ELLISVILLE – Northeast never trailed en route to defeating Jones College 71-55 here Monday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
The Bobcats drop to 5-17 overall and 2-8 in the MACCC. Northeast is now 16-10 and 8-3.
 
The Tigers were up 13-6 midway through the first quarter, but Jones ended the period on a 7-0 run capped by two Zharia Leflore (Neshoba Central) free throws and knotted the game at 13-13.
 
Northeast scored the first eight points of the second quarter, taking a 21-13 lead on an Anna Greene layup with 7:52 showing. The Tigers led 32-22 at halftime.
 
The Bobcats pulled within 39-36 on two Aasia Wilson (West Jones) free throws with 5:59 left in the third quarter. But Northeast went on a 13-0 run and took a 52-36 lead on a Nakyiah Walker 3-point play with 2:43 showing. The Tigers led 52-42 going into the final period.
 
Anna-Patrice Patterson's (Bay Springs) layup with 8:26 left made it 54-46, but that was as close as Jones would get.
 
Leflore led Jones with 19 points and seven rebounds. Wilson added 11 points.
 
Kamiyha Griffin led the Tigers with 16 points. Jakeria Hawkins had 15 points and seven rebounds and Greene added 13 points. 
 
Jones made 22-of-50 shots for 44 percent, 2-of-10 3-pointers for 20 percent and 9-of-12 free throws for 75 percent. The Tigers were 28-of-59 from the floor for 48 percent, 6-of-20 from beyond the arc for 30 percent and 9-of-13 from the foul line for 69 percent. 
 
The Bobcats outrebounded the Tigers, 32-29. Jones committed 26 turnovers, compared to 19 for Northeast.
 
Jones travels to No. 15 Pearl River for a 5:30 p.m. tip on Thursday. Northeast hosts Mississippi Delta on Thursday.