ROCKLIN, Calif. - The Warriors went out with a bang before the Christmas break with a down-to-the-wire battle with the Southern Oregon Raiders that ended in their favor, 73-70 remaining undefeated on Horton Court and continuing their program-best start 12-2.
Head coach in his fifth season, Lance Von Vogt gives credit to the nationally recognized NAIA Div. II team and their level of competition, "Make no mistake about it, that was a big win for us. Southern Oregon is a terrific team that stretches you defensively on every possession covering a multitude of actions over and over."
The Warriors started things off strong with the leading scorers for the day, Brandon Lindsey and Keith Phillips helping their teammates to a 5-0 start. But it was a back-and-forth change in baskets through the first half where Jessup had as large as an 11-point lead with less than three minutes to play, closing the opening half with an eight-point advantage, 35-27.
In the second half, the Warriors would continue that momentum out the gate with a quick basket from Phillips in the paint. Up by as much as 17-points with 13 minutes to play in regulation, the Raiders sparked a 12-2 run to get under double-digits but Phillips would answer back with a deep three for the 54-42 lead midway through the second half.
"I thought we did a great job first 27 minutes and we had to hold on down the stretch when they got it going," Von Vogt said.
With a shift in momentum favoring the visitors, the Raiders would go on another run, 11-2 this time, to get within six points with 4:25 on the clock. But it didn't stop there, every lead the Warriors took, Southern Oregon would answer back with what would become a one-possession game with 11 seconds on the clock, and later 3 seconds on the clock.
"Looking forward I believe that this game against Southern Oregon will pay dividends down the stretch because we had to figure out how to dig it out in the end," commented Von Vogt. "Southern Oregon gets a lot of credit for coming back from down 17 points to make a game of it, making a lot of big-time shots that made us lock in and make sure we earned the victory."
But the season-best 21-for-24 from the charity stripe for the Warriors helped down the stretch, with Lindsey leading the way going 9-9 as the Warriors took it 73-70.
Phillips led the Warriors in points with 19, but Lindsey posted his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds from the point position. Close behind was Antonio Lewis with 10 points and 6 rebounds and Tate DeLaVeaga and Luis Medearis both contributing 9 points each.
"Big-time credit for Brandon Lindsey with 10 rebounds from the point guard position," Von Vogt said, "and his free throws down the stretch! I thought Phillips was his normal self, Tone played a great game coming off the bench really giving us a lift and I really like what I am seeing in Tate, after foul trouble in the first half, he gave us a big shift in the second half."
The Warriors close out the first semester at home 12-2 but will return before the New Year hosting the Jessup New Year's Classic December 28-30th with a pair of games left to finish the year strong before conference play starts up the first week in January.
"It was great to end the first semester with the win before Christmas. We will take a few days off and then will come back out with a couple of very good the teams after the break in preparation for a league play," Von Vogt concluded.
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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) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat).
