ELLISVILLE – Jones used an 18-0 run midway through the first half and got 30 points off its bench to knock off Meridian 76-70 Thursday night to win its MACCC opener. 

The Bobcats won their seventh conference opener in eight seasons to improve to 8-3 and 1-0 in league play. MCC fell to 8-3, 0-1.

Trailing 13-10 at the 11:30 mark after a Christian Terrell jumper, Jones ran off the next 18 points to take a double digit lead.

Caleb McGill's jumper started the run and was followed by an Ashton Campbell three-pointer and eight points off the bench from Samarion Grant to stretch the Bobcat lead to 28-13.

Jones led 38-24 at half.

The Eagles came out of the break with a small spurt of their own to quickly pull within 42-36, taking advantage of Jones missing six of its first seven shots of the period.

Back-to-back threes by Jay Barnes stretched the lead back out to double figures and Jones was able to hold off Meridian the final 6:18.

Barnes scored 12 of his team-high 16 in the second half. Daquarius Harris added 14 points, Grant 11 and Campbell 10. Treylan Smith and McGill each had eight points and eight rebounds.

Jones shot 53 percent on the night against 42 percent for the Eagles.

Jones travels to Perkinston Monday night for a 6 p.m. tip at the newly-opened Dantzler Arena.