UTICA – Jones scored the game's first basket and never looked back in a wire-to-wire, 86-69 road victory over Hinds to open MACCC play Thursday night.

Jones extended its win streak to six games and moved to 14-3, 1-0. Hinds dropped to 5-12, 0-1.

Chaunterion Ward's wing three-pointer gave Jones an early 10-2 lead and they'd stretch that to as many as 20 in the opening half.

Ky Pernell had 14 of his 19 points in the first as the Bobcats led 47-31 at the break.

Dimp Pernell posted his 11th 20-point game and added six rebounds. Ward finished with 13 points, LJ Hackman eight points and five assists and Kylan Howze eight points, six rebounds and four blocks. Howze now has an MACCC-best 46 on the season.

Jones shot over 50 percent for a ninth time this season and finished 11 of 21 from three-point range. 

Hinds shot 44 percent and had three players finish in double figures, led by 14-10 from Kobe Jones.

Jones hosts Itawamba (14-1) on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m.