WESSON – Jones County Junior College’s Brandon Wilson showcasedhis SEC-caliber basketball skills in Mullen Gymnasium Monday night.The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Rayville, La., accounted for 27 pointsand 11 rebounds, leading the Bobcats to an 87-81 South Divisionvictory against the Co-Lin Wolfpack.

“We didn’t have anybody who could guard Brandon Wilson,” saidCo-Lin assistant and interim head coach Cliff Furr. “He’s an SECplayer who can be an All-American.”

Wilson signed with Ole Miss out of Carroll High School butdidn’t meet freshman eligibility requirements so he opted for thejunior college ranks and landed in Ellisville. He was joined indouble figures by four teammates as guard Kendrick McDonald pumpedin 22 points, Tyrone Brinson 12, and Nic Combs and Todd McDonald 10apiece.

The Bobcats (8-5, 3-0) captured the MACJC State Tournament titlelast season, beating Co-Lin in the championship game. Theydisplayed plenty of potential last night, shooting 51 percent fromthe field. McDonald, a 6-5 sophomore from Heidelberg, hit 2 of 7treys.

Co-Lin (2-12, 0-3) gave a good effort but was derailed by 21turnovers. Offensively, sophomore Michael Campbell led Co-Lin with21 points and 10 rebounds. Freshmen Marcus Hooten and BlaineRoberts scored 19 and 16 points respectively.

The Wolves erased a 13-point, 50-37 deficit early in the secondhalf, gaining a 55-55 tie when Roberts netted a pair of free throwswith 10:26 left to play. They claimed a brief lead at 66-65 whenHooten scored on a driving layup with 5:16 remaining.

The Bobcats entered the double-bonus in the next transition.Wilson sank a turnaround jumper, McDonald hit a free throw andguard Kadeem Flaming cashed in a steal with a layup, giving JCJC a70-66 advantage they never relinquished.

Wilson’s jumper was followed by a dunk off a steal. A trey byMcDonald highlighted an 11-2 run that became a 76-68 margin.

“We play in waves. Our style has been a series of runs,”explained JCJC head coach Don Skelton. “Wilson is a good slasherand he has a lot of schools looking at him.

“Number Three (Fleming) was the difference when we went to a1-3-1 zone defense,” said Skelton. “He turned steals into points.”Fleming was credited with four steals.

Furr, subbing for head coach Dennis Sims who is recovering frommajor surgery, said his team was tired of losing. “We needvictories. I’m tired of moral victories.”

He said the Bobcats’ defense wilted the Wolves down the stretch.”The pressure got to us. Jones turned a two-point game into anine-point game.”

Co-Lin visits Gulf Coast at Perkinston Thursday night for aSouth Division doubleheader.