SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – It's back to the conference schedule for the Warriors, one week removed from capping off a perfect non-conference schedule. There seems to be no easy opponent in the GSAC, and Thursday stuck to that pattern as Jessup needed every second to wrap up a 76-71 victory over Westmont College.
 
"These guys care for one another, and they're willing to fight for one another," said head coach Lance Von Vogt after the hard-fought win. "And at the end of the day, that type of culture allows you to win a game that's not pretty, but was beautiful at the same time."
 
The Warriors were paced by a 23 point showing from Cashemin Williams, who nearly added a triple-double to his stat line as he added 8 assists and 7 boards. It was the fifth 20-plus point outing of the season for Williams, who now averages 15.8 PPG.
 
Jessup jumped out to a double-digit advantage of 13 midway through the first half thanks to a 10-0 run. It looked to be a game the Warriors would control all the way home, but Westmont had other plans, embarking on a 7-0 run of their own to send the game into halftime at 31-27.
 
A quick bucket out of the locker room pushed the run to 9-0, trimming Jessup's lead to two. This is where the Warriors snapped back, as Myles Corey, Jayden DeJoseph, and Williams connected on three-consecutive 3-pointers, pushing Jessup's lead back to nine.
 
The Warriors held on to at least a two-possession lead for the next 15 minutes, but they could never really put the game out of reach. Jared Brown of Westmont hit a three with 2:10 to go, and the pressure was on as Jessup led by just three, 72-69.
 
After a Jessup turnover out of a Westmont timeout, the lead was cut to one with 26.1 seconds to go. Westmont needed to foul, and after a game of keep away, they finally did so, sending Williams to the line who sunk two. Westmont got off two attempts from behind the arc in the final 15 seconds, but neither would fall. Two more Williams free throws served as the dagger in Jessup's fifth conference win of the season.
 
Von Vogt felt Westmont gave Jessup their best effort tonight, and with the No. 8 ranking, he expects everyone's best effort moving forward. "I believe that we're going to get everybody's best shot, as we should. And that's the only way that we get better is if we're playing against a team that's motivated to come beat us. So, you know, our job is to prepare ourselves to give them our best shot, just like they're giving us theirs. If we do that, then I feel good about our chances."
 
At 5-1 in the GSAC, the Warriors now move into first place, tied with Hope International, who Jessup defeated in double overtime back on December 4. Jessup's win streak reaches 11, as they push to 17-1 overall.
 
"You know, we're happy with where we're at, but we're really just focused on the totality of the season and getting better every day," said Von Vogt on his team's spot in the GSAC standings. "It's still so early. With so many games remaining in the schedule, looking at the standings right now, it doesn't do anything but hurt you."
 
Three other Warriors ended the game in double figures. Corey scored 16 in his 36 minutes of work. DeJoseph went 3-of-7 from deep to finish with 11 points. Tarren Storey-Way also added 11 in 24 minutes off the bench.
 
Westmont narrowly won the rebounding battle in this one 35-24. Tim Strijaous led Jessup with 9 boards. Jaylen Johnson and Charlie Garrison each finished with five.
 
The Warriors shot 52.8-percent from the field Thursday, including a 42.3-percent showing from three-point range.
 
The conference season marches on this weekend when the Warriors visit Santa Clarita and The Master's University.
 
"Master's is one of the best teams in the country year in and year out," added Von Vogt. "They're going to test us, and we're gonna have to respond. It's gonna be a very different game than what we just played the night as far as styles go. It's a short turnaround. We're going to drive down to Santa Clarita. We're gonna do a one-day prep and do the best we can on Saturday."
 
TMU will come into Saturday with a .500 record of 3-3 in the GSAC, 12-3 overall.
   
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).