ELLISVILLE – Meloney Thames (Choctaw Central) had 22 points and six steals to help No. 9 Jones College to a 73-36 victory over Northwest Mississippi here Thursday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
The Bobcats are now 8-2 overall, 3-0 in the MACCC. It was the 38th consecutive home victory for Jones. The Rangers fall to 7-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
Thames made four 3-pointers on the evening, including a 40-footer at the first quarter buzzer to give the Bobcats a 19-11 lead.
 
Jordan Clark (South Jones) hit a 3-pointer with 2:03 to play in the second quarter to put Jones ahead, 37-18. A pair of Mackenzie Thomas (Laurel) free throws with 1:19 showing gave the Bobcats a 39-20 halftime lead.
 
A tip-in by Nakyah Jones (Mobile, Alabama) gave Jones a 54-28 lead with 1:57 to play in the third quarter. The Bobcats would lead 58-30 after three quarters.
 
A fastbreak layup by Thames with 3:58 remaining gave Jones its largest advantage of the night at 71-34.
 
After Thames' effort, Clark had 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Sakyia White (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Olivia Knight (Pearl) had five assists and Jones had four blocked shots. 
 
Tierra Trotter had 11 points for the Rangers and Kolten Blakeney had 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots. 
 
Jones made 29-of-69 shots from the floor for 43 percent, 9-of-23 from 3-point range for 39 percent and 6-of-9 free throws for 67 percent.
 
The Bobcat defense limited the Rangers to a 13-of-51 shooting night for 26 percent. Northwest did not make a 3-point shot in 13 attempts and was 10-of-12 from the free throw line for 83 percent
 
Jones outrebounded Northwest, 41-38. The Bobcats forced 25 turnovers and committed only 10 and ended up with 18 steals, compared to two for the Rangers.
 
The Bobcats outscored the Rangers 40-18 on points in the paint and 29-2 on fastbreak points. Jones never trailed in the game.
 
Jones will visit Southwest for a 6 p.m. contest on Monday. The Bobcats return home for a 6 p.m. contest on Jan. 13 vs. Copiah-Lincoln.
 
Northwest hosts Mississippi Delta on Monday.