Box Score

OAKLAND, Calif. — The pressure of a close game never deterred the Academy of Art University men's basketball team Saturday after plenty of experience already this season, as the Urban Knights eventually pulled away for a 79-71 Pacific West Conference win over Holy Names at Tobin Gymnasium.
 
Saturday's game featured 10 lead changes and six ties, and it was still a two-point game with 11 minutes, 44 seconds, to play. But thanks to a 15-2 run midway through the second half the Urban Knights (5-15, 3-11 PacWest) were able to build a 12-point lead and never look back.
 
"I'm very proud of the team's effort tonight," said Academy of Art head coach Julius Barnes. "I thought the guys played extremely well on defense and did a great job of making the necessary adjustments after Holy Names made their run to close the first half. In the second half, the guys buckled down and made plays on both sides of the ball, especially down the stretch."
 
Five different players scored in double figures for ART U, which snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory. Junior center Trent Stokes and sophomore guard Sergio Valdeolmillos scored 14 points each off the bench to lead the way. Senior guard Alexis Moore poured in 13 as a substitute. Junior forward Nick Cary and sophomore guard Herman Pratt IV chipped in 11 apiece.
 
The Urban Knights hit nine 3-pointers, tying a season high from Dec. 31 at Dixie State. They outrebounded the Hawks 43-38, including 20 offensive boards that led to 17 second-chance points.
 
Academy of Art missed its first six shots of the game and Holy Names (3-19, 1-13 PacWest) turned the ball over twice in the first two minutes before senior guard Aaron Anderson hit back-to-back buckets to score ART U's first four points. No team led by more than two points until the Knights went on a 13-2 run to take a 10-point, 20-10 lead. HNU didn't go away though, pushing a 15-5 run to tie the game at 25-25 and heading to halftime with a slim 38-36 lead.
 
But the Urban Knights outscored Holy Names 43-33 in the second half alone, outshooting them 40.6 to 37.5 percent and forcing seven turnovers while only coughing up the ball once themselves.
 
"Offensively, I was pleased to see the ball movement, which resulted in many open shots," said Barnes. "Although we didn't shoot it particularly well, it was great to see guys crashing the offensive glass, which gave us a few more opportunities to convert.
 
"Of all the stats, I think I'm most proud of the fact that we were simply able to take care of the ball. It's been a struggle all season for us, but to see them mature and make the right reads was a beautiful thing."
 
Academy of Art returns home Wednesday to host Fresno Pacific at 7:30 p.m.