ELLISVILLE – Jones built a 22-point halftime lead and withstood an early Pearl River second half run to down the Wildcats, 89-74, Saturday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium in the NJCAA Region 23 Quarterfinals.

The Bobcats advance to their fourth consecutive region semifinal where they will meet Southwest on Tuesday, March 10 at 4 p.m.

The semifinals and final will be played at Itawamba Community College in Fulton.

Jones, 22-9, is seeking its third straight region crown and trip to Hutchinson, Kansas, for the national tournament. 

Tied at 8-8 through the opening four minutes, a Keron Jackson three-pointer, followed by a Dylan Rowe three-ball pushed the Bobcat lead out to 14-9.

After PRCC got it back within a bucket, a 10-0 Jones run pushed the lead out to double figures and it would stretch to as high as 26 after a Rowe jumper with 1:04 left in the half.

The Wildcats won the first 10 minutes of the second half and dwindled what was a 26-point lead down to 67-57 with 9:55 to play.

A Jay Tyler and-one and seven straight from Rowe got it quickly back out to 18 and PRCC got no closer than 14 the rest of the night.

Rowe finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, Tyler 22 points and eight assists, Jackson 14 points, Lindsey 13 and Braylon Barnes 10.

Jones shot it 50 percent on the night against 47 percent for PRCC. The Wildcats shot it 67 percent in the second half after shooting just 29 percent in the first.

The Wildcats were led by Christian Gilliland's 25 points. Former Bobcat Kamarian Mayfield had 17. Daijon Leatherman, who had 20 points and 22 rebounds in the regular season meeting, was held to four points and three rebounds. 

Jones enters Tuesday's semifinal against Southwest winners in seven straight region tournament games. They're looking for a fourth consecutive regional final appearance.