ELLISVILLE – Jones College rallied from a 15-point second half deficit to defeat Marion Military Institute (Alabama) 92-85 here Thursday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
The Bobcats improved to 6-1 and will play three games in the Pensacola State Classic Nov. 20-22.
 
Johnathon Crawford hit a 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 63-48 lead with 16:08 remaining in the second half.
 
The Bobcats slowly chipped away and finally took the lead at 72-71 on two Trey Smith (Terry) free throws with 6:39 to play. Nicholas Cham's layup gave MMI a 73-72 lead, but the Bobcats took the lead for good when Dimp Pernell (Horn Lake) hit a 3-pointer to put Jones up 75-73 with 6:15 left.
 
MMI was within 81-79, but the Bobcats scored seven straight points and went ahead 88-79 with 1:46 remaining on a Ky Pernell (Horn Lake) layup. 
 
It was a close contest throughout the first half being tied 10 times. Smith's two free throws tied it for the final time at 35-35 with 2:43 left in the opening half. 
 
But MMI ended the half on a 13-6 run and took a 48-41 halftime lead.
 
Smith led the Bobcats with 25 points. Dimp Pernell had 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Ky Pernell had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Chaunterion Ward (Memphis, Tennessee) had six points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals. 
 
Cham led all scorers with 26 points, Crawford added 25 and Jahmar Brown had 13. Aidan Driggers topped the Tigers with 10 rebounds.
 
The Bobcats made 30-of-70 shots for 43 percent, 5-of-25 3-pointers for 20 percent and 27-of-37 free throws for 73 percent. 
 
Jones outrebounded MMI, 51-37, and had 20 assists compared to 16 for the Tigers.
 
Jones outscored MMI, 27-6, on second chance points.
 
The Tigers were 32-of-72 from the field for 44 percent, 9-of-27 from beyond the arc for 33 percent and 12-of-20 from the foul line for 60 percent.
 
MMI, 3-4, hosts Itawamba on Saturday.