FULLERTON, Calif. – The Warriors are one step closer to their goal as they will play for a championship tomorrow night. In a game that went down to the very last second, Jessup knocks off two seed Hope International on their home floor, 76-75.
 
Head coach Lance Von Vogt was quick to offer praise to his opponents after the game, stating, "Tonight's win was against one of the better teams in the country that I've got a ton of respect for what they do, coach Czech, and Hope International. We played them three times and all three of them have been instant classics."
 
With the victory, the Warriors advance to Saturday night's GSAC Championship Game. It will be Jessup's second all-time appearance in the championship round, as they will look for a different outcome from the 2018-19 season.
 
Von Vogt added how proud he is of the effort and resiliency of his team all season to reach this opportunity. "We've been able to get ourselves to have an opportunity to win the GSAC tournament championship, and we're starting to find our rhythm again after the injuries and the new lineups and adjustments. I'm really proud of the guys and how they responded."
 
Cashemin Williams was once again electric as the reigning conference player of the year scored 28 points on an 8-for-11 shooting performance. Williams was also clutch where it mattered most, finishing 9-of-10 at the line.
 
Senior Tarren Storey-Way also helped propel the Warriors as he scored 24 points on 11-of-13 from the field, pulling down 5 rebounds in the process.
 
The Warriors led by as many as seven in the first half as they pushed their lead to 29-22 on a Tim Strijaous layup. While the Warriors did lead for most of the opening period, a late run by the Royals had them leading by five, 40-35, entering halftime.
 
Jessup came out flat to start the second half as the Royals cranked their lead up to eight on two occasions, the second coming on a Bryce Denham 3-pointer with 15:40 to play.
 
This is where the Warriors flipped the switch as a 9-0 run had them back on top by one, thanks to one of two triples hit by Jayden DeJoseph.
 
No team would gain a lead greater than four points over the final five minutes of basketball, setting up for a great finish at the wire. Trailing by four, Hope International scored six unanswered in the final 90-seconds, capped off by a layup from Josh Powell-Davis with 33 seconds to go to put the Royals ahead by two.
 
Powell-Davis had a chance to make it three, but he missed the free throw on an and-one situation. Who did not miss his free throw in the same situation on the opposite end was Williams as he went to the basket, scored, and sank his free throw to put Jessup up by one with 25 to go.
 
The Warriors played stout defense in the closing seconds to take down HIU on their own floor and continue their GSAC season for one more day.
 
Jessup will take on the four-seed OUAZ tomorrow night after defeating nine-seed Westmont earlier today. The Warriors and Spirit split their season series.
 
"We split with them the regular season. This is going to be the rubber matches for the GSAC Championship. I think both teams were properly motivated," added Von Vogt.
 
When asked what the message is for tomorrow's game, Von Vogt said he is keeping it simple, "Have fun!"
 
The 2022 GSAC Championship Game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tomorrow from Darling Pavilion on the campus of Hope International University.
   
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).