Box Score

Kaneohe, HI – Using a 19-5 run in the second half, Academy of Art University men's basketball fought back in a Wednesday night battle with Hawaii Pacific. Though the Sea Warriors prevailed 78-60, ART U played hard inside Neal S. Blaisdell Center in its final part of a four-game Hawaii roadtrip to open up Pacific West Conference play. Junior forward Keith Davis and sophomore guard Ivan "B.J." Prema, Jr. each had 13 points apiece in the game.

“For B.J., we're really hoping this is a kick start for him,” Head Coach Mark Sembrowich said. “He played well tonight. He played with good energy and made some baskets.”

The Sea Warriors started the contest on a 12-0 run before Prema, Jr. nailed a 3-pointer for Academy of Art. The East Palo Alto, CA native would go on to score the Knights' first six points after a three-point play, but HPU had managed to grow its lead. Responding with a 10-3 burst, ART U got key baskets from senior forward Jonathan Burnett, freshman forward William Overton, Jr., and sophomore forward Aaron Aikman to cut the Hawaii Pacific advantage down to 10 points, 26-16.

Davis began to heat up as the half concluded though HPU would take a 42-23 lead into halftime. With under 13 minutes left in the second period, the scoreboard reflected a 25-point cushion for Hawaii Pacific, but it did not last long. Beginning with a pair of buckets from senior forward Phillip Samuel, the Urban Knights ignited their impressive 19-5 surge. Davis capped the scoring barrage with seven consecutive points to bring Academy of Art within striking distance of HPU, 62-51, at the 8:53 minute mark.

“It was good that we showed some fight in the second half,” Coach Sembrowich said. “We just really made things hard on ourselves. [The run] was necessary, but when you dig such a big hole, you don't have enough energy to make up that kind of ground. I was pleased that we did get after it though.”

ART U was unable to come closer in the end, as the Sea Warriors made one final 11-2 push to create enough separation with the clock winding down. HPU finished with a 78-60 victory, but that score was not indicative of how close the game had been in the second half.

The Knights finished with pair of leading scorers in Davis and Prema, Jr. who each posted 13 points. Prema, Jr. had two made 3-pointers and Davis also notched two steals. Overton, Jr. added 12 points with seven rebounds and two blocks while Samuel had six points off the bench. The guard tandem of senior Devin Williams and freshman Czar Robotham combined for 11 assists in the game. Here, early in PacWest Conference play, Academy of Art now holds a 3-11 overall record, 0-4 in conference.

The Sea Warriors had a game-high 14 points from guard Nick Frazier. Forward Kyle Allen contributed 13 points and the combination of starting forwards Royal Edwards and Jason Jackson finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds. After winning a share of the PacWest Championship last season, HPU stands at 6-8 overall, 1-1 in PacWest play this season.

With their Hawaii roadtrip now complete, the ART U men's basketball team will return to San Francisco to begin a five-game homestand on Monday, Jan. 17. It will be Dream Big – Youth Night as the Urban Knights welcome Dixie State to Kezar Pavilion for a 7:30 PM tipoff following the women's game.