GAME #21
AAU Urban Knights (3-16) vs. Chaminade University Silverswords (7-7)
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Chaminade University, McCabe Gym

GAME #22
AAU Urban Knights (3-16) vs. Brigham Young University - Hawaii Seasiders (9-1)
Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Brigham Young University - Hawaii, George Q. Cannon Activities Center

GAME #23
 AAU Urban Knights (3-16) vs. University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcans (8-7)
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 at 7:30 PM
University of Hawaii at Hilo, Civic Auditorium

Game Notes
Updated Statistics

OPENING TIP:
On the road until the final game of the season, Academy of Art University men's basketball heads to Hawaii this week to play three games against Pacific West Conference teams. Every other evening on the islands will feature back-to-back games between the women's teams (tip-off at 5:30 PM) followed by the men's contests (tip-off at 7:30 PM). AAU begins with Chaminade University on Jan. 24 in Honolulu, HI then takes on Brigham Young University – Hawaii on Jan. 26 in Laie, HI and finishes against University of Hawaii at Hilo on Jan. 28 in Hilo, HI.

LOOKING AHEAD:
When the Urban Knights return home from Hawaii, they will travel to Belmont, CA for a matchup with another PacWest foe in Notre Dame de Namur University on Feb. 3. Two days after that game, Academy of Art University heads to Orem, UT to face the Division I Utah Valley State Wolverines. The sixth and final road game of the season, a rematch with American Sports University, then takes place on Feb. 7.

SCOUTING THE SILVERSWORDS:
Chaminade University began its season in dramatic fashion with a matchup against the #1 Division I team in the country at the time, North Carolina (a 115-70 loss) followed by Alabama and Indiana in three-day span. Although the Silverswords lost all three games, they did sell out all 2,500 seats at their McCabe Gym as the host institution for the EA Sports Maui Invitational. It wasn't until a Dec. 5 when Chaminade would earn its first victory, a 99-72 triumph over Alaska Fairbanks. Since that time, the Silverswords have gone 7-3 and began their conference season 4-2. Offensively, guard Joel Smith paces the team with 14.9 ppg to go with 6.0 rpg while center Mohammed Tangara averages 13.9 ppg and a team-leading 8.3 rpg.

SCOUTING THE SEASIDERS:
A perfect 4-0 in conference play this season, BYU-Hawaii suffered its only loss, a 75-68 result to Washburn (KS), on Dec. 17. In a month's span after that loss, the Seasiders have defeated Drury (MO), Menlo College, Hillsdale College, UH-Hilo twice, Hawaii Pacific, Chaminade and NDNU. BYU-Hawaii has a prolific scoring talent in forward/center Lucas Alves, the PacWest's leading scorer and PacWest Player of the Week as of Jan. 19, who averages 20.6 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Guard Trenson Akana backs him up with 13.4 ppg and shoots a deadly 55% (28-of-51) from beyond the arc for a Seasiders squad that currently lead the nation in NCAA II three-point field goal percentage (43.9), field goal percentage (53.4) and rebound margin (12.7).

SCOUTING THE VULCANS:
University of Hawaii at Hilo, the PacWest's fifth best team with a 2-3 conference record, won seven of their first nine games before losing their next three (two of which where against BYU Hawaii). Forward Jay DeMaestri, the second leading scorer in the PacWest Conference, is averaging 18.2 ppg (43% from long range) and 9.5 rpg, but guard John Smith's 17.7 ppg (39% from distance) are not far behind, creating the league's most potent one-two scoring punch. Although DeMaestri and Smith have combined to lead the team in scoring in all but three games, a third three-point threat in guard Bryan Ngo has done his share of damage in addition to pacing the team with 3.5 apg.

LAST GAME RECAP:
After nearly two weeks of rest, the Urban Knights dropped a 93-75 decision against the Cal State East Bay Pioneers at Kezar Pavilion last Friday. Freshman forward Lorenzo Dobson had a career-high 17 points (7-of-10 from the field) and a team-high eight rebounds, one game removed from his rebounding career-high (11 vs. Holy Names on Jan. 6). Sophomore point guard Weleh Dennis had 17 points as well and five assists, but was hampered by foul trouble for much of the second half. AAU was stretched thin that evening, playing just seven players compared to a nine-man roster for CSUEB. The Pioneers began the game on a 7-2 run and never relinquished the lead as Academy of Art University would only come as close as six, 42-36, two minutes before the end of the first half. The difference was again points off turnovers (24-12) and second-chance points (19-6).