PANAMA CITY, Fla. – No. 11 Jones battled a full 40 minutes against one of the nation's premier programs in No. 5 Northwest Florida State on the opening day of the Gulf Coast Classic, but came up short, 72-64.

NWF is unbeaten in seven all-time meetings against the Bobcats as they improved to 13-1 on the season. Jones dropped to 10-4.

Jones led for all but four minutes in the first half.

A Keron Jackson four-point play gave Jones a 19-14 lead with 11:54 to go in the first. Jones later led a game-high 28-21 after a Braylon Barnes steal and layup with 6:30 left.

But the Raiders would go on a 10-0 run to lead 31-28 and never trailed again.

The lead was 37-33 NWF at the half.

Jones got within 51-50 on a Jackson block and transition three-pointer off a Jay Tyler assist with 12:37 to play. And later got within 58-56 after a Bob Dickson turnaround jumper with 4:33 left.

But NWF went on a 10-2 run over the next few minutes to put the game away.

Dickson had a team-high 20 points and 15 boards for his fifth double-double of the year and added three blocks. Dylan Rowe had 17 points, four assists and four steals and Jackson added 16 points and three blocks.

Jones' top two scorers in Barnes and Tyler were held to a combined 3-for-21 for seven points. 

The Bobcats shot 38 percent from the floor and were just 13-of-23 from the foul line. NWF shot 46 percent but were 2-of-17 from three.

Jones faces No. 6 Gulf Coast State for a second time to close out a two-day trip in Panama City.