ROCKLIN, Calif. -  Hosting their conference home opener, the men's basketball team welcomed the Vanguard Lions to Horton Court looking to capture their first conference win and continue their home-court success this season. The Lions fought back in the final minutes of the second half to hand the Warriors their first loss at home, 85-80 now 14-5 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

The Warrior's leading scorer for the night, Luis Medearis started things off at the tip with a three from downtown, adding another one in the next possession, while Keith Phillips also hit a 3-pointer as the Warriors led 9-4 in the first three minutes.

Continuing to battle the Warriors, Vanguard would take the lead from the home team twice midway through the first half before the Jessup pulled away on a 10-2 run to close the first half up by 18 points, 54-36.

Jessup held a double-figure lead through the halfway point of the second but the Lions didn't let up as Jessup led by as much of 20 to start and held just a 10-point lead at the 10-minute mark.

Vanguard hit back-to-back threes while Medearis continued to drive through the lane for the Warriors to cut the lead to five, but a dry spell followed as neither team scored in over four minutes with Jessup up by just one with less than three to play (73-72).

The Lions would take the lead to the finish while the Warriors continued to battle on home court for the Warrior fans.  Brandon Lindsey hit a late three to cut the lead to the same with just 4 seconds remaining in the game, but it wasn't enough as the Lions defeated the Warriors for the second conference win.

Medearis had his third 20-plus point game with 24, going 5-of-7 from beyond the arc to lead the Warriors. Four teammates followed also in double figures in Lindsey (15), Phillips (11), Antonio Lewis (11) and Brennan Rakoz (10).

The Warriors will head back to home court on Saturday looking to snap the nationally ranked Hope International's 15-game win streak and clinch their first conference win of the season at 3 pm in Warrior Arena. 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).