POPLARVILLE, Miss. (Interstat) — Mississippi Gulf Coast used a dominant defensive performance and capitalized on a slew of Pearl River mistakes to secure an 87-76 road victory in a men’s junior college basketball game Thursday night.

The Bulldogs improved their season record to 3-1, while the Wildcats fell to 1-1.

The game was ultimately decided by ball security and defensive pressure. Mississippi Gulf Coast forced Pearl River into 24 turnovers, converting those mistakes into numerous transition opportunities. The Bulldogs also recorded 15 steals, more than doubling the Wildcats’ total of seven. Despite shooting just 38.6 percent from the floor, Mississippi Gulf Coast’s ability to generate extra possessions proved critical.

Pearl River, which shot a more efficient 41.1 percent from the field, was hampered by its inability to take care of the ball and a significant disadvantage from beyond the arc. The Wildcats made only 4 of 20 three-point attempts, while the Bulldogs connected on 8 of 28.

A key factor in the Bulldogs’ victory was their performance at the free-throw line, where they attempted 34 shots, making 25. Pearl River was more efficient from the line, making 26 of 31, but the Bulldogs’ higher volume of attempts helped maintain their lead throughout the second half.

Mississippi Gulf Coast also controlled the offensive glass, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds to Pearl River’s eight, leading to 18 second-chance points.

Christian Gilliland led all scorers with 27 points for Pearl River in a losing effort. Teammate Daijon Leatherman recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, adding five blocks.

The Bulldogs’ offense was more balanced, with five players scoring in double figures. Duran Parish led the way with 17 points, followed by Za’Kariyea Hamilton with 16 and Zakariyya Dwight with 13. King George added 14 points and Matthew Hinton contributed 12 points off the bench.

The game was closely contested in the early going, with Mississippi Gulf Coast taking a narrow 43-37 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs maintained their defensive intensity in the second half, steadily building their lead and never allowing the Wildcats to mount a sustained comeback.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Pearl River had been projected with a 63.70 percent probability to win the contest.

Mississippi Gulf Coast will next play at home against Bishop State on Nov. 20. Pearl River is scheduled to host Holmes on Saturday.