a three by Kylan Blackmon. Temple would respond with the next five points for Jones to tie the game again at 58-all.
Tied at 65 apiece with 2:46 left, a pair of free throws by Blackmon and ensuing jumper by Josh Mitchell stretched the lead to four.
Jones wouldn't get any closer the rest of the way as Northeast connected on 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.
Temple led four Bobcats in double figures with 21 points and seven assists, followed by Smith with 13 and
Decorian Payton and
Ashton Campbell with 10 apiece.
Ken Lewis led four Tigers in double figures with 21. Zeke Cook had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Jones held a slight edge in field goal percentage, but was out-rebounded by 13.
The Bobcats host No. 22 Pearl River on Thursday night at 6 p.m. in the annual "Cat Fight." The Wildcats have won the last six in the series and are riding a 15-game conference winning streak.
Go to jcbobcats.com/tickets to make your mobile purchase for the game. Mark Easley will have the call on JCJC.TV.