By Stan Caldwell

PRCC Sports Information

POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College used a strong first half to take command and were never threatened in the second half, as the Wildcats cruised to a 77-65 victory over East Central Monday night in men's basketball action at Decatur.

PRCC improved to 12-1 overall and 4-1 in the South Division with its third consecutive triumph. The Wildcats are tied with Copiah-Lincoln atop the division. East Central dropped to 8-6 and 2-3.

Freshman Eric Thornton Jr. (Jackson) had another excellent performance, leading Pearl River with 22 points and 8 rebounds.

Freshman Cedric Brim Jr. (Tupelo) added 14 points, freshman Jonas James III (Jackson) had 13 points and 6 assists, sophomore Brandon Cranford (Louisville, Ky.) had 11 points and 7 rebounds and freshman Kirk Parker (Vicksburg) had 8 points and 11 boards.

The Wildcats never trailed, shooting 55.6 percent from the field in the first half (20 of 36), including 5 of 10 from 3-point range, and led 41-29 at intermission. The Warriors never came closer than 10 points in the second half.

PRCC will return home to play Mississippi Gulf Coast on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be livestreamed on prccmedia.com. The Wildcats will also be home next Monday for a showdown against Co-Lin.

PRCC BASKETBALL SUMMARY

MEN

Monday at Decatur

Pearl River 77, East Central 65

PRCC   41        36        –          77

ECCC   29        36        –          65

PEARL RIVER (12-1, 4-1 in South): Jonas James III 13 (6 assists), Cedric Brim Jr. 14, Eric Thornton Jr. 22 (8 rebounds), Brandon Cranford 11 (7 rebounds), Cameron Douglas 2, Jerrod Rigby 4, Willie Logan 3, Kirk Parker 8 (11 rebounds).

EAST CENTRAL (8-6, 2-3 in South): Josh Green 8 Chandler Diaz 2, Cayman Ruffin 10, Jaquan Dotson 9, Thurston McCarty 15, Cameron Diggs 9, Ron Ware 12.