PEARL RIVER (Interstat) — Christian Gilliland scored 29 points to lead the Pearl River Wildcats to a 76-65 men’s junior college basketball victory over the East Mississippi Lions on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats used a decisive rebounding edge, 36-26, and efficient offense to pull away. Pearl River shot 27 of 53 from the floor and converted 18 of 26 free throws. East Mississippi’s Diovion Famakinde led all scorers with 24 points, but the Lions struggled from distance, making only 5 of 20 three-point attempts and committing 18 turnovers.

Pearl River improved to 5-7. East Mississippi fell to 8-8.