Summit, Miss. – The East Central Community College Warriors put together a dominant performance on the road, never trailing as they secured a 77-68 victory over Southwest Mississippi Community College in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament on Thursday night.

Avenging an 81-78 regular-season loss to the Bears, the Warriors came out strong and controlled the game from start to finish. ECCC jumped out to a 45-38 halftime lead and never looked back, maintaining their composure in the second half to punch their ticket to the next round.

Tamarion Jones led the way with 17 points, including three key three-pointers, while Amare Holmes and Connor Rogers each contributed 13 points. Fateh Bensalah made a major impact in the paint, recording a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Warriors dominated the boards, out-rebounding Southwest 47-35, and played stifling defense to keep the Bears from ever taking the lead.

"This was a complete team effort," said head coach Dylan Shields. "We executed our game plan, stayed aggressive, and confidently played from the opening tip. The guys knew what was at stake, and they delivered."

With the win, ECCC moves on to the next NJCAA Region 23 Tournament round, inching closer to a national tournament berth. The Warriors will now shift their focus to their next opponent as they look to continue their postseason run.