ELLISVILLE – Jones' starting five scored all but three of its points and nearly led wire-to-wire in a gritty, 62-55 win Thursday night over East Mississippi.

The Bobcats, ranked No. 4 in the NJCAA, improved to 6-0. The Lions dropped to 5-3.

DeAndre Lewis' three-pointer gave EMCC a 6-3 lead with 16:13 left in the opening half, its only lead of the game.

An Avery Thomas II jumper on the other end kick-started a 10-0 Bobcat run, with Thomas scoring eight of the 10.

Jones led by as many as nine in the half and went to the locker room up 32-27.

EMCC pulled within one on three different occasions, but each time Jones would have a bucket to respond and stay in front.

Starters for both teams combined for all but five points in the game. Malik Franklin had a three-pointer for Jones' only bench points. 

Both teams shot under 39 percent from the floor. Jones hit just 7-of-16 free throws. The Bobcats out-rebounded the Lions by 10.

Thomas had 18 points, seven rebounds, Dimp Pernell added 16 points, Ky Pernell had 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Kylan Howze had seven points and 13 boards.

Four of EMCC's five starters scored in double figures.

Jones will compete in the loaded Pensacola State Classic Nov. 25-27 in Pensacola, Florida.

Tickets for the event are $25 for the duration of the tournament or $10 per day, both cash only. Games will be live streamed at piratenetwork.live/watch-live.