DAVIS, Calif. - Back on the court after five days off, Jessup made the short trip west on I-80 to take on their fourth Division I opponent, the UC Davis Aggies. A fast start kept Jessup in the ballgame early, but ultimately the Aggies were able to pull away, winning this one 95-62.
 
Friday marks the fourth game for the Warriors this season, but with each matchup coming against an opponent at the Division I level. Like the three games played last week, the Warriors exit Davis with a record of 0-0 with no official stats towards year-end totals.
 
"We have a great opportunity to learn how to train and get (to the next level) in these games against these Division I schools," said head coach Lance Von Vogt, who, even though has his team playing Division I schools, doesn't feel the schedule gets any easier come GSAC play.
 
"The GSAC is a tough league. We can't think it's going to be this huge step down in competition."
 
This game started similar to two of Jessup's games last week, with their opponent opening up to an early run. UC Davis got out to an 18-8 lead after a 14-3 run early in the first half. But unlike the losses Jessup suffered last week, the Warriors battled back, holding the Aggies scoreless for three minutes as they cut the deficit to just three points.
 
What hurt the Warriors the most in the first half were fouls and turnovers. Jessup totaled 11 first-half fouls to pair with ten first-half turnovers. A 6-0 Aggie run sent the game into the break with Jessup trailing by 14.
 
In the second half, the Warriors again saw fouls be a problem, as the Aggies entered the bonus for the final 13 minutes of play. All total Friday night, UC Davis shot 25 free throws, making 23 of them for a 92-percent showing.
 
Jessup never waivered against a formidable NCAA opponent, cutting the deficit to ten twice in the final 20 minutes. With just over 10 minutes remaining, a Jaylen Johnson basket capped off a 6-0 Jessup run to force a Davis timeout. Momentum seemed to be in the Warriors' favor, but an 8-2 run out of the break put the Warriors again down 16.
 
The Aggies would outscore Jessup 38-15 over the remainder of the contest, resulting in reserve players from both sides getting ample playing time over the final five minutes.
 
"I've seen some improvements," said Von Vogt on his team as they progress through the season. "But what we have to do is put it all together at the same time."
 
Starring again for Jessup Friday was freshman guard Myles Corey. Coming into Friday averaging 10.3 PPG against Division I competition, Corey scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting before fouling out.
 
"I think Myles (Corey) is settling in," added Von Vogt. "We still have to get him out of foul trouble and then get him to slow down and change speeds. He's like a rocket going 100 mph."
 
Jayden DeJoseph was again a sharpshooter for the Warriors, as he knocked down a trio of 3-pointers en route to 14 points. Johnson, coming off the bench for the first time this year, added seven points.
 
"I saw some improvements today from Jaylen Johnson, who came off the bench today. He went out there, he played a better game today, I think it was his best game of the year," Von Vogt added on Johnson.
 
The Warriors shot 43.6-percent on the day, adding a 53-percent showing from beyond the arc. UC Davis would connect on 57.9-percent from the field.
 
UC Davis was led by three players scoring 16 points each: Damion Squire, Ezra Manjon, and Kennedy Koehler. Five Aggies finished the game in double-figures.
 
With the weekend to prepare, the Warriors will get back on the court Monday for a newly scheduled game against the University of Nevada. Recently added to the schedule within the past 24 hours, the Warriors and Wolfpack will tip-off at 4 p.m. from the Lawlor Events Center.
   
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).