ELLISVILLE – No. 23 Jones College began the 2026 portion of the schedule with a 70-61 victory over Southern University-Shreveport here Monday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
 
All five starters scored in double figures for the Bobcats, who returned to the court for the first time in three weeks.
 
The Bobcats snapped a three-game losing streak and are now 11-5. Jones begins MACCC play on Monday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. against Hinds.
 
The Jaguars scored the game's first four points before Jones rebounded to take a 15-13 lead on a Dylan Rowe (Madison Central) breakaway dunk with 11:34 remaining in the first half. The Bobcats took their longest lead of the night at 26-15 with 6:12 showing when Braylon Barnes (Brandon) made a free throw.
 
SUSLA rallied and tied the game at 32-32 on a jumper by Kevin Kirk with 20 seconds left. But he was called for a technical foul after the play and Jay Tyler (Glen Allan) made a free throw to give the Bobcats a 33-32 lead halftime lead.
 
Two Bob Dickson (Southaven) free throws gave the Bobcats the lead for good at 39-38 with 16:52 left. Two free throws by Barnes gave the Bobcats a 53-45 lead with 10:54 to play.
 
SUSLA pulled within 64-61 with 3:49 left on a Kalvin Vengeto layup, but Jones would outscore them 6-0 the rest of the way.
 
Barnes and Wesley Lindsey (Central Hinds Academy) led the way with 15 points each. Rowe added 13, Dickson had 12 and Tyler had 10. Dickson had eight rebounds and Barnes had seven. Rowe had five assists and Barnes had three steals.
 
The Bobcats were a season-best 29-of-32 from the free throw line for 91 percent. They shot 40 percent from the floor. Jones also outrebounded SUSLA, 38-36, and committed 16 turnovers compared to 14 for the Jaguars.
 
Tayshaun Gilchrist led the Jaguars with 24 points and Kirk added 17. Gilchrist added seven rebounds and five assists.
 
The Jaguars fall to 9-7.