ROCKLIN, Calif. – Coming off two straight road losses, the Warriors were back on Horton Court as they hosted Life Pacific. With the coaching staff focusing on an issue bigger than basketball, the Warriors put together a perfect evening as they blew past LPU 97-65.
The evening was about more than basketball for head coach
Mark Darnall and his staff. For the first time with the Warriors, Darnall donned a suit and tie but sported sneakers with it as part of Suits and Sneakers Night. The event is put on by Coaches vs. Cancer, as universities around the nation work to raise money for cancer research.
It was also a night to celebrate one of Jessup's partners, Old Town Pizza, as fans were treated to pizza and special OTP merchandise as part of Old Town Pizza Night.
On the court,
Ty Artis led the way with 17 points on 5-of-6 from distance.
Ja'Maris Blackmon (15),
Myles Corey (14), and
Xavier Lovelace (10) all added double figures from the starting lineup.
Jessup also got production out of their bench, as 37 points were scored by players, not in the starting five.
Troy Crighton led the Jessup bench, as he dropped 12 on a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor in his 12 minutes of work.
"I feel like this year it's finally started to click," said Crighton when asked about growing in his second year at Jessup. "After all the work I put in during my redshirt year and over the summer, I feel like now I am finally ready to play college ball."
Crighton was a red shirt last season but did not appear in any games. The NAIA allows red shirts to appear in up to six games, and one of those technically keeping a year of eligibility this season is
Wyatt Studer. Studer played nine minutes off the bench and was a spark plug, scoring seven to pair with three assists.
The win Thursday improves Jessup to 13-6, 4-2 in conference action, while Life Pacific is still looking for their first GSAC victory at 0-6.
Jessup will hope to make it back-to-back wins on Saturday when they take on The Master's University. Saturday's game 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).
