FULLERTON, CALIF. – The OUAZ men's basketball team arrived at Darling Pavilion on Thursday evening ready to defend its GSAC Tournament Championship. The Spirit had won the tournament the last two seasons inside Darling, and would open the 2024 edition of the competition against the program it defeated in the 2022 championship game, William Jessup.

OUAZ got out to a good start, leading by as much as nine in the first half. The teams traded leads as halftime drew near, but William Jessup took a lead at the 4:15 mark that they would never relinquish en route to a 93-78 win.

The Spirit never gave up, as they continued to fight until the final buzzer. Even when trailing by 20 at one point in the second half, OUAZ cut the deficit back to single digits and battled toward a lead.

Five different OUAZ players finished in double-digit scoring figures, led by Jayce Catchings's 17 points. Catchings made over 50% of his shots, and as exactly 50% of this three-point attempts.

Jacob Henry had 14 points to go along with four assists, and was a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. Bryce Fitzgerald had 13 points, and Elijah Simmons made five of seven shots off the bench for 12 points to go with a team-high in rebounds.

The Spirit will now wait to see it's placing in the NAIA National Championship. To keep up with the latest on the men's basketball program, visit ouazspirit.com.