Box Score Photo Gallery (images by Nicol Biesek & Rob Garcia)

Honolulu, HI -- The Academy of Art University men's basketball team led by as much as 10 points in the first half, but Chaminade University approach from the free-throw line overcame that deficit and handed the Urban Knights an 83-70 loss. ART U's sophomore guard Aaron Anderson set a career high for the second time in McCabe Gymnasium with 19 points, but the Silverswords big second half put the Knights away.

"I thought we came out tonight and played much better defensively than we had in our previous two games," head coach Julius Barnes said. "We crashed the boards, got to the free throw line and even attempted 12 more field goals. However, fatigue became a factor and we had some mental breakdowns at inopportune times. Unfortunately, they ended up costing us an opportunity to win tonight."

Just 13 seconds into the game, the Knights had already gained a lead when senior Ivan "B.J." Prema, Jr. found Anderson for a layup. The teams traded baskets and stayed close until the Urban Knights went on an 11-0 run, keyed by Shamsud-din, who either scored or assisted on every basket made except Anderson's two free throws, and the Knights had a 23-13 lead with 7:06 to go in the opening half.

The Silverswords went to work at chipping away at that lead, launching one 3-pointer after another, but eventually getting back in it from two-point range. CUH would tie the game at 24-24 with 3:36 left in the half. Free throws from Shamsud-din just under the three-minute mark made it a one-point game again at 27-26, and then a jumper by Mike Jorritsma with 1:17 to go proved to be the final field goal of the first half and made it 30-28 headed into the locker room.

Just like the first half, the Knights struck first and struck fast, as Prema, Jr. nailed a jumper to tie the game for the third time at 30-30 only eight seconds into the second half. Three free throws, one from Aaron Aikman and two from Rodrigo Maza, gave the Knights a three-point lead, but the Silverswords continued their barrage from beyond the arc, and as they started to fall, they retook control of the game.


Lee Bailey made a triple to make it 41-37 Chaminade, and another from De'Andre Haskins gave the Silverswords a five-point lead with under 15 minutes to play. That lead stretched to double digits after Bennie Murray made all three free-throws after a foul, and grew to as many as 16 before the Knights started to claw back into the game.

Much like their island opener against Hawai'i Pacific, the Urban Knights came within striking distance with under two minutes to go. Anderson, who had already tied his career high with just over five minutes left with his 14th point, made a jumper in the lane and the ensuing free-throw to make it 74-63 with 1:49 to go in the game. Alex Carmon would then sink a 3-pointer to cut the lead to single digits with 1:28 to go.

"Aaron Anderson played well for us tonight on both ends of the floor," Coach Barnes said. "He was aggressive and efficient, knocking down open shots and getting to the line. He wants to improve and that hard work is starting pay dividends."

But despite the Urban Knights best efforts, the Silverswords capitalized from the free-throw line to put the game out of reach, making eight of eight free throws in the final 75 seconds to end the game with an 83-70 final score.

For the Swords, Lee Bailey and Bennie Murray both had 19 points, and both scored more than half of that from the line. The Knights actually out-rebounded Chaminade 38-31, but the Silverswords shot 37 for 49 from the line and also took 28 3-pointers.

Anderson's 19 points were a career high, breaking his previous high of 14 that he set in his freshman season, coincidentally also against the Silverswords. Shamsud-din added 14 points, while Carmon had nine points and 10 rebounds. The Knights will come back to California and start a three-game homestand in ten days, starting with UH Hilo on January 19. 

"We've made some strides defensively, but obviously still have a ways to go," Coach Barnes said. "We've got to be able to maintain focus and intensity for an entire game. It will be nice to head home and play in the friendly confines of Kezar."