Klamath Falls (Ore.) - The Jessup men's basketball team (4-3) lost another nail biter to Danny Miles' unbeaten Oregon Tech Owls (7-0) on the Danny Miles Court on Saturday 84-81.
The Warriors were searching to avenge their one point loss at home to the Owls earlier this season and win their final meeting with Hall of Fame coach Danny Miles as he is set to retire at the end of the season. The Owls had other plans; however, and were able to scrap out a second close victory.
The game was a heavyweight bought through and through with the teams dancing and trading blows, keeping fans on the edge of their seats through the game's entirety. There were 11 lead changes in the first half alone but a last minute run by the Warriors in the first period of play fueled by baskets from Guillermo Nunez (Manteca, CA), Darius Clement (Las Vegas, NV) and Brenton Muldrow (Riverside, CA) gave Jessup a six point advantage during the locker room talks 40-34.
Jessup held momentum through the break, lunging forward at the outset of the second half and extending their lead to 10 in the opening two minutes of the final period of play. Oregon Tech found a shooting rhythm and a couple three pointers closed the gap quickly. Again, the teams began to trade baskets in the fast paced chess game.
The Owls looked like they had found an opening against the Warriors as they continued their long range barrage from behind the arc, a mid-half push gave the Midland Classic Tournament host a 12 point advantage with seven minutes remaining and forced Jessup to rally out of a corner. Hardnosed, intense defense was the solution and the Warriors found a 13-3 run capped by a long range 3-pointer from Nunez to bring the game back with-in two.
With 12 seconds remaining and possession of a three point lead, the Owls elected to send big man Desmond Floyd (Gilmore, AZ) to the free throw line. Floyd calmly accepted the role and nailed both buckets to put the game within one. A quick foul by Jessup to stop the clock sent OIT's Austen Flint to the line but he managed to mirror Floyd's performance and sunk both.
Again Oregon Tech fouled with less than one second remaining but before Jessup could attempt a tying three point shot and the clock expired over a 3 point deficit belonging to the Warriors.
Despite another close loss, the Warriors managed to jump to a good start in the first half, something head coach Lance Von Vogt stressed to his team at the game's outset. Both Clement and Floyd reached the 20 point mark and combined for 14 rebounds while senior center Andre Smith (San Diego, CA) landed a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds while Nunez added 11 points to the Warrior's score.
Jessup's road stint continues on Wednesday as they travel to play an exhibition game against NCAA DII Humboldt State on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 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).
