ATHERTON, Calif. – Old reliable proved to be just about any shot William Jessup threw up from long range on Thursday night as Menlo College fell in its California Pacific Conference opener 68-52 at Haynes-Prim Pavilion.

The visiting Warriors made 11-of-22 3-pointers on the night – eight in the first half alone – and the Oaks offense couldn’t keep up after falling into a big early hole. William Jessup point guard Austin Nelson made four 3-pointers and Tyler Leuning made all his free throws after being fouled shooting a 3-pointer as the previously winless Warriors raced out to a 20-6 lead less than seven minutes into the game. Nelson would add another 3-pointer to finish the half with five baskets from long range.

Menlo trailed by 17 points with six minutes to play in the first half, but had a chance to pull within single digits by halftime. Brandon Cochran scored inside off a beautiful Chris Cobb assist and Kyle Adams made a pair of free throws to get the Oaks within 35-24. Cochran had a chance to trim Menlo’s deficit again, but missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Warriors then sunk a pair of huge blows when Zach Sowers hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute and William Jessup took a 17 points lead into the break.

The Oaks refused to go away, using a 16-4 run after the Warriors netted the first basket of the second half to pull with seven points midway through the half. Julian Harris sparked the run with seven points while Cobb, Adams and Logan Shoffner each made a field goal before Cochran ignited the crowd with a 3-point play. Menlo trailed 47-40 with 10 minutes, 31 seconds to play.

It took William Jessup even less time to reestablish a hefty lead, however. Kadeem Kirsteen made four straight free throws after a pair of empty Oaks possessions and the Warriors led by 11. Sowers, Lucas Birchard and Alex Dimotsantos then sunk William Jessup’s only 3-pointers of the second half in succession around a pair of Cochran free throws that put Menlo in an 18-point hole that was way too deep with under four minutes remaining.

Menlo shot 36 percent from the field and made four 3-pointers to the Warriors 51.2 percent shooting and 11 3-pointers. Harris led the Oaks with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting – 3-of-4 from deep – while Cochran scored 14 and pulled down seven rebounds. Adams finished with seven points, eight rebounds.

Sowers led William Jessup with 18 points and six rebounds while Austin Nelson had 16 points. Leuning, Birchard and Matt Cassell each scored seven points for the Warriors.

Menlo (0-6, 0-1) plays at Holy Names on Saturday at 7 p.m. William Jessup (1-7, 1-0) is at Simpson next Thursday.