PHOENIX, Ariz.  - Conference matchups commenced for the Warriors after a short break taking on an NCAA Div. I opponent earlier this week, great preparation for another GSAC showdown between two nationally recognized teams this season.

The Warriors held the advantage early on at host Arizona Christian but a tie ballgame at the break made it an entertaining second half as Jessup had a late surge to take down the Firestorm 95-85 to improve to 16-6, 2-4.

Hot from the start from beyond the arc, the Warriors knocked down five three-pointers to open the first 7-minutes of play, delivered by four different players. The leader of the pack was sophomore Wilson LaShells who hit back-2-back threes followed by a bucket for eight points in his first three minutes off the bench.

Wilson has been fighting the flu for the last month and he is finally turning the corner and tonight he looked more like his normal self and I thought he gave us a big lift on both ends of the court," Von Vogt said. "I really liked the way we shared the ball tonight and that started with Brandon (Lindsey) and filtered through the team. We were able to make shots because the guys played so unselfishly."

The Warriors would take their largest lead in the first half of 15-points with seven minutes remaining, but the Firestorm chipped away at the lead defending home court with an 18-2 run to take the lead from Jessup for the first time at the 2-minute mark.

Sophomore point guard Brandon Lindsey would knock down a three-pointer closing out the opening half as both teams were locked at 40 a piece with a new ballgame ahead of them after the break.

The hot streak continued as leading scorer for the Warriors Luis Medearis opened the second half with a jumper, followed by four threes by Tate DeLaVeaga and Keith Phillips, the final two drained by none other than Medearis making it a 10-point game (54-44).

Exchanging baskets with the Firestorm but maintaining the lead, Jessup went ahead by as much as 16-points as Medearis read the pass for a steal and a finish on the other end to go up 85-71 with just over 2 minutes to play.

The Firestorm would knock down a trio of threes down the stretch, but the Warriors continued to capitalize on the other end to earn the win 95-85 over the Arizona Christian.

"I thought our team showed some real maturity tonight with how we kept our focus after the Grand Canyon game on Tuesday and also handling their performance tonight with Keith battling foul trouble throughout," Von Vogt said of his team. "Our rotation was thrown off but the bench held it down with Keith sitting next to me on the bench which bodes well for the next time if it happens again."

Medearis led the fleet with a season-high 23 points. He was joined in double-digits by teammates Phillips (16), DeLaVeaga (11), LaShells (11), Lindsey (10) and Brennan Rakoz pulling down 10 rebounds.

The Warriors will take a day off for travel before hitting the hardwood at San Diego Christian on Saturday at 3 pm.

"San Diego has been playing really well as of late and they are a very dangerous team that shoots lights out from behind the arc. It is going to take a total team effort to be successful against them on Saturday at their place," coach Von Vogt concluded.
   
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).