ATHERTON, Calif. – The Warriors (16-7, 8-4) played a classic conference basketball game on the road at Menlo College (9-16, 3-9) in which anything can happen. On this night, Jessup hit a last second jumper to buy a bonus five minutes on the game clock in the form of a single overtime where the Warriors would come out victorious 89-87.
The Warriors traveled to Atherton on Tuesday with a hanging thought of avenging the upset Menlo doled out to the Warriors earlier in the season at Warrior Arena. Jessup knew that the task would not be an easy one, despite a 3-9 conference record Menlo recently defeated then 10th ranked Arizona Christian University in Atherton.
Add that to the fact Tuesday night was a GSAC game on the road, plus take into consideration the rivalry between Jessup and Menlo which dates back to when each team played each other as part of the California Pacific Conference and, well, anything can happen.
As the game clock began to count down, it seemed the Warrior's search for payback would prevail on the night as Saajid Polite (Sacramento, CA) began to orchestrate his best game of the season. After Polite hit back-to-back 3-pointers Jessup had etched out an 11 point lead with eight minutes remaining in the half and it appeared Menlo wouldn't be able to slow down Warriors' scoring machine.
It turns out, though, Menlo only needed to get the free throw line. Menlo hit an impressive 9 out of 10 of the free shots in the opening half and that proved to be enough to keep the game within reach, despite the Warriors connecting on 65% of their field goals in the opening half including 60% from behind the extra point arc. After the conclusion of the opening 20 minutes, the score showed the Warriors in front 38-32.
At the end of the halftime intermission, both teams dove into the trenches to slug out the remaining 20 minutes. Nobody who stepped on the court held back anything. Over the course of the remaining 20 minutes, everyone fortunate enough to be watching the game was treated to seven lead changes and seven ties with neither team posting a lead larger than five points.
The two teams found themselves even at 72 with just under two minutes left to decide the game. Menlo scored first with a minute and ten seconds remaining but Jessup looked confident. A turnover turned that confidence into an urgency to regain possession and the Warriors elected to attempt to regain possession by forcing the Oaks to shoot free throws.
Free throws; however, were the Oaks specialty this night. They drained both and Jessup found themselves in a very precarious situation down by two possessions; four points, with only 19 seconds to make up the difference.
Polite drove hard to the basket drawing the defense in and quickly kicking the ball to the corner where sophomore Guillermo Nunez (Manteca, CA) was waiting for the open jump shot. The ball rattled into, then back out of the basket but senior Desmond Floyd (Gilbert, AZ) had found position, nabbed the board, and hit a quick turnaround fade-away to bring the game back within two.
Jessup's hand was now forced to foul in order to stop the clock with only 13 seconds remaining and Menlo in control of the basketball. This time, Menlo missed the front end of their one-and-one. Polite had the hot hand on the night and was called on to take the final shot.
Polite went for the win from behind the 3-point line but missed. With only three seconds remaining it was Nunez now who had possession under the basket. He grabbed the board and quickly put the ball back in the hoop to bring the game back to an even 76-76 and force the game into overtime.
"Guillermo had one rebound tonight and it was a good time for him to get that rebound," said a jovial Warrior head coach Lance Von Vogt after the game.
Jessup had the momentum now headed into the extra five minutes of play and they elected to pound the ball inside to senior big man Andre Smith (San Diego, CA). Smith would score nine of his 15 points in that final five minutes playing no small role in ensuring the Warrior 89-87 victory.
"Menlo played amazing and pushed us all night long, it is a shame a team had to lose," said Von Vogt. "Our two keys to victory tonight were toughness and resiliency. I believe we displayed both tonight and that's why we came up with the victory."
Polite had a career game on the night scoring 32 points and dishing out four assists. Smith recorded his seventh double-double of the 2015-2016 season finishing the game with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Michael Patterson (Amarillo, TX) and Floyd would each contribute double-digits to the Jessup scoreboard posting 12 and 10 points respectively.
Jessup will have to turn around to face another intense battle when they host Vanguard University on Thursday, February 11, at 7:30 p.m. The Warriors are now fighting for seeding position in the post-season GSAC tournament. After taking on Vanguard on Thursday, they will still have to face San Diego Christian and No. 19 Arizona Christian on the road before hosting No. 16 Westmont at home on February 25 for senior night.
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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).
