ROCKLIN, Calif. - Luis Medearis and Isaiah Milan have led the Jessup men's basketball team's offensive attack nearly the entire season and Saturday night was another dominant display by the senior backcourt duo as they combined to score 50 points leading Jessup to a 98-82 win over Menlo.
While Medearis led the Warriors (10-5, GSAC 2-1) early on with 16 first-half points, Milan caught fire in the second-half helping the Warriors win their 10th game of the season.
Coach Lance Von Vogt said he was pleased with his team's offensive execution after scoring their second-highest point total this year, "I'm happy with how we shared the ball tonight and found a rhythm offensively. Our shot selection is really beginning to improve and we are beginning to trust each other."
However, the game began in the Oaks favor as they took an 11-6 lead by the 14-minute mark as Medearis tried to keep the Warriors within striking distance as he scored his team's first four points.
Later in the half, the Warriors took their first lead of the night after a 5-0 solo run from Medearis that gave Jessup a 28-27 lead with 6:15 left. Then in the final minute of the half, the Warriors got a three from Wilson Lashells and two free-throws from Milan that gave Jessup a 44-40 halftime lead.
Von Vogt also noted that his team's second-half defensive adjustments were key to the win as well. "Defensively we still need to put together a 40-minute game. Menlo played exceptionally well, but I thought we made the appropriate in-game adjustments in the final 10 minutes of the game and that allowed us to close it out."
In the second half, Medearis continued his strong play scoring seven points in the opening four minutes as the Warriors held a 54-48 lead.
Over the next four minutes, Menlo answered nicely as they cut Jessup's lead down to two with 12:37 remaining before Milan got on track as he scored or assisted on five of Jessup's next six baskets helping push the lead into double figures at 88-74.
The Warriors were able to get their lead up to 16 on a beautiful dish from Milan to Tarren Storey-Way and while Menlo went into a full-court trapping defense in the final minutes, the Warriors held off the Oaks thanks to 16 second-half points from Milan.
Medearis led all scorers with 27 points and a career-high 13 rebounds as he tallied his second double-double, Milan was right behind him with 23 points and 9 assists.
Von Vogt lauded his backcourt for their strong play. "Zay (Milan) and Luis (Medearis) were both fantastic tonight. Luis with his scoring and rebounding and Zay with his game management at the point position, passing, and scoring in the second."
Jourdan Johnson also had a nice performance adding 13 points, while Storey-Way matched his effort adding 13 points of his own. As a team, the Warriors shot a blistering 62-percent from the field and had 22 assists.
They'll look to continue their strong offensive play Thursday when they host No. 2 The Master's Thursday night at 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).
