The East Central Community College Warriors saw their season come to an end after falling 74-54 to the top-seeded Jones College Bobcats in a first-round game Wednesday, March 6, in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 23 Basketball Tournament at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the Mississippi College campus in Clinton.

Playing without its top scorer Roti Ware (Morton), the Warriors could not keep pace with Jones in the second half.

East Central led early 12-8, but Jones would outscore the Warriors 20-9 the rest of the first half to take a 28-21 lead at intermission. The game was as close as four points early in the second half, before the Bobcats pulled away for the 20-point win.

It was the third time this season the two teams had met, with Jones winning 71-69 in overtime on Jan. 17 in Ellisville, and East Central coming out on top 84-81 Feb. 11 in Decatur.

Sophomore guard Josh Green (Harrison Central) led East Central with 14 points and was the only Warrior in double figures. The Warriors were led in rebounding by freshman forward Dontavious Smith (Terry) with eight and in assists by Nick Preyer (Mobile, Ala., LeFlore) with six.

East Central turned the ball over 29 times in the loss.

East Central was the No. 8 seed in the tournament and finished the season with a 13-12 record. Jones, 21-6, advances to meet Pearl River on Thursday, March 8, in a one semifinal game. Gulf Coast and Holmes will meet in the other men's semifinal game.