ELLISVILLE – Jones College got off to a hot start against Bishop State (Alabama) here Thursday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
The Bobcats shot 55 percent from the floor and led by as many as 16 points in the first half.
 
But the shooting cooled off and the Wildcats rallied to take a 77-69 victory in Jones' first home game of the season.
 
Jones (3-2) will now travel to No. 10 Trinity Valley (Texas) Saturday. Bishop State (6-2) goes to Delgado (Louisiana) on Monday.
 
The Bobcats took a 14-7 lead midway through the first quarter when Valeria Martinez (Spain) hit a 3-pointer. Another Martinez trey made it 23-9 with 2:16 to play in the opening period.

Jones led 25-14 after the first quarter.
 
Jones took its longest lead of the game with 8:20 showing in the second quarter when La'Genesis Johnson (Choctaw County) scored to make it 32-16. But the Wildcats rallied and cut the lead to 40-36 at halftime when Monique Judge hit a 3-pointer just a few seconds before the buzzer.
 
Two Valencia McFall (St. Martin) free throws gave Jones a 50-48 lead with 5:06 left in the third quarter. Bishop State then went on an 11-0 run and took a 59-50 advantage when Jamirica Roberson scored off an offensive rebound. The Wildcats led 59-52 after three quarters.
 
A Johnson layup with 8:58 remaining cut the lead to 59-56, but that was as close as the Bobcats would get.
 
Khyla Ragins (Harrison Central) led Jones with 24 points. Johnson had 12 points and 13 rebounds and McFall had 12 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. 
 
Unique Bowie had 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Bishop State. Roberson had 16 points, Amari Franklin had 13 points and Janiya Labyzon had 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
Jones shot 44 percent. The Wildcats were 32-of-74 from the floor for 43 percent, 5-of-15 from beyond the arc for 33 percent and 8-of-17 from the foul line for 47 percent.
 
Bishop State outrebounded Jones, 47-35, and outscored the Bobcats, 42-24, in the paint.