DAVIS, Calif. - The Jessup men's basketball team traveled up the road for the annual NCAA Div. I exhibition with the UC Davis Aggies where a strong first half would be in favor of the Warriors but the 2018 Big West Champions showed up in the second half to take the final 83-65 victory.

"I'm proud of our effort today. I felt like we controlled the first half very well, but our careless turnovers allowed Davis to stay in the game rather than us taking a larger lead into the half," Von Vogt went said. "Give Davis credit for turning up the heat and making some big-time shots in the 2nd half to pull out the victory."

For the third-straight season, the Warriors traveled to Aggie's home court, where they led at the break for the first time and would lose by the smallest margin in the team's three year tradition.

Von Vogt expressed his gratitude for the tradition built with the local Aggies, "I appreciate Coach Les for scheduling us and allowing us the opportunity to compete against them every season. He is a class act and runs a great program."

The Warrior would trail early on but only by 5 points as the small deficit would diminish midway through the first half. Jessup would take their first lead of the game at the 12-minute mark as Keith Phillips hit back-to-back layups for the 20-17 advantage.

Rattler would continue Jessup's spark through the opening half knocking down a three from the corner for the 25-17 advantage at the midway point, leading the Warriors with 9 points at the break. A quick timeout for the Aggies would gain some momentum for the home team but Jessup continued to lead through the next 8 minutes of the half.

Milan capitalized on a fast break with an and-one while Jessup held their largest lead of the game, 35-25, at the final media timeout of the half with 4-minutes remaining. Headed into the break the Warriors were leading for the first time in the three-year matchup, 38-31. 

The second half would favor home court as Jessup lost the lead for the final time in the 14th-minute of the second half but would keep a single-digit deficit through the under seven-minute mark.

While just scoring 27 points in the second half, the Warriors improved their shooting from the first making 47-percent from the field. Leading in the points category was senior Tyras Rattler with 14, with Milan close behind with 13 and closing out the double-digits, Keith Phillips and Oliver Amajoyi with 10. Amajoyi was one rebound shy of a double-double with 9 and Phillips closed out with 8 respectively.

The Warriors will turn around and hit their home court tomorrow as they host the WJU Holiday Tip-off starting things against Westcliff College tomorrow night at 7 pm and close-out the Classic against Pacific Union on Wednesday at 3 pm.

"I know we got better against a quality division program like Davis and we will take what we learned and apply it as we continue our season," Von Vogt concluded. "This group of guys is special and we will continue to get better every day and by the end of the season we will be the best version of ourselves."

   
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).