ROCKLIN, Calif. – The Warriors are becoming professional climbers, as for the second game in a row they found themselves in a large hole and managed to climb their way out of it. Down big in the second half, the Warriors battled back against Hawaii Hilo, but again, their comeback efforts ended with the visitors leaving with the win.
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Saturday's loss marks back-to-back contests where Jessup found themselves trailing by as many as 17 points and found a way to come back to take the lead. On Thursday against Concordia, the 17-point hole was in the first half. Saturday against Hilo, the hole was 18 points and came with 12:18 remaining in regulation.
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A 19-2 Jessup run is what did the work, as the run began with 14 unanswered points from the Warriors to claw within four. The big basket came with 6:22 to go in the game when
Wyatt Studer's dunk put Jessup on top by one, 62-61.
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Jessup's lead hit as many as three, but back came the visiting Vulcans, who countered with an 8-0 run of their own to pull ahead by five. In the closing stretches, Jessup had a chance to tie, down three, but opting for points down low the layup from
Anthony Enoh was blocked.
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Hilo exited Warrior Arena with a 74-69 win, claiming a season sweep of the Warriors.
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Jessup is now 8-17 in their first Division II season, with their record in PacWest action falling to 5-14. The Vulcans improve to 10-8 in conference play.
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The Warriors were led by a collaborative effort offensively, as five players closed the game in double-figures. Studer led the way with 14 points in his 25-plus minutes off the bench.
Aydan Janssan closed behind him with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
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For Janssan, Saturday's contest was his last with the Warriors, as he will be returning home to Australia this week to be with family.
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Others in double figures included
Ja'Maris Blackmon (12),
Cayden McDaniel (11), and Enoh (10). With Janssan away, Blackmon will be the lone Jessup athlete honored next week as part of the annual Senior Day festivities.
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Those festivities will begin moments before the scheduled 2 p.m. tip between the Warriors and Fresno Pacific as the Sunbirds make their way to Rocklin on March 1 to close out the regular season. Fans can secure their tickets ahead of time
HERE.
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Jessup University is a provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. 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 (Instagram & X).