Box Score

San Francisco, CA – Inside Kezar Pavilion, the Academy of Art University men's basketball team was unable to come back from a first half deficit against Chaminade Thursday night. The Silverswords lived up to their #5 ranking in the West Region, and held on for an 86-63 victory in the end. However, despite the loss, freshman forward William Overton, Jr. and junior forward Keith Davis combined for 37 Urban Knights points in the game.

“I think tonight we had a tough time generating the kind of energy and the effort that we needed especially in the first half, “Head Coach Mark Sembrowich said. “It put us behind the eight ball and against a team as good as Chaminade, it's difficult to recover. They made a lot of good plays and have a lot of offensive weapons so when you spot them a lead like that; it's a long road back.”

Four of the five Knights' starters had scored in the first four minutes of the game as both teams jockeyed for an early advantage. After being tied 10-10, Chaminade initiated a 12-2 run which gave the visitors a double digit lead midway through the opening period. Davis knocked down a jumper to cut it to eight, but the Silverswords managed to maintain the margin and eventually pushed it to 18 on a pair of free throws by forward De'Andre Haskins.

Senior guard Devin Williams came in off the bench and promptly buried a triple to help ART U, but CUH clutched a 43-25 advantage at the halftime break. In the second period, Overton, Jr. scored consistently for the Knights (he had 16 points in the half) and then a pair of free throws by Davis brought Academy of Art within 16 points, 67-51. However, the Swords later used a 19-5 surge to go to take an 86-63 victory.
 
Overton, Jr. finished with a game-high 20 points for the Knights. He was 8-of-15 from the field, and added two rebounds along with an assist. Davis contributed 17 points behind his teammate as well as a steal and a blocked shot. Freshman guard Czar Robotham added nine points with four rebounds and three assists, while junior center Hunter Hayden finished with a team-high seven rebounds and four assists to tie his career-high. ART U moves to 5-18 overall, 2-11 in the PacWest.

Chaminade had four players score in double figures led by 17 points from guard Steven Bennett. Haskins was second on the team with 16 points. Forward Matt Cousins added a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) off the bench. The win puts CUH at 16-7 overall, 9-2 in the PacWest.

Continuing its two-game homestand, ART U faces BYU-Hawaii this Saturday, Feb. 19 for Family Day. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 PM following the women's game inside Kezar Pavilion.

“We're developing and building, but there are certain things that aren't talent-related like effort and attitude that are really important,” Coach Sembrowich said. “We just need to come out [Saturday] and do a better job. We have a good group of kids and overall on the year, we're definitely pleased with a lot of things we've been able to do. We just have to come back stronger on Saturday.”