Box Score COSTA MESA -- Looking to avenge a loss to The Master's last Saturday, Vanguard men's basketball squared off with the Jessup Warriors Thursday night in the third game of the Golden State Athletic Conference slate. However, the Warriors shot the ball at a 50% clip from the field in the first half and were just two ticks shy of that in the second, as the visitors upset the Blue and Gold 78-63. Vanguard falls to 11-5 overall and 1-2 in GSAC play, while Jessup goes to 12-4 overall and 3-0 in the GSAC to take the lead in the conference standings.
What Happened? JU started off with a 5-0 run but a three from
Phillip Willis brought VU back to within a bucket. Willis would score five of the next seven VU points, including another triple, but the Warriors would remain ahead by five points until the 13:10 mark of the opening period. Back-to-back layups would put Jessup ahead 19-10 but a deep three by
Anthony Tello and two free throws by
Jadyn Johnson would bring the gap down to 19-15.
Preston Sims would close things to one point, as he got fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three shots from the charity stripe.
Jessup would again run the lead back out to six, but the home side did not back down, with
Bryson Metz splashing down with a three to halve the deficit to 26-23. Vanguard would trim the lead to one point on two separate occasions with under five minutes to go, as
Nico Dasca made a 5-0 run himself to eventually put the score at 32-31 with 3:30 left on the board. But that would be as close as the Blue and Gold would get to the Warriors in the game, as JU concluded the first half with five unanswered points. Ahead 38-31 at halftime, the Jessup lineup made half of its shots in the first period and went 36.4% from downtown. VU managed a 27% conversion rate from the floor during the first 20 minutes of action.
Metz would hit a jumper to commence the second half, but Jessup would answer with five straight points. In fact, the visitors outscored the Lions 18-10 over the opening seven minutes of the frame to take a 56-41 lead. The advantage would grow to 62-42 with 9:03 remaining in the game and JU would coast from there. The Lions would score more points over the final 10 minutes of action (21) than they did in the first 10 minutes of the second half (11), but could not get the lead back under double digits, falling 78-63.
Jessup shot 49.2% from the floor, 23.1% from beyond the arc, and went 8-for-11 from the free throw line. VU shot at a 35.8% rate from the field, 31.8% from deep, and made 8-14 free throws. Jessup had a 43-36 edge in rebounds and a 40-20 lead in points in the paint. VU had a 20-15 advantage in points off turnovers and a 27-21 lead in points off the bench.
Willis had two threes and 12 points along with five rebounds, while Tello had one three and 10 points. Sims was third on the squad with eight points.
Jackson Larsen had a team-high seven rebounds and Metz paced VU with three helpers.
Why is it Important? Vanguard drops into a tie for fifth in the standings with Menlo and OUAZ. Jessup now leads the all-time series 13-8 and they have won nine of the past 10 meetings.
What's Next? Vanguard will now turn their attention to Menlo, as the Oaks will be the 2:00 p.m. foe for VU on Saturday, January 13 at the OCC Gym.
