MERIDIAN – It was a tale of two halves Thursday night at Meridian.

Tied seven different times in the first half and neither team leading by more than five, it was Jones who took control in the second half and never relinquished it.

Jones opened the second half on a 12-3 run to take its largest lead of the night and would eventually close out a 76-67 victory over the Eagles.

The Bobcats won their eighth straight game to improve to 16-3, 3-0, while Meridian fell to 10-6, 2-1 in conference play.

LJ Hackman and Chaunterion Ward combined for 18 of Jones' 35 first half points as the Bobcats led 35-32.

The lead grew to as many as a dozen, 47-35, but the Eagles wouldn't go away. 

Meridian started to chip away and pulled within 64-60 after a Michael James three-pointer with 4:22 left. 

The Eagles missed a wide open layup after a Bobcat turnover that could've pulled MCC within a basket and Ward hit a three-pointer at the other end that swung the game five points in favor of Jones.

Ward closed the night with a career-high 16 points and added eight rebounds and four assists. He was 4 for 6 from beyond the arc and has now connected on 14 of his last 21 three-point shots.

Dimp Pernell had 18 points and five rebounds, Hackman added 16 points, Ky Pernell 10 -- all in the second half -- and Kylan Howze nine points, eight rebounds and six blocks.

Jones shot 46 percent from the floor, including 53 percent (10 for 19) from beyond the arc.

The Bobcats host Gulf Coast Monday at 7:30 p.m.

*stats unavailable for Meridian at time of story