ROCKLIN, Calif. – Eight turnovers over the final two minutes and 23 seconds led to Vanguard's sixth straight loss as Jessup snuck away with a 76-73 victory at Warrior Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Anthony Tello, who contributed 17 points, five rebounds and seven steals, also committed three of his eight turnovers over the final 39 seconds, helping the Warriors go on a game-ending 7-0 run.

The Lions committed 24 turnovers – their second-most in a game this season – leading to 16 Jessup points. The Warriors had 17 steals, including seven from Ty Artis.

Vanguard created similar havoc on the defensive end of the floor, converting 23 Jessup turnovers into 28 points. 

Senior Jackson Larsen led the Blue and Gold with a game-high 24 points, his fifth 20-point game this season. He shot 10 of 16 from the floor and made 4 of 7 at the free throw line.

No other Lion scored in double figures. Phillip Willis and Mitchell Prevost record six points each.

VU's struggles from the three-point line contributed to the loss. The Lions matched a season-low for three-point field goal percentage (18.2%), making just 4 of 22 attempts from distance. Meanwhile, the Warriors canned 12 threes in 28 attempts, 42.9 percent.

The 12 threes were the most allowed by Vanguard to an opponent this season.

Despite all of those factors, the Lions battled toe-to-toe with one of the top contenders in the Golden State Athletic Conference. 

Three of VU's last six losses have come by five points or less, the difference between being positioned for a GSAC Tournament berth and their current seventh spot in the conference standings.

VU is 13-11 overall and 3-7 in the GSAC, two games back of Menlo for the sixth and final berth in the conference tournament. Jessup is one of four teams tied for second place with a 7-4 league record. The Warriors moved to 16-8 overall.

Aydan Janssan led the Warriors with 21 points and six rebounds. He shot 8 of 11 from the floor. Myles Corey knocked down five of Jessup's 12 threes en route to 17 points.

What Happened?: The Lions utilized a 15-5 run to transform a seven-point halftime deficit into a 53-50 lead seven minutes into the second half. Six different Lions scored during that stretch.

The lead would exchange hands six more times the remainder of the game. Three-pointers by Micah Swartz and Tello gave the Lions 56-54 and 61-59 leads, respectively.

Vanguard created its largest lead of the game at 69-63 with six minutes remaining. Tello and Larsen combined to score 13 straight points over a two and a half minute span to spur the Lions toward victory.

But the Lions went cold from there, making just one field goal the rest of the way. 

After Jessup called timeout trailing 69-63, the Warriors recorded eight steals and a blocked shot as the Lions took just seven field goal attempts over the final six minutes.

Evidence of the struggle to score came during one stretch when the Lions corralled three offensive rebounds, culminating in a turnover by Willis that led to a breakaway dunk attempt by Jessup's Ja'Maris Blackmon.

Blackmon missed the dunk and was whistled for a technical foul. 

Bryson Metz made the ensuing free throw to give the Lions a 73-69 lead with 1:24 to go.

The Lions would not score again. The teams exchanged turnovers and a steal by Xavier Lovelace led to a triple by Janssan that pulled the Warriors within 73-72. VU turned the ball over again on the next possession as Artis made the steal and a layup to give Jessup a 74-73 lead with 37 ticks remaining.

VU recorded another turnover out of a timeout, but got the ball back as Tello notched one of his seven steals. But VU gave the ball right back as Corey regained possession for the Warriors.

Prevost fouled Artis to send the guard to the free throw line for a 1-on-1. Artis missed the freebie and Tello rebounded to give the Lions a chance for the game-winner. But Artis stole the ball with five seconds remaining and fed Blackmon for a dunk and a 76-73 lead.

A three by Willis at the buzzer missed and the Warriors walked away with the win.

The Lions endured a terrible start to the game, trailing 27-11 at the 8:37 mark. The Warriors led 37-23 four minutes later when the Lions chipped away, outscoring the home team by seven points to reduce the deficit to 45-38 at halftime.

VU got six points from its bench during that stretch to build some momentum before the break.

Why Is It Important?: The Lions are on the brink of being eliminated from the GSAC Tournament. They are in a virtual must-win situation, as Menlo leads by two games with three to play.

What Was Said?: "It's been a tough stretch for us. Our guys continue to bring a ton of fight to each opportunity and I know they are so down about the way this game finished," said Head Coach Rhett Soliday. "It was a combination of Jessup making some great plays and us having some untimely mishaps that snatched this win away from us. The character of our group will continue to show and I know this team has no quit in them."

What's Next?: Vanguard hosts Senior Day against Life Pacific on Saturday, February 17 at Orange Coast College. The game tips at 7:30 p.m.