PENSACOLA, Fla. – After wins on the first two days of the Pensacola State Thanksgiving Classic at Harstell Arena, Jones dropped a 76-60 decision to No. 1 Northwest Florida State on Wednesday to finish 2-1.

Jones moved to 8-2 on the season and will return to action Thursday, Nov. 30 at Southwest.

"Playing in this classic each year helps our team in so many ways," head coach Newton Mealer said. "I like this format, because if you make it to Hutch you have to win five games in almost consecutive days. This gives our guys an idea of what that looks like and how to prepare for it."

Jones 85, Gulf Coast State 77

Jones jumped out to a 7-0 lead and led wire-to-wire in a tournament-opening win on Monday.

Five Bobcats finished in double figures, paced by Dimp Pernell's 22 and LJ Hackman's 20.

After a defensive first half, the teams combined for 102 second half points. 

Chaunterion Ward scored 12 points off the bench in 26 minutes. Ky Pernell added 14 and Trey Smith a dozen.

Jones 61, Pensacola State 58

A would-be tying three-pointer for the Pirates clanged off the back of the rim and Jones escaped with a three point win on Day 2 of the Thanksgiving Classic.

Jones led by four at the break and with under 8 minutes to play.

The Pernell brothers and Hackman combined for 55 of Jones' 61 points on a night they shot just 30 percent from the floor.

Elijah Wyche led the Pirates with 18.

Northwest Florida State 76, Jones 60

The nation's No. 1 team held Jones to a season-low point total and 30 percent shooting to run away with a double digit win.

NWF led 14-4 through the first 10 minutes and maintained their lead throughout. 

Jones trailed for just the second time this season at the half, 35-25. 

The Raiders extended their lead to as many as 24 with 6:54 to play.

Four of NWF's five starters scored in double figures. 

Trey Smith had a double-double with 15 and 10 and Malik Franklin had a game-high 16 points. D. Pernell, the team's leading scorer, was held to five points on 0-for-13 shooting.

"Lots of coaches schedule soft because they want a nice record," Mealer continued. "I believe in finding the best competition that will test our team so we can still be playing in the end. We don't want to just compete with the No. 1 team, but eventually build and become the No. 1 team."