PENSACOLA, Fla. – Avery Thomas II paced four Bobcats in double figures with 21 points as No. 4 Jones beat Gulf Coast State, 86-72, to open play at the Pensacola State Thanksgiving Classic on Monday afternoon. 

Jones improved to 7-0 while handing the Commodores, 7-1, their first loss of the season. 

The Bobcats led 41-31 at the half and pushed the final tally out to 14 points for their sixth double digit win in seven tries.

Jones shot 44 percent from the floor against 38 percent for GCSC and used 10 three-pointers from six different players.

The Commodores owned a 56-32 rebound edge but turned it over 21 times against just nine for Jones. The Bobcats tied a season-high with 16 steals, five from Dimp Pernell.

Behind Thomas' 21, D. Pernell and LJ Hackman had 16 each and Ky Pernell added 14 points. DJ Davis had nine points off the bench. 

GCSC was led by Chip Brunt with 16 points.

Jones faces off with No. 17 Chipola at 1 p.m. Tuesday, looking to stay unbeaten in four all-time meetings against the Indians. 

Tickets are $10 cash only at the door. The game will be streamed at piratenetwork.live/watch-live.