FULLERTON, Calif. – For the first time in a long time, Jessup came into Thursday's game not riding a winning streak. With the sour taste of Saturday's loss lingering, Jessup got down early on the road against No. 18 Hope International but came back to steal the win thanks to a thrilling finish.
 
The closing moments of Thursday's game were as close as could be, with two ties and two lead changes in the final two minutes. But it wasn't always this way. The majority of the first half saw the Warriors trail, with the host Royals taking their lead to as many as 13 in the opening period.
 
At the halftime break, Jessup trailed 43-37. The Warriors had cut within three, but a late triple from HIU's Charles Neal pushed the advantage to six.
 
HIU jumped ahead to a 10-2 run out of the locker room to push their lead to 14, the largest of the night.
 
"Our guys were out of sync initially," said head coach Lance Von Vogt on the flat start. "Hope did a great job of executing early, making shots, getting us down, taking our turnovers and turning them into points. We had to play more mistake-free, and then we needed to defend a little bit better. And when we started doing the things that we normally do, it became more our style of game."
 
The Warriors clawed back inside single digits, keeping the game relatively close before a 5-0 run saw HIU's lead cut to just one. The game stayed within three points for the next five minutes before seeing its first lead change since the opening two minutes of play.
 
With 2:12 on the clock, Myles Corey converted on a three-point play, giving the Warriors their first lead since 3-2. Tarren Storey-Way then pushed the lead to three as he converted on a layup with just 18 seconds remaining.
 
Out of a timeout, the Royals once again looked to Neal, who drained his six three of the night, this time to even the game at 84.
 
The Warriors did have timeouts at their disposal, but Von Vogt chose to let things play out and not use one with nine seconds remaining.
 
"We had a lot of flow," said Von Vogt. "I didn't want them to have the opportunity to set up their defense, and I trust my guys. So you let your guys win the game on the floor. And this team is a team that's earned that trust, and I had to respect that and not over coach our guys."
 
Point guard Cashemin Williams pushed the ball up the court and kicked the ball out to Tim Strijaous on the wing. Strijaous drove to the paint, converting a contested layup at the buzzer that sent the Jessup bench in a frenzy as they had secured an 86-84 victory.
 
"Tim delivered with the bucket, but Cash's awareness with the game he had going to make that pass so that Tim could have scored the final bucket is what makes us a great team," added Von Vogt on the final play. "The unselfishness and the leadership to make the right basketball play. And that opened up an opportunity for Tim. It showed trust in Tim."
 
It's Strijaous' second buzzer-beater in as many years as the second year Warrior secured a game-ending victory last season at The Master's University.
 
Williams led the way with 29 points Thursday. Storey-Way added 17 off the bench. Others in double-figures were Nathan Kasongo (12), Corey (11), and Strijaous (11).
 
The win, which now puts Jessup at 20-2, is significant for several reasons. Not only does it put the Warriors back into the GSAC's pole position, but it also secures a regular-season tiebreaker of the Royals as Jessup sweeps the season series.
 
"We're thrilled to take care of this one against Hope," said Von Vogt. "But we have to take care of business on Saturday at San Diego Christian in order to have this game continue to have the same meaning that it does right now."
 
The Warriors will be in San Diego on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip against the Hawks. Jessup previously defeated SDCC 107-67 back on December 2.
   
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).