PORTLAND, Ore. - After opening the season Wednesday night in Fresno, the Warriors traveled north for the first of two games at the U.S. Bank Portland Invitational. First on the docket for the weekend doubleheader was a Black Friday matchup against the Seattle University Redhawks.
 
After surrendering another large first-half run, the Warriors would settle in to play competitive basketball with their NCAA Division I level opponent. In the end, the first half run proved to be the difference in the game as it was the Redhawks who took this one, 77-53.
 
"We made some strides in the right direction today, but we still had too many self-inflicted errors," said head coach Lance Von Vogt who noted that his team, which includes ten new players, showed signs of resilience out on the court.
 
In almost identical fashion to Wednesday, the Warriors started with a quick 6-3 lead after a Tarren Storey-Way 3-pointer. Over the next 8:58, the Warriors would not score another point as the Redhawks embarked on a commanding 22-0 run.
 
"We have to be able to execute on offense without having these stretches of eight minutes where we don't score," added Von Vogt. "It just puts you in a hole that's hard to dig out of even when you do get your runs; you've created such a big hole that it's hard to get back on the right side of that."
 
Jessup found composure over a three-possession stretch that saw Matt Lyon score on all possessions, forcing a Seattle timeout. Again, Seattle threw a counter punch out of the timeout with a quick 7-0 run. The Warriors entered the break trailing by 14.
 
Out of the lockerroom, Jessup seemed to settle down and find their composure, matching basket for basket in the early going. In seemingly identical fashion to Wednesday, Jessup clawed back into contention with an 8-2 run midway through the second half.
 
That run was capped by a Tim Strijaous steal, which ultimately led to a Jordan Adams three. Following this basket, Jessup failed to score another point for the next 4:30, ceasing their gained momentum.
 
"We had a chance to take the lead down to ten, or even below ten, and we didn't take advantage of it," said Von Vogt of the second-half charge. "We had two or three errors in a row."
 
Jessup would cut the deficit to as little as 13 in the second half, which occurred with 6:43 left to play.
 
Leading the box score for the Warriors Friday was a combined effort of Storey-Way and freshman Myles Corey who each scored nine points. Adams would add seven in his 12 minutes off the bench. Strijaous led the team in rebounds for the second consecutive game, finishing with six.
 
The Redhawks had three players finish in double-figures. Darrion Trammell led all players with 19. On the day, Seattle shot 43.5-percent from the field, connecting on 30 of their 69 field goal attempts.
 
Coming off of a sub-30-percent shooting performance Wednesday, the Warriors improved their game with a 32.6-percent showing. From the free-throw line, Jessup made 72-percent of their attempts.
 
The Warriors will have no time to dwell on the loss as the season continues tomorrow afternoon with a noon tipoff against the University of Portland.
 
Fatigue will not be a factor tomorrow, says Von Vogt, as his team will be playing their third game in four days.
 
"We've been waiting since March to get back on the basketball court and play against other teams. It's a blessing to be able to play, especially when you see the number of cancellations across the country.
 
Tomorrow's game, similar to the two already played this week, will be registered as an exhibition on the Jessup schedule.
   
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).