CLINTON — Looking for a spot in the NJCAA Region 23 championship game, Hinds Community College’s men’s basketball team ran into a buzzsaw instead.

Isaih Moore led four players in double figures for No. 2 Pearl River, and the Wildcats ended Hinds’ season with an 81-54 victory in the Region 23 semifinals at Mississippi College.

Jamarcus Jones had 12 points and seven rebounds for Pearl River, while Rodgerick Brown and Tae Hardy scored 10 points each.

Pearl River improved its record to 27-0, and will try to make history Friday in the championship game against Jones College. No Mississippi team has ever qualified for the NJCAA national tournament with an undefeated record.
Jones beat Northwest Mississippi 79-69 in the other semifinal on Thursday.

The championship game is Friday at 7 p.m. at Mississippi College. The MACJC champion earns an automatic bid to the national tournament, which beings March 16 in Hutchinson, Kansas.

“I know they’re going to be ready to play. Even if it wasn’t for an automatic bid to Hutch, they’re going to fight and be ready to play,” Pearl River coach Chris Oney said. “We’re going to enjoy this win and be ready for tomorrow night.”

Hinds (16-9) took a 13-12 lead in the first half, but PRCC answered with a 16-1 run and never looked back.

PRCC scored 14 of the last 19 points in the first half to lead 43-27 at halftime, and then scored the first six points of the second half. Hinds never got closer then 16 points the rest of the way.