Second-half rally lifts Jimmies past Hope International

FULLERTON, Calif.-- Marc Kjos (JR/Lake City, MN) scored 24 points on eight three-pointers and the 19th-ranked University of Jamestown men's basketball team used a second-half run to defeat Hope International University Friday night.

The Jimmies (4-0) trailed 24-18 with just under four minutes to play in the first half, but three-pointers by Kjos and Cole Woodford (SO/Redwood Falls, MN) along with baskets by Mason Walters (JR/Jamestown, ND) and Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) helped UJ tie the game at 28 going into the break.

After connecting on just four-of-14 three-point attempts in the first half, Jamestown found their groove in the second. Kjos (6-for-10) and Will Cordes (SO/Shakopee, MN) (2-for-4) combined for eight of the Jimmies' second-half threes. The duo also totaled 32 of UJ's 47 second half points.

Four straight threes and a Walters free throw helped stake UJ to a 41-34 lead with 16:03 left, and after Kjos knocked down another three at the 8:26 mark, Jamestown had stretched their lead to 18 (60-42). The biggest margin came at 65-44, and Hope International never got within 17 points the rest of the way.

Cordes finished with 15 points, while Woodford (13) and Walters (12) were also in double digits. Walters pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double while Devon Schultz (SR/Arlington, MN) grabbed a team-high 11 boards.

Jamestown, which has opened the season with four straight wins for the fourth time in the last six seasons, return to action against Vanguard (Calif.) University Saturday at 9 p.m. Central.