PENSACOLA, Fla. – For a second straight day, Jones College tried to rally from a double digit deficit but fell just short.

The Bobcats trailed Chipola by 21 and got within three late, and on Wednesday, trailed Pensacola State by 14 and took the lead with 7:36 left before falling 77-72 to close out the PSC Thanksgiving Classic.

Jones, ranked No. 4 in the NJCAA, fell to 7-2. The Pirates improved to 4-5.

Pensacola State shot it 52 percent in the opening half, including 7 of 9 from three-point range, against 36 percent for Jones and built a 44-33 halftime lead.

LJ Hackman had 15 to lead all scorers and Avery Thomas II had 11 points and six rebounds for the Bobcats in the first.

The Bobcats clawed all the way back from 14 down to take a 61-60 lead with 7:36 to play.

But PSC rallied back to take the lead and would not relinquish it despite a gutsy, career-high 28-point effort from Hackman.

Thomas had 12 points, 10 rebounds for his first career double-double, Malik Franklin had 13 and Ky Pernell added 15 points. Jones was without Dimp Pernell for a second straight game.

The Pirates' bench outscored Jones 18-0 and PSC won the rebound battle. 

Amarion Savage led five Pirates in double figures with 16 points.

Jones will look to get back on track Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. when they host Mississippi Gulf Coast in a non-conference matchup.