ROCKLIN, Calif. - Coming off a double-overtime win last night to open the Bill Holtz Classic, the Warrior's men's basketball team took on Eastern Oregon in their second and final competition of the tournament lacking the intensity and energy needed to come out on top. 

Despite the strong start, the Mountaineers gained momentum through the end of the first half and maintained the lead to the finish, 94-85.

"I believe our defensive intensity is going to be our stamp," said Von Vogt. "But after a double overtime game last night, we expended a lot of energy, so today the defensive intensity and energy just wasn't there."

The Warriors jumped to an early lead in the first half against Eastern Oregon but the pace proved to be on Oregon's side as they took the lead down the stretch. Matt Wong for the Mountaineers hit back-to-back baskets for the first go ahead of the game for Oregon, 35-32 with three minutes left in the first half. 

Freshman Brandon Lindsey would push the Warriors in the final minutes of that half to gain momentum hitting two free-throws followed by leading scorer, Chris Murry, with a three from downtown with less than a minute to play.  Oregon would answer with their own from beyond the arc to solidify the lead 40-39 after the first 20 minutes.

Murry was perfect from the field in the first half going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc leading the Warriors with 15 points. He would continue his offensive dominance adding another 10 points in the second half, for a game-high 25 points.

"Chris (Murry) is a scorer and has a scorers mentality," coach Von Vogt said. "But we have to follow that up with play from the rest of the guys so we can capitalize on a night when he hits 5-5 in the first half."

The Warriors came out of the break strong only trailing the Mountaineers by no more than 5 through the 14 minute mark.  Starting forward, Brennan Rakoz would tie it up at 57 with a layup assisted by Elijah Lewis sparking the Warrior's intensity with 13-minutes left in regulation.

While cutting the margin to 7 with 1:25 left to play, the Warriors foul trouble deemed to be a factor leaving the bigs unable to defend aggressively.

"We were able to play non-traditional basketball last night, but tonight with how skilled their (Eastern Oregon) big guys were, being able to play the point as well as bring the ball up," Von Vogt replied, "we weren't able to do certain things due to our bigs facing foul trouble."

"This is one of those games we can learn from because we have to learn how to play when we aren't feeling our best," head coach Lance Von Vogt commented. "We had to change our style and we never really fully recovered."

The Warriors look to hit the gym this next week to continue to work and focus on the team as well as the teams they will face the following weeks on the road.

"We love getting on the road, that's the mark of a good team, being able to win in someone else's gym," concluded Von Vogt. It's a great opportunity for the guys to bond, lock in with each other and grow closer.  We are off to a good start at 4-1 and we will keep building from there."

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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).