BOBCATS, TIGERS SET FOR CRITICAL JUNIOR COLLEGE SHOWDOWN

CLARKSDALE, Miss. (Interstat) — A surging Coahoma Community College team hosts a Jones College squad looking to rebound in a key Mississippi junior college men’s basketball matchup Thursday night.

The Coahoma Tigers (7-1), riding high after a 75-63 road win at Meridian on Tuesday, will defend their home court against the Jones Bobcats (13-6), who are coming off a narrow 75-74 home loss to Itawamba on Monday.

The game features two of the region’s top performers. Jones is led by guard Dylan Rowe, who is averaging 19.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists over his last five games. Rowe posted a 20-point, 7-rebound effort in the loss to Itawamba and a 31-point outburst in a win at Holmes on Jan. 29.

Coahoma counters with dynamic guard Jaidyn Rankins. In the Tigers’ last four games, Rankins has stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest. He nearly recorded a triple-double with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in the win over Meridian.

Jones has shown a potent offense, scoring 100 points in a win over Hinds on Jan. 12 and averaging 82.6 points in its last five outings. However, consistency has been an issue; the Bobcats’ six losses include a 101-81 defeat at Gulf Coast State and a double-overtime 116-114 home loss to Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Coahoma’s lone loss was a 81-75 road defeat at Northeast Mississippi on Jan. 20. Since then, the Tigers have won two straight, including a 94-86 victory over Northwest Mississippi where Rankins scored 30 points.

The Bobcats will need secondary scoring behind Rowe to counter Coahoma’s momentum. Bob Dickson (14 points, 9 rebounds) and Keron Jackson (22 points) provided support in the last game.

Thursday’s contest is the only scheduled meeting this season between the two programs. Jones visits Northwest Mississippi on Feb. 12, while Coahoma travels to Copiah-Lincoln on Feb. 7.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Coahoma Community College campus.