POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Wins are always important, but rivalry wins are always just a little bit sweeter.
After the last two games didn't go their way, Pearl River men's basketball flipped the script Thursday night, taking down Jones College 83-71 to snap a two-game skid and a three-game losing streak against the Bobcats.
"We didn't fold like the last couple of times out," head coach Chris Oney said. "The fans had a chance to watch two good teams get after it. We were able to push through enough to get the victory. I think we played motivated today and that was the difference."
Pearl River (15-11 overall; 7-4 MACCC) and Jones College (20-8; 9-3) delivered the kind of tightly contested matchup fans have come to expect when the two teams meet. With just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the game had already featured five ties, the last coming at 16-16.
Kelan Rich (Pascagoula) shifted the momentum in Pearl River's favor moments later, knocking down a 3-pointer from the right corner to give the Wildcats a 19-16 edge. After a Bobcats free throw, PRCC put together a decisive six-point run. Reece Garrison (Olive Branch) started it with a smooth drive to the basket, Christian Gilliland (Memphis, Tenn.; ABC Prep) followed with a layup, and Kamarian Mayfield (Waynesboro; Quitman) absorbed contact and scored to cap the surge, making it 25-17.
DJ Leatherman pushed the lead to 32-21 after finishing underneath off a pinpoint pass from Lazarus Mason (Atlanta, Ga.; Grayson) and then sinking a pair of free throws. Jones steadily chipped away as the half progressed, trimming the deficit to just two at 36-34.
Pearl River opened the second half with authority. Mason drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 43-34 and then 46-37. The advantage reached double digits with 11:22 remaining when Gilliland converted a push shot in the lane, making it 55-45.
PRCC followed with another 6-0 run. Gilliland split defenders for a layup before Mason threaded a pass inside to Garrison for a bucket. Garrison scored again on the next possession, extending the Wildcats' lead to 65-57.
Gilliland helped seal the win down the stretch and delivered the highlight of the night, soaring for a two-handed slam off a feed from Rich. He added two free throws shortly after to make it 75-63. Pearl River closed strong, cruising to an 83-71 victory.
LEADING THE WAY
Gilliland poured in a game-high 27 points while adding six rebounds and three assists. Leatherman was dominant on the glass, posting a massive double-double with 20 points and 22 rebounds.
"I think we have the advantage every single night with DJ," Oney said. "You've got to bring two guys to him every night, and that makes things tough for teams."
Mason finished with 15 points on 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc, while Garrison rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12.
NEXT UP
Pearl River returns to action Monday at Southwest, taking on the Bears at 7:30 p.m. The game will be livestreamed at Go.SMCCBears.TV.
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