ELLISVILLE — Jones outscored Meridian 26-5 in the final 9:27 to secure an 80-53 victory Monday night at A.B. Howard Gymnasium. The Bobcats closed the regular season with their fourth straight win over the Eagles, improving to 21-8 overall and 10-3 in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.
Jones led by six points with 9:27 remaining before pulling away. The Bobcats started to create separation earlier in the game, using a 9-0 run after Meridian took a 23-21 lead with 7:31 left in the first half. In the opening half, Jay Tyler scored nine points, Braylon Barnes added eight, and Wesley Lindsey contributed eight. Jones led 37-30 at halftime.
The Eagles opened the second half with eight straight points to take a 38-37 lead, but Jones responded with a decisive run. Dylan Rowe scored five straight points, including dunks by himself and Keron Jackson, to give the Bobcats an eight-point lead. Jones’ defense clamped down, holding Meridian to five points on 2-for-13 shooting and forcing six turnovers in the final 9:27.
Jay Tyler, Jones’ only sophomore, finished with a game-high 21 points and was honored in his final regular-season home game. Rowe added 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Barnes scored 15, while Jackson added 14 points and nine rebounds. Jones shot 46% from the field compared to 32% for Meridian.
The Bobcats will conclude the regular season Monday at Southwest and will host a second-round regional tournament game Saturday, March 7, at 6 p.m.
