Box Score

Arizona Christian ARIZONA 23-8

William Jessup WILLIAM 18-13

Arizona Christian ARIZONA

23-8

Final

Mar. 05, 2020

William Jessup WILLIAM

18-13

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Arizona Christian ARIZONA	37	55	92
William Jessup WILLIAM	37	44	81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 03/06/20 | Josh Carson

Warriors fall in opening round of GSAC Tournament

Medearis, Dill, and Lyon combine for 66 points

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Warriors have shown resilience all season and it was no different Thursday night as they fought to the end in the opening round of the GSAC tournament.

No. 5 seed Jessup was knotted at 37 with No. 4 Arizona Christian at halftime, before falling behind by as many as 17 in the second half. A late run pulled them to within four with 2:44 remaining, but it wasn't enough as they fell 92-81.

For a team that has battled through injuries and lineup changes all season, Coach Lance Von Vogt said, "I am extremely proud of the effort that our team put forth tonight and throughout the season. This is a fantastic group of young men who are going to do great things in life and make us proud that they were Jessup Warriors."

Jessup faced an early 9-0 deficit, but was able to pull within three at the 10:32 mark as Luis Medearis and Matt Lyon drained consecutive triples.

After more back-and-forth action that saw Lyon net another three and Oliver Amajoyi punch a two-handed slam, the Warriors and Firestorm were even at 20 apiece with 9:06 remaining in the opening half.

From there, the lead changed hands seven times and the scoreboard read 37-37 as the first half buzzer sounded.

Both teams remained locked in a tight-knit match early in the second half. Austin Dill converted two layups and Amajoyi knocked down a jumper, yet the Firestorm led 46-43 at the 16:05 mark.

ACU would then embark on a 23-9 run over the next seven minutes and held a 69-52 advantage with 9:01 left in regulation.

Still, Jessup would not give up as they used a 27-14 run over the ensuing 6:17 to pull within four points of ACU, 83-79.

Lyon, Medearis, and Dill found the bottom of the net from deep over the run and were huge contributors to the Warriors near-comeback effort.

Concerning this trio, Von Vogt said, "Luis, Austin, and Matt played a fantastic game. It was great to see those guys compete and keep their heads down and play regardless of circumstance."

Ultimately, the comeback effort wasn't enough as ACU outscored Jessup 8-3 in the final 2:44 to win 92-81.

Medearis led all scorers with 24, Dill followed with 22, and Lyon added 20. It was the first time this season that three Warriors scored 20 or more points each.

Lyon also accomplished an impressive feat, playing 34 minutes as the primary ball-handler while dishing out four assists without a single turnover.

Thursday's game marked the final time that Jessup's seniors would take the court as Warriors.

Von Vogt left them with one final message saying, "We reminded the six seniors that this is just a chapter in their lives and everything they experienced within it is going to lead them to greater things down the road. They learned how to handle adversity and always pursue the best version of themselves and there's no doubt in my mind that they will continue that going forward."

***

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).

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