KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The battle on Danny Miles Court Friday night was not for the weak at heart. Needing every second of the 40-minute contest, as the fourteenth lead change of the night proved to be the decisive one as the Warriors escape the Southern Oregon Raiders by a final of 77-75.
 
Jessup looked good from the jump, sporting brand new royal blue uniforms that featured red numbers and white trim. Center Matthew Schmidt felt good in his new threads, connecting on a deep three early on that had the Warriors ahead by seven.
 
"He was a game-time decision," said head coach Lance Von Vogt about Schmidt after the game. "He hadn't been feeling good, didn't practice all week. He actually came up this morning. And so for him to come out and do what he did tonight, it was pretty amazing."
 
Schmidt proved to be the Warriors' top scorer and rebounder Friday night, as the big man recorded a double-double of 20 points and ten rebounds.
 
Von Vogt continued his compliments of Schmidt, adding, "Matt is a guy that we feel like he's just got a really high ceiling, and he's just scratching the surface. So I think tonight was coming out party, and we'd like to see more of this for him the rest of the way."
 
While the Warriors looked and felt good out of the gates, the Raiders would eventually find their rhythm to charge back and take the lead.
 
After SOU had retaken the lead, the Warriors would even the score at 25-25 thanks to a Jayden DeJoseph jumper. Three minutes later, a triple from Myles Corey had the Warriors back on top, 32-30.
 
The Raiders ended the half on an 8-2 run to take a 38-34 lead into the locker room.
 
Jessup once again stole back the lead five minutes into the second half as Jaylen Johnson drained a deep ball of his own. Johnson got his first starting nod of the season Friday night, a move Von Vogt credits to the man Johnson replaced, Tim Strijaous.
 
"Tim came to me and said that he thought that it would give an opportunity for us to grow as a team. And Jaylen brings a little bit of a different element of toughness and energy. And with Tim coming off the bench with his natural ability to pass and score and create, we thought that it might give us a better opportunity to play a full game, and I think that Jaylen played well tonight."
 
Strijaous had his moments while also battling foul trouble, as his layup with 8:10 remaining provided the twelfth lead change of the night, putting the Warriors ahead by two.
 
Once again, the Raiders clawed back, taking the lead into the final minute of the game. Trailing by just one, Corey received a trip to the line that could have placed the Warriors ahead by one with 44 seconds to play. He missed both free throws.
 
But Corey would get another chance after Strijaous battled for the offensive rebound, setting up another late possession. This time, Corey sunk both his free throws to put the Warriors ahead by one.
 
"Hey, that's something we can build on," added Von Vogt. "You know, Myles is a game-time player. He didn't like missing those two free throws. But what an opportunity to get right back up there and show confidence and make the next two. That was huge, you know, and it's only going to pay off down the run, these tight games and learning how to win when we don't have our best stuff. This is something that we don't want to rely on. But we know if we're in a dog fight, we're able to come out on top."
 
Corey would sink one final three throw with less than a second on the clock to officially put the game on ice.
 
Behind the big night of Schmidt, Corey and fellow guard Cashemin Williams closed with 14 points apiece. Williams and Johnson would also bring down five rebounds.  
 
The Warriors have another fight ahead of them tomorrow night as they take on No. 13 Oregon Tech for the second time this season. The Husslin' Owls are coming into the weekend desperate, as they are still searching for their first win of the season.
 
"Oregon Tech is a great team, and they're just going to get better and better," said Von Vogt. "We expect to get their best shot. They're playing on their home court. They've got a lot of pride, so I expect nothing less than their best, and it's gonna be the same guys. I just expect to get their best this time around."
 
 The Owls are scheduled to take on Embry-Riddle University Friday night. Saturday's game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
   
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).