ELLISVILLE – The mission was simple for Jones College: Win and we are in.
 
In order to qualify for the MACCC Tournament, the Bobcats had to defeat Itawamba here Friday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
The Bobcats did just that, as they placed five players in double figures and defeated the Indians, 78-65. 
 
With the victory, Jones improves to 16-6 overall and 8-6 in the conference. 
 
The Bobcats tied Southwest, Hinds and Mississippi Gulf Coast for sixth place in the regular season. With the first tiebreaker, Southwest came out on top to earn the sixth seed. Hinds got the next tiebreaker for the seventh seed. Jones, because of its head to head win over Gulf Coast, earned the eighth and final seed in the tournament.
 
The Bobcats will now play tournament host and top seed Pearl River at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
 
In the win over Itawamba, Jones broke open a close game with a surge midway through the first half and took a 38-23 halftime lead. The Indians never got within double digits in the second half.
 
Ashton Campbell (Forrest County AHS) led the Bobcats with 19 points, Decorian Payton (Center Hill) added 18, Caleb McGill (Petal) had 15 points and a career-high eight assists Jabari Bowman (Warren Central) had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Calvin Temple (Center Hill) finished with 10.

Jones shot 52 percent on the evening.
 
Fred Cleveland Jr. led the Indians with 23 points and Bryan Steen added 15.
 
Itawamba ends the regular season at 10-11 overall and 4-10 in the league.
 
ICC does not qualify for the MACCC Tournament, but they will compete in the Region 23 Tournament Feb. 26-March 5.