GAME #2
ART U vs. Chico State
Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011 at 2:30 PM
Chico, CA -- Art Acker Gymnasium
LIVE AUDIO

TIPPING OFF
The Urban Knights will finally begin the regular season after their two exhibition matches against Cal Maritime and UC Santa Cruz. Although the Knights dropped both contests, head coach Mark Sembrowich was encouraged by his team's efforts against two solid programs, citing their comeback effort against Maritime and their tenacity keeping the game close against Santa Cruz.

CONFERENCE CLASH
The Mac Martin Invitational is also a clash between two of the biggest conferences in Division II, as the Knights will represent the PacWest Conference, going up against SF State and Chico State of the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The CCAA is the most decorated conference in NCAA Division II history as its former and current members boast a combined number of 149 National Championships.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL
William Overton, Jr., proved early and often that he can be an elite scorer in the PacWest, averaging 17.4 points per game in his first year and captured the PacWest Freshman of the Year Award last season. Overton, Jr. picked up right where he left off in the exhibition season, dropping 18 points in only 25 minutes in his first action of 2011-12. Overton, Jr. was named to the Preseason All-PacWest Team on Thursday.

HAIL TO THE CZAR
The Urban Knights know that they can not only rely on one man to shoot the rock, and got a huge boost from sophomore guard Czar Robotham against Santa Cruz. Robotham, who had a career-high 21 points for Academy of Art, also added six assists and three steals, and is showing the ability to shoot the outside shot and to slash to the basket, and combined with Overton could form a lethal backcourt combination.

GOIN' GATOR WRESTLIN'
The Gators are coming off a 16-11 season that saw SF State go 16-9 against NCAA Division II opponents. 2010-11 First Team All-CCAA selection, Nefi Perdomo, who averaged 14.7 ppg for the Gators last year, returns as the sole starter from 2010-11. SF State lost six seniors last year, including three of their five top scorers.

DECLAWING THE 'CATS
The host Wildcats are returning three of their starters from last year, including a three-headed scoring monster in their backcourt. Guard Damario Sims was second on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg) and second in the CCAA in three-pointers (55), right behind fellow returner Jay Flores (58). Flores averaged 11.0 ppg, good for fourth on the team behind Chico's other guard Sean Park, who averaged 11.1 ppg.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Knights will play their regular season home opener against Cal State East Bay on Nov. 16, and then welcome UC San Diego next Saturday on Nov. 19, before heading off to the Grand Canyon Thanksgiving Holiday Classic.