ATHERTON, Calif. – Seven days removed from a double OT thriller, No. 23 ranked Jessup was back on the court taking on (RV) Menlo with first place in the GSAC on the line. The outcome seemed to be decided at halftime, but for those who changed the channel, they missed a nail-biting second half that saw Jessup come out on top, 85-75.
 
"I was really happy with the effort," said head coach Lance Von Vogt on tonight's performance. "This is a tough place to play. And Menlo is one of the better teams in the country. So for us to be able to come here and get off to a good start, lead pretty much wire to wire and get a win. That means that we were locked in and ready to go."
 
It was the Cashemin Williams show in the first half Saturday. The junior guard came into the game averaging 13.5 PPG, and that average is going up after a 20-point performance in the first 20 minutes.
 
"Cash is a gamer," said Von Vogt. "And he's a winner. He's a personnel guy. Brilliant, tough, and we build our program on that competitive spirit. He exemplifies it. That's the way he played tonight."
 
Saturday's first half was a neck-and-neck battle, with two sides sitting tied at 19 with 8:43 to go. Looking for any avenue to pull away, the Warriors turned to trips to the free-throw line, as a combined six-of-six from the line helped push Jessup to a 12-2 run.
 
Leading by double-digits for the first time all night, Jessup increased the lead to a baker's dozen as Williams sank a three-ball and then went to the line to wrap up a four-point-play.
 
Jessup's double-digit advantage stretched to as high as 17, but the Oaks were able to end the opening half on a 9-2 run, sending the game into the break with the Warriors ahead 48-38.
 
The Jessup lead remained in double-digits for the first nine minutes of the second half before a Menlo three cut the score to 63-55. Menlo then cut the deficit to five on Corey Le'aupepe's layup with 6:40 to play.
 
Perhaps panic set in for some, as Le'aupepe cut the Jessup lead to four with under four remaining, igniting the crowd inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion. Thirty seconds later, what had been a 17-point lead was now a single-possession game as Menlo trailed 75-72.
 
Needing to regroup, Jessup turned to Williams, who continued his dominating day with 16 second-half points. Four of those came on back-to-back possessions, pushing Jessup ahead by seven.
 
Williams added six more, converting on 6-of-6 from the charity stripe in the final minute to ice the game. On the day the first-year Warrior went 13-of-14 at the line, one made free throw shy of tying the Jessup single-game record.
 
Surpassing his previous season-high of 24, Williams' 36 points finishes as the second-most in program history for a single game.
 
Von Vogt spoke to Williams' preparation, adding, "He knew Menlo was a great team and that we were going to have to play our best, and he came ready to go."
 
Also with a career-night was freshman Charlie Garrison. Garrison was asked to play a career-high 26 minutes, and he answered the call, recording the first double-double of his collegiate career with ten points and ten boards.
 
"Charlie's a big horse," said Von Vogt. "He competes. He's physical, and he's tough. And he's one of the key reasons why we were able to win the game. So I look for big things for Charlie and in his career. He's a freshman, so we've got four years with him. And we're excited about that."
 
The win moves Von Vogt one step closer to another career milestone, as he sits on 149 wins with the Warriors.
 
Jessup now sees a break of seven days before a shot at win No. 150. Awaiting them off that break will be the nation's No. 7 ranked program, Indiana Wesleyan. The game with IWU and the next day against (RV) Concordia (NE) will be played across the country in Daytona Beach, FL.
 
Von Vogt does not worry about this team taking on the big stage, crediting each player's trust for their teammates. "I would say we trust probably at an elite level. That trust that they earned with each other is what allows us to, you know, get that next-man-up mentality. It doesn't matter who's in the game. The next guy up is ready to come in, do his job, and help us win."
 
The NAIA will have a new look before Jessup steps on the plane to Florida, as the next Coaches Poll is released this Wednesday. Jessup has gone 3-0 since the release of the last Coaches Poll on Dec. 1.
   
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).