MERIDIAN – The Jones College Bobcats won their opening MACJC South Division games here Monday night at Graham Gymnasium.

The No. 8 Lady Bobcats downed Meridian Community College, 71-56. The Jones' men then posted a 74-70 decision over the Eagles.

The Bobcat teams return to A.B. Howard Gymnasium for their final home games before the Christmas holiday break on Thursday vs. Coastal Alabama-North. The women's game starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. Both games will air on www.jcjc.tv.

Meridian hosts Bishop State (Alabama) on Thursday.

Lady Bobcats 71, Lady Eagles 56

The Lady Bobcats had to battle back from behind to post the victory.

MCC led 18-10 after the first quarter before Jones came back to lead 32-30 at halftime. The Lady Bobcats led 49-40 after three quarters.

Kyia Weathersby (Collins) led a very balanced Jones' attack with 13 points and Keyara Jones (Heidelberg) added 11 points. Ty Hawkins (Brentwood, New York) had nine points, Jatyjia Jones (Ingomar) added eight and Breonca Ducksworth (West Jones) had seven. LaMiracle Sims (Moss Point) had six points, Destiny Haymer (Holmes County Central) and Chyna Allen (Harrison Central) had five each, Maya Jones (Northwest Rankin) had four points and Endia Holliday (South Jones) had three.

Weathersby had 12 rebounds and Sims had seven. Ducksworth had eight assists and Haymer had six. Maya Jones had four blocked shots.

The Lady Bobcats are now 5-1 overall, 1-0 in the division. MCC falls to 3-4, 0-1. 

Bobcats 74, Eagles 70

The game was tied at 66-66 with two and a half minutes to play before Jones outscored MCC 8-4 down the stretch to win.

Galen Alexander (Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) had 21 points for the Bobcats, Kenneth Rogers (Starkville) added 19 and Tirus Smith (Petal) had 10. Michael Williams Jr. (Rayville, Louisiana) had nine, Shardarrion Allen (Raymond) had seven and David McCoy (Meridian), David Gaines Jr. (Wayne County) and Winceton Edwards (Oak Grove) added two each.

Alexander, Williams and Smith had six rebounds each. Williams had eight assists.

Kylan Hamilton had 21 points for Meridian and Alvarez Powell added 20.

Jones was 24-of-56 from the field (5-of-17 from 3-point range) for 43 percent. The Bobcats were 21-of-26 from the free throw line.

MCC was 21-of-42 from the floor (9-of-16 from 3-point range) for 50 percent. MCC was 19-of-31 from the free throw line.

Jones outrebounded the Eagles, 32-28.

The Bobcats are 6-1 overall, 1-0 in the division.

MCC falls to 4-2 and 0-1.