ROCKLIN, Calif. - After a thrilling comeback win on Monday night, the Warriors ended the 2019 calendar year with a nearly complete performance as the Jessup men's basketball team avenged an early-season loss to UC Merced winning 87-76 Tuesday evening.
Jessup (9-5) had six Warriors score in double figures led by Isaiah Milan's 15 points. Coach Lance Von Vogt said the offensive balance was one of the keys to victory. "It was fantastic to see the balanced scoring tonight, especially after we shot so poorly in last night's win. When six guys score in double figures that means we'll be tough to guard because you can't focus on just one option."
While the win was a good way to close 2019, the game didn't begin that way as UC Merced quickly took a 12-2 lead in the opening four minutes of play before Jourdan Johnson calmed things down for Jessup with a solo 5-0 run cutting the deficit to eight.
Shortly after that, the Warriors bench got into the action as Jayden DeJoseph hit a three and Sam Howlin threw down a two-handed slam while being fouled cutting the Bobcat lead to 19-17 with 11:41 left.
The freshmen center continued his strong play off the bench as the La Habra native scored on back-to-back possessions at the nine-minute mark giving Jessup its' first lead of the night at 26-24.
Von Vogt noted Howlin's effective play early on as a good sign of things to come. "Sam really played well when Oliver(Amajoyi) picked up two quick fouls. If we get those two guys going it can change the game for us. It'll be like having two starting centers."
The Warriors then took their first double-digit lead of the game at the 3:47 mark thanks to a lay-in from DeJoseph, and at the half Jessup led 42-36.
In the second half, the Warriors again pushed their lead to double-figures when Oliver Amajoyi hit his first three-pointer of the season as Jessup led 50-38.
However, UCM had one last run in them as they eventually cut the Warriors' lead down to three at 55-52 with 12:42 left.
Then in the games final 10 minutes, Jessup had an answer for each Bobcat score as Merced never got the lead into single digits and the Warriors took home the 11-point win. The Warriors were buoyed by an 8-0 run including back-to-back threes from DeJoseph.
Austin Dill had a strong second half scoring eight of his 10 points in the final 20 minutes and also tied Luis Medearis with a team-high seven boards. The other four double-figure scorers for Jessup were Howlin with 13, Jourdan Johnson and DeJoseph with 12 apiece, and Medearis also had 10.
"We are just now starting to figure out some things with this team. It's been a tough year with so many injuries and playing a different rotation every game, but the guys haven't quit or hung there head which gives us great hope for the season. We have everything we need to get where we want to go."
The Warriors will look to continue their winning ways in GSAC action Saturday night at home against Menlo, tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
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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).
