FULLERTON, Calif. – The Warriors were back on the court Saturday afternoon as the Jessup-Hope International rivalry resumed from Fullerton's Darling Pavilion. In what has become the norm when the Warriors and Royals square off, the game was neck-and-neck throughout until HIU made a final run in overtime to claim the win.
Jessup moves to 12-5 overall as they suffer their first GSAC loss under first-year head coach
Mark Darnall.
The Warriors were led by a 23-point performance by guard
Ja'Maris Blackmon, who did so on 8-of-17 shooting.
Ty Artis added 22 points during his 33 minutes as he knocked down a trio of 3-pointers.
Jessup led by as much as 12 in this one, coming with 7:07 to go in the second half thanks to a three-point play from
Xavier Lovelace. What followed was a 7-0 run by the Royals, cutting them to within five of the Warriors.
Hope would even the score at 84 with 25 seconds to go as they closed regulation on an 11-2 run. The Warriors had a chance to win the game at the final horn, as Darnall drew up a play with 20 seconds on the clock, but Jessup could not get off a shot, forcing overtime.
The Warriors started fast in the extra period, beginning with buckets from Blackmon and Artis to put Jessup ahead by four. Hope then ten unanswered as they pulled ahead by six inside of a minute to go.
Forced to foul, Jessup's perfect GSAC record met its end in the same location that ended their season last spring.
Aydan Janssan (18) and Lovelace (15) both added double-digits in the scoring column. The duo also led in rebounding as Lovelace pulled down nine, and Janssan totaled eight.
The Warriors shot 56 percent from the floor on Saturday, compared to a 47 percent performance by the Royals. HIU tacked on 27 points off 19 Jessup turnovers and converted 13 second-chance points to Jessup's nine.
Next on the schedule for Jessup is a trip to Atherton, as the Warriors will square off with Menlo College. That contest is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, as Jessup has just one game on their schedule this upcoming week.
The Warriors will be back home on Horton Court on January 25 when they host Life Pacific.
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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).
