POPLARVILLE – The energy and effort was there in a tough environment Thursday night at Marvin R. White Coliseum.

Zandon Haralson and Jones had a good look to force overtime, but the three-point attempt hit front iron and Jones fell just short at rival Pearl River, 62-59.

"The will to win was there and we played with great energy all night," head coach Newton Mealer said. "We got the look we wanted at the end but the shot came up short. Disappointed is an understatement. I expect us to win these type of games."

Jones had a three-game winning streak snapped in the loss to fall to 13-7, 6-4 in the MACCC. PRCC won its ninth straight over Jones to improve to 15-6, 7-4.

The Bobcats scored the game's first eight points and led by as many as 10 with 12:51 left in the opening period.

PRCC rallied to take its first lead, 21-20, with 7:33 remaining in the period after a Carlous Williams jumper and stretched it to 25-20.

Jones closed the half on an 8-2 run and Caleb McGill jumper to take a 28-27 lead.

The second half was as deadlocked as the first, with neither team leading by more than five. 

McGill and Daquarius Harris hit early jumpers to make it 32-29 Jones. 

Later trailing 59-53, Jay Barnes cut it to a one possession game with 1:45 left but PRCC responded with a three of its own to extend the lead to six.

Haralson's three with 13 seconds left got it to 62-59, and after a Wildcat turnover, his would-be, game-tying three fell short.

McGill had 14 to lead Jones, followed by Treylan Smithwith 12 and Barnes with 11. 

Jones shot 35 percent against 46 percent for PRCC. The Wildcats were also plus-15 on the boards.

The Bobcats return home Monday to host Coahoma.