ROCKLIN, Calif. –  After a strong start to conference play, the Warriors hoped to take down the ninth-ranked Hope International Royals. It was a tough game. The Warriors were down throughout most of regulation, but their determination saw payoff as the Warriors won in double overtime. The final score read 93-91, which took the Warriors to 7-3 overall, 2-0 in GSAC.
 
The win marked head coach Lance Von Vogt's 200^thcareer win. Von Vogt said, "Having this game be my 200th career win is crazy. Double overtime against #9 in the country the movies couldn't make this up." The win straight from a movie was extra special to the team as Von Vogt explained, "Tonight the team honored Kevin McLemore with an ugly win. Kevin was an ugly player that was toughest guy on the floor. It was only fitting that these men did it his way."
 
The entire game was a battle. The first half saw the Warriors and Royals trade the lead four times in the first five minutes, but the Royals took the lead with fourteen minutes on the clock and held it throughout the half. The Warriors defense was strong, but the Royals were able to break through. The Warriors shot 29.7% in the first half, and were 23.5% at the arch. Keith Philips led the first half scoring with 12 points and Antonio Lewis was right behind with 8 of his own. The first half ended with the Warriors trailing, 42-30.
 
The second half saw better shooting in the field for the Warriors with 34.7% at the end of regulation. That bump in shooting percentage helped the Warriors shrink the deficit. Philips landed back-to-back tricky layups with 12 minutes remaining to get the Warriors off the ledge. The Warriors continued a slow and steady climb, and, by the seven-minute mark, the Warriors had gotten the deficit down to four points. That steady push continued with the Warriors unable to upset the difference until Isaiah Milan landed a clutch layup with 50 seconds remaining to tie the game, 69-69. The last few seconds were filled with excitement in the Warriors Arena as Phillips tied the game on a layup and took the lead with a free throw. However, the Royals were able to get the game back to a tie, 72-72, thus sending the Warriors and Royals into overtime.
 
The Warriors took the lead in overtime on a free throw by Milan, but the back-and-forth from the first half returned as the Royals and Warriors fought hard to tip the scales into their favor. That struggle sent the teams into double overtime where the lead flipped between the Royals and Warriors until the last possible second. With four seconds on the clock, Phillips took a free throw that gave the Warriors the advantage, and the Royals were unable to come up with a response. The Warriors won 93-91.
 
"I couldn't be prouder of any group of men than I am of these men on this team right now. This has become more than a team. It has become family with all the amazing bumps and bruises that families have." Von Vogt marveled on the team's determination after the game, "These guys have embraced and accepted each other for who they are good, bad and ugly. They each other to become the best version of themselves every day. I believe this group has a chance to be very special and that is exciting."
 
Phillips set a personal season-high as he led the team in scoring with 33 points. Darrell Polee followed with 16, Milan and Tyras Rattler Jr. had 13, and Lewis had 10. Overall the team finished the game shooting 37% on the field, 22.9% from the arch, and 75.8% from the charity stripe. The Royals shot 45.7% from the field, 18.2% at the three, and 76.5% from the free throw line. The Warriors were able to pick up 44 rebounds, eight due to Rattler Jr., while the Royals had 55. On those rebounds, the Warriors were able to earn 19 points and 16-second chance points. Both teams made the most of the chances given to them as each earned 21 points off of turnovers.
 
"Keith (Phillips) played his heart out tonight as well as all the other guys did as well, but Keith was special tonight and he came up big at big moments," Von Vogt concluded. 
 
The Warriors take a short break before heading to UC Davis for an exhibition game on December 16th and then they return home for the William Jessup University Holiday Tip-Off on December 17th and 19th. 
 
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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).