ELLISVILLE – It was a total team effort for 40 minutes Thursday night.

Coming off a disappointing loss to Southwest, the Bobcats responded by knocking off previously-unbeaten East Mississippi, 58-49.

"We had to come out tonight and establish Jones College basketball," head coach Newton Mealer said. "We didn't do that last game. But the guys responded to what I asked them to do and we got a big win over a really talented team."

Jones held EMCC to 28 percent shooting, 32 points under their season average and the league's top scorer in Blake Butler (22.6 ppg) to just eight points on 4-of-14 shooting.

EMCC scored the game's first basket, but would never lead again.

Jones built a 25-19 lead at the half after leading by as many as nine. Caleb McGill had eight first-half points.

Jay Barnes took over for Jones the final 20 minutes – after not scoring in the first half – and finished with a team-high 14 points. Zandon Haralson added 13 big points off the bench.

The Bobcat lead grew to as many as 10 midway through the half, only to see EMCC close within three.

Daquarius Harris pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds and added eight points before fouling out with four minutes to play.

Both teams were 8-of-19 from the free throw line. EMCC was 3-for-28 from beyond the arc.

Chaunterion Ward made his first career start for Jones in the win.

Jones travels to ASU Mid-South next Tuesday, Dec. 13 for a 7:30 tip.