Vanguard 67, William Jessup 66

Matt Horrocks game reports:

"In front of the largest crowd the Warrior Arena has hosted during the 2014-15 season, the Warriors played host to Vanguard University for William Jessup University's annual Homecoming celebration. In what will go down as one of the, if not the greatest game in the history of William Jessup University basketball, the Warriors lost in heartbreaking fashion by the final score of 67-66.

The lights were shining the brightest they had been all year on Saturday, as the Warriors welcomed a gym full of students, faculty, and alumni all pumped up and ready  to take in the big game. Celebrating the school's 75th anniversary, the 2015 installment of Homecoming weekend left little disappointment for the fans in attendance.

Saturday's contest began in an exciting fashion, with the score remaining neck and neck for the majority of the first half. Through ten minutes, the Warriors found themselves leading the NAIA's defending National Champions 12-11. As the first half began to dwindle away, Vanguard went on a late run to take a five point lead in to the final seconds. A basket by junior Elijah Lewis at the final seconds of the first half cut the deficit to just three, sending the Warriors into the break down 29-26.

To start the second half, the Warriors came out determined to give the electric Warrior Arena crowd a great show. Through five minutes of the second half, the Warriors trailed by just one point. The Warriors held closely to Vanguard for the next ten minutes, until the final five minutes of the half where the Lions began to pull away. With just over two and a half minutes left in regulation, things began to look badly for the Warriors as they trailed by six points.

With 53 seconds remaining in regulation, a momentum shift occurred as Lewis came up big for the Warriors, connecting on a key three point play, cutting the deficit to three. With ten seconds left in regulation, the Warriors got the ball with one chance to tie the game. Freshman Tyler Jennings pushed the ball up the court and heaved up a prayer three point attempt, and in typical Jessup fashion the shot miraculously fell sending the game into overtime.

"We had our shooting lineup out there for that possession." said Warriors head coach Lance Von Vogt on setting up for the final possession of regulation. "I told Tyler (Jennings) to read the defense. If they stick with you to pass it to (Justin Downer) but if then you have the shot."

In the first overtime period, Jennings continued to come up clutch, connecting on the first three baskets for the Warriors. Vanguard battled with the Warriors for the entire extra frame, eventually taking a two point lead on the Warriors with thirty seconds to go. In the final stretches, junior Desmond Floyd scored a huge layup with a hand in his face to tie the game and send the contest into double overtime.
The second overtime period played the same way the first overtime period did, with both teams keeping the score neck and neck. With 21 seconds remaining in double overtime, the Warriors got the ball down just one point. Floyd got the ball down low for the Warriors and drew a huge foul, sending him to the line with a chance to take the lead. Floyd connected on the first, but missed the second. The Warriors got a lucky bounce on the rebound, as Jennings gained possession. Not realizing the game was tied, Vanguard intentionally fouled Jennings, sending him to the line.

Jennings connected on the first free throw, but missed the second. After a battle for the rebound, the Warriors gained back possession thanks to Desmond Floyd. Floyd was fouled during the process of rebounding the ball, sending him back to the line. Floyd missed the first free throw, but made the second to give the Warriors a 66-64 lead.

With nine seconds remaining, Vanguard inbounded the ball and pushed up court, at the final seconds of double overtime, John Staats heaved up a three pointer for the Lions, and in a heartbreaking way the shot fell to win the game, sending the Warriors home in disbelief.

Following the loss, the Warriors fall below .500 on the season as they now sit at 12-13 overall and 3-9 in conference play. Vanguard moves up to 14-10 overall and 6-5 in the GSAC.

"We're looking at growing as the season goes along, and tonight was a chance for us to grow as a team." said Von Vogt. "We had the defending national champs in our house, on homecoming, and the guys were reading to show the growth they've experienced throughout the year... Tonight I believe our efforts were good enough to win. But to lose on a buzzer beater doesn't take away from the efforts the guys put forward tonight."

Jennings lead the way offensively for the Warriors in his coming out party, scoring 13 points in his 33 minutes off the bench. Elijah Lewis finished Saturday's loss with 12 points. Desmond Floyd recorded another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. For Vanguard, the leading scorer was Chris Gorman who scored 25 points in 45 minutes of play.

"It was a coming out party tonight for Tyler." said Von Vogt on his freshman point guard's veteran like performance. "We knew Tyler had it in him, he's played in big moments. He was a three year starter in high school. He's used to having the ball in his hands."