JACKSON – The Bobcats are headed back to the NJCAA Region 23 Championship game for a second straight season. 

Jones held off Holmes, 73-72, in the region semifinals Thursday at Tougaloo College in a game they led for all but 44 seconds.

The Bobcats never trailed the first half but fell behind by one on two occasions early in the second. A furious 13-1 Holmes run over the final 3:18 made things tight late.

Leading 72-59 at the final media timeout, five turnovers and seven straight missed free throws allowed the Bulldogs to make a game of it.

Jamar Jenkins banked in a desperation three in front of Holmes' bench with 0.8 seconds left to make it 73-72.

Jones inbounded the ball and appeared to run out the clock, but a foul was called with 0.1 left to put Jones on the line. Two missed free throws eventually burned out the clock.

It's Jones' seventh straight win after losing to the Bulldogs in Goodman, 81-72, on Feb. 15.

The Bobcats opened the game 8-0 and led 20-8 under seven minutes in. 

After a 12-1 Bulldog run, Jones immediately responded with eight straight to make it 29-20.

Jones led 34-30 at half.

Holmes scored the first five of the second half to grab its first lead, 35-34. They briefly led again, 37-36, after a Cameron Wallace layup, before the Bobcats regained control and never relinquished the lead the final 18:21.

Kylan Howze turned in his best game as a Bobcat. And Jones needed it. 

The freshman from Gulfport closed with 12 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a season-high 35 minutes.

Dimp Pernell and LJ Hackman added 17 apiece and Ky Pernell had 16 points and five assists.

All five Bulldog starters scored in double figures.

Jones (26-6) will face rival Mississippi Gulf Coast (19-9) for the automatic bid to Hutchinson, Kansas, Friday at 7 p.m. in Jackson.

The game will stream live on JCJC.TV.