ELLISVILLE – Jones rallied around a packed home crowd to jump on top of Itawamba by 21 points the opening 13 minutes and never let up in an 80-67 win to open MACCC play at home.
The Bobcats won their seventh straight game to improve to 15-3 overall, 2-0 in the MACCC. Itawamba dropped to 14-2, 0-1.
Five Jones players finished in double figures, led by a game-high 20 from
Ky Pernell and
Kylan Howze's first double-double with 11 points, 12 boards and three blocks.
Bryson Dawkins' three-pointer gave the Indians their only lead on the game's opening basket.
Jones scored the next six points and quickly jumped ahead double digits, 17-6, with 12:29 left in the period.
The Bobcats' largest lead, 34-21, came off
Jylan Howze's fastbreak layup and assist from
LJ Hackman.
Jones led 43-30 at the break.
A balanced scoring second half for Jones never saw its lead drop below double figures.
K. Pernell finished with 20 points and five rebounds,
Dimp Pernell added 15 points, seven rebounds, Hackman 14 points, six assists and five rebounds, K. Howze with a double-double and
Trey Smith had 10 points off the bench.
Jones shot 49 percent and held ICC to 39 percent shooting and its second-lowest point total of the season.
The Indians were led by Dawkins' 18 points and 12 from AJ Dent.
Jones travels to Meridian Thursday for a 7:30 tip.