PHOENIX, Ariz. - For the fourth consecutive season, the men's basketball team made the trip to the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament with hopes of continuing to the familiar NAIA National Tournament. In their first matchup, the (6) Warriors faced the No. 3 team in the conference and the No. 14 team in the nation, Westmont College. Jessup (19-12, 5-9) fell behind early and wasn't able to catch momentum as they finished the season in a 98-74 loss in the battle of the Warriors.

Head coach Lance Von Vogt credits his opponent, "Westmont played fabulous today and definitely earned the right to move on in tournament play. I wish John and his team all the best as they move forward in the tournament."

The Warriors would trail 14-0 before Antonio Lewis would light up the board with the first five points of the game for Jessup. At the mid-way point in the first half, the Warriors would cut it to four with an 8-0 run, compliments of back-to-back three's from Luis Medearis and Brandon Lindsey.

But Westmont would extend the lead to double figures with 4-minutes left holding steady into the break, 42-28. The nationally recognized Warriors would finish shooting 56-percent in the first half, improving to 65-percent in the second half, while Jessup was 36-percent from the field in the latter half.

With Westmont's largest lead out the gate in the second half, Jessup had a lot of work to do to chip away at the deficit. A late 13-2 run with 6-minutes remaining would get the Warriors within 19 points, but another Westmont run would follow, then again answered by the Warriors would come a too late as Jessup fell to Westmont.

Five players would lead in double figures on the night led by sophomore point guard Brandon Lindsey with 17 points, Keith Phillips would contribute 14 points with teammate Luis Medearis, while Antonio Lewis had 11 and Wilson LaShells had 10. 

Closing out their career with the Warriors Von Vogt is appreciative of the seniors, "I am so grateful to the seniors Brennan Rakoz, Jayvon Stone, Brandon Ruffin and PJ Posey. Each guy has sacrificed for each other and the team. I believe the team also has served them well as they have developed into fine young men of character that will represent Jessup and Jesus well as they go out into life after college."

The Warriors close the season tying the program's best season wins of 19 wins with many players inking their names in the record books.

"I am very proud of this group of men," Von Vogt concluded. "While today's game ended our season it most certainly doesn't diminish what this group of men achieved and overcame together in the past year."

   
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).