SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -  The Warriors closed out their opening weekend of conference matchups in a Top-25 showdown with the nationally ranked No. 5 in the country, The Master's University. Up by as much as 11 points in the second half, the Mustangs rallied back to take the lead and finish on top with a 97-89 victory over the Warriors.

With seven lead changes, three ties and a two-point game with less than a minute to play, the Warriors fought hard in what was their second down to the wire game in the past three days.

Head coach Lance Von Vogt said of his team, "Proud of the effort today despite the final outcome. Masters might be the most complete team in the country and to have an opportunity to win the game down the stretch is a testament to the growth of our basketball program."

Hot out the gate again today, the Warriors held an 8-2 advantage after back-to-back threes from Tate DeLaVeaga and an opening jumper for Luis Medearis. But it didn't stop there, Jessup would go up by 12 with just under 11 minutes to play in the first half when Medearis connected from downtown.

But the nationally recognized Mustangs wouldn't go down without a fight as they cut the lead to one with a minute remaining in the first half, the Warriors with the slight edge 47-46 at the break.

While shooting 46.2 percent from the field, the Warriors were an impressive 8-15 from behind the arc in, DeLaVeaga leading 3-of-4 and Medearis shooting 50-percent 3-of-6. Brandon Lindsey led the force with 12 points and 4 assists in the opening half.

The Mustangs would take their first lead of the game at the 19-minute mark of the second half. Jessup answered back and would take an 11-point lead with 12 minutes remaining but four three's by the Mustangs in straight possessions would make it a one-point game again with 10 minutes remaining. 

"I am not sure I've ever seen an 11 point lead vanish as quickly as it did today with the 10 threes they hit in the second half," Von Vogt said.

In what would be another down to the wire game, the Warriors trailed 89-91 after a deep three from Lindsey with 52-seconds remaining, but a quick layup and 4-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch, the Mustangs prevailed.

Lindsey led the Warriors with a season-high 25 points, while three more Warriors finished in double-figures in Medearis and DeLaVeaga (19) and Keith Phillips (17).

Heading back to Horton Court, the Warriors will host their first conference matchups this coming week facing Vanguard at 7:30 pm Thursday and Saturday against another ranked opponent, Hope International at 3 pm.

"We will build from this effort and continue to trust the process and anchor ourselves in the details of the game," Coach Von Vogt reflected. "The team we have is built to respond to this type of loss and this type of adversity."
   
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).