PEARL RIVER, Miss. (Interstat) — Christian Gilliland scored 29 points and Daijon Leatherman added 19 as the Pearl River Wildcats used a dominant second quarter to pull away from the East Mississippi Lions for a 76-65 men’s junior college basketball victory Tuesday night.

The Wildcats, who improved to 5-7, outscored the Lions 40-33 after halftime to break open what had been a tightly contested game. Pearl River led 36-32 at intermission but steadily built its advantage in the final 20 minutes, capitalizing on East Mississippi’s ball-handling struggles and controlling the glass.

The most important stretch of the game came early in the second quarter when Pearl River extended a four-point lead. Following a 3-pointer by East Mississippi’s Maurice Henderson that cut the deficit to 48-45, the Wildcats clamped down defensively. They forced three consecutive Lions turnovers over the next 90 seconds, part of an 18-10 run that gave them a double-digit cushion from which East Mississippi never recovered. The Lions committed 18 turnovers in the game, leading to 19 points for the Wildcats.

Gilliland, Pearl River’s top performer, was efficient from the floor and the free-throw line. He shot 10 for 18 from the field and added eight free throws. His scoring, particularly during key stretches in both quarters, consistently stifled East Mississippi’s attempts to build momentum. Leatherman provided crucial interior support, shooting 9 for 15 and grabbing seven rebounds.

Diovion Famakinde led all scorers for East Mississippi (8-8) with 24 points in just 22 minutes of action. DeAndre Lewis contributed 11 points for the Lions, who shot just 47.2% from the field and a costly 55.6% from the free-throw line.

Pearl River’s victory was built on superior efficiency and rebounding. The Wildcats posted an offensive rating of 111.2 points per 100 possessions, significantly better than the Lions’ 88.4. They also won the rebounding battle decisively, 36-26, including a 10-6 edge on the offensive glass that led to 12 second-chance points.

Beyond the starring roles, Pearl River received balanced contributions. Reece Garrison filled the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Kelan Rich had 11 points, five rebounds and six assists. For East Mississippi, Maurice Henderson had seven points, six rebounds and five assists.

The loss extended a difficult stretch for East Mississippi, which has now dropped four of its last five games. Pearl River, meanwhile, won its second consecutive contest following a road win at Delgado on Jan. 10, where Gilliland also starred with 24 points.

Pearl River next plays on the road Thursday at Holmes. East Mississippi returns home to face Meridian on Thursday.