MERCED, Calif. – After a long offseason full of recruiting and preparation, the William Jessup University men's basketball program kicked off their 2015 regular season Thursday at UC Merced. After a slow start to the game, Jessup shook off their rust and turned in a strong second half en route to a 57-56 victory.
Jessup got off to a shaky start Thursday, finding themselves scoreless after their first possessions. Things finally looked to be clicking for the Warriors with about 12 minutes remaining in the first half when senior Desmond Floyd (Gilbert, AZ) collected the offensive rebound and hit a contested jumper. Jessup would cash in the momentum, going on an 8-0 run to take an eight-point lead.
Merced quickly countered, starting a 10-1 run of their own to go ahead of the Warriors, but Jessup stole the lead right back on a dunk from junior Micheal Patterson (Amarillo, TX). At the half, Jessup was shooting just 33% (9-for-27), but they held a very narrow 25-24 lead.
"We didn't really make too many halftime adjustments," said head coach Lance Von Vogt. "We really just reinforced our game plan, but more than anything we told the guys to settle down."
Jessup definitely looked calmer to start the second half, firing off a 9-0 run that was capped by a big 3-pointer from senior Cody Wilcox (Grass Valley, CA). The Bobcats tried to claw back into the game, trimming Jessup's lead to just three, but the Warriors scored a quick basket before calling a timeout to regroup with 10-minutes remaining, and momentum drifting away.
With just under five-minutes to play, Merced stole away all the momentum of the game, taking the lead for the first time in the half. The Warriors didn't help themselves, missing four free throws on back-to-back possessions.
While the game and crowd heavily favored the Bobcats, Jessup was determined to persevere as they fought back to take a 55-54 lead with a minute remaining. Senior Corey Clement (Las Vegas, NV) showed leadership, scoring six-straight to take back the high ground. The final basket; however, came by way of a jump shot by Junior Kelton Newman (Elk Grove, CA) with 12 seconds left to win the game.
"I thought the guys played terrific tonight in the clutch," said Von Vogt. "We closed the game on an 8-2 run, but it easily could have been more had we made a couple more free throws…We went to Kelton (Newman) on the final play because we knew they would double-team Corey (Clement). Kelton's hit big shots before and I trusted he'd hit a big one again for us tonight."
Offensively, leading the way for Jessup was Clement. After redshirting the previous season, Clement returned to action with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Floyd was the game's leading rebounder as he pulled down 11 boards to go along with 8 points. Patterson added 9 points, and Newman finished with 7 points.
The season continues on Tuesday, November 3, when the Warriors play host to their highly anticipated home opener. Jessup will take on old rival Simpson University inside the Warrior Arena. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook), @WJUSports (Twitter), and @JessupAthletics (Instagram, and Snapchat).
