SAN DIMAS, Calif. — Following a 2-0 homestand last week, the Warriors got back on the road, kicking off a three-game trip Thursday at Life Pacific. In a close battle throughout, Jessup fought for a needed victory as they picked up their third win in a row, this time by the final of 87-68.
The win is important for the Warriors as it moves them into a tie with OUAZ for fourth in the GSAC. OUAZ owns the tiebreaker over Jessup, currently, thanks to a head-to-head victory, but the two sides will meet again on February 11.
Jessup also trails The Master's by half a game for third. TMU was idle on Thursday, as they will face their travel partner, Westmont, Saturday afternoon.
When asked if his team, who have won three straight, has hit their stride, head coach
Lance Von Vogt said, "I don't know if we're hitting our stride yet, but we are getting a little bit better each time out. And the guys are starting to develop an identity which is something that we haven't had yet this year."
It was a collective effort throughout the scoring column Thursday as Jessup saw four players hit double-figures, with three additional players scoring at least eight. Of the 87 points the Warriors scored, 39 were contributed by four of the seven players contributing off the bench.
"We've got guys that are capable," added Von Vogt on the scoring up and down the lineup. "A lot of our guys have had good weeks of practice, and I thought tonight we came in with the right idea that we were going to try and play as much of the roster as we could, and it worked out."
Third-year player
Myles Corey led the team with 15 points, doing so on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor. Corey also added a trio of rebounds, two assists, and a steal over 29 minutes of action.
Also hitting double-figures was
Jahveon Medearis, whose 14 points came over 16 minutes in reserve action. Medearis provided a spark from the three-point line, knocking down 4-of-5 on a night where Jessup sank 14 threes.
On Medearis' showing, Von Vogt added, "Obviously, Jahvy playing in his hometown and having a great game was nice to see. And we had a group of other guys come off the bench tonight and play really well."
Jayden DeJoseph (12) and
Cashemin Williams (10) also closed the night scoring in double-figures for the victorious Warriors.
Jessup hit the jets in the second half Thursday. Following a 37-point first half, good enough to take just a four-point lead into the break, the Warriors came out of the locker room scoring 50 points as they blew out LPU by 15 in the final 20 minutes.
The second-half scoring came in large part to Jessup knocking down 52.8 percent of their attempts from the field. Eight of Jessup's 19 second-half field goals came from three-point range.
Now 13-9 overall, 7-5 within the GSAC, Jessup shifts their focus to the next opponent on the schedule, Vanguard. Jessup beat Vanguard 75-58 earlier this season in the first GSAC game of the year.
"Vanguard's tough, they're a good team, and they're gonna want to defend their home court," added Von Vogt on his next opponent, who won Thursday night as well. "It's gonna be a great game, and I expect us to give it everything we've got."
Saturday's game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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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 Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).
