The Holmes Community College Bulldogs cleared their first hurdle at the NJCAA National Tournament on Monday.

Now they get one of the tournament’s big dogs.

Daryl Macon scored a game-high 29 points, Marcus Washington added 16, and Holmes beat Eastern Florida State College in the first round Monday.

Holmes advanced to play Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College, last year’s national runner-up, tonight at 6:30.

Holmes (24-6) led Eastern Florida by as many as 15 points early in the second half before blowing the lead and then rallying late for the win.

Eastern Florida used a 22-8 run to get within a point with 9:39 left, and took the lead on a layup by Djordje Beronja with about 7 minutes left.

Holmes then went on a 13-1 run to take a 66-56 lead with 1:22 left and managed to keep Eastern Florida at bay down the stretch.

Demetrius McReynolds led Eastern Florida with 17 points, and Beronja scored 13. Kyle Meyer had nine points and 14 rebounds.

Former Vicksburg High stars D’Angelo Richardson and Edward Davis, and former Warren Central star Gerald Glass all saw playing time for Holmes but didn’t score.