ELLISVILLE – Jones College began the 2023-24 basketball season with a 111-69 victory over Gordon State (Georgia) here Wednesday night A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
Every player on the Bobcat roster but one reached the scoring column.
 
Dimp Pernell (Horn Lake) led the way with 22 points, followed by Malik Franklin (Vicksburg) who came off the bench to score 21. LJ Hackman (Columbus) had 17 points and Trey Smith (Terry) added 14. 
 
Smith and Kylan Howze (Gulfport) each had seven rebounds and Chaunterion Ward (Memphis, Tennessee) added six boards. Samarion Grant (Jackson Provine) had five assists and Pernell added four.
 
Jones shot 55 percent from the field and outrebounded the Highlanders, 55-32. The Bobcats held a 24-12 edge in assists. 
 
The Bobcats jumped out to a 15-3 lead when Hackman made two free throws with 15:06 showing in the first half.
 
Gordon State got within 40-31 with under four minutes to play, but Jones closed the half on a 12-6 run and led 52-37 at halftime.
 
A pair of Smith free throws put Jones ahead 79-53 with 9:12 to play. The Bobcats longest lead was at the end of the game when Tyrel Shorts (Terry) dunked with 27 seconds to play.
 
The Highlanders were led by Derrick Brown with 19 points, Zion Brown had 17, Xavier Boyd scored 14 and Rashad Headges added 12. 
 
The Bobcats held Gordon State to a 36 percent shooting night from the floor.
 
Jones will travel to West Memphis, Arkansas, for its next two games. They meet host ASU Mid-South at 7 p.m. Friday and National Park College (Arkansas) at noon Saturday.