SAN FRANCISCO – Facing a Dixie State team that had won eight of its past nine games entering Thursday night, Academy of Art University men's basketball dropped a 73-48 decision to the Trailblazers at City College of San Francisco. An efficient performance from the field, beyond the arc, and at the foul line helped DSU gain an 18-point lead by halftime and eventually earn the victory.
Five minutes in, ART U was right with Dixie State as freshman guard
Dante Williams' second basket came quickly down court to make it a one-point game. Shooting percentages seemed to go in opposite directions from that moment on as the Trailblazers would use an 18-6 run to go ahead by 13.
A basket by senior forward
Chris Salas and free throws from junior guard
Victor Nwaba helped the Knights get back into a rhythm, but the lead eventually rose to 20 just before a buzzer-beating layup from
Dante Williams heading into halftime.
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DSU started the second half with an 8-0 run and though junior guard
Uchenna Okeneme scored eight of his 10 points in that period, the margin did not drop below 22 points the rest of the way. A +17 rebounding edge plus 42 points in the paint reflected the Trailblazers' effectiveness around the basket en route to the 73-48 final score.
Academy of Art moves to 3-7 overall and 2-2 in PacWest play with Thursday's result.
Dante Williams and Okeneme finished with 10 points apiece while three other Knights, Salas, freshman forward
Luka Radovic, and sophomore guard
Cobe Williams, each had six points.
Dixie State gained sole possession of first place in the PacWest standings, now 6-1 in conference and 9-4 overall. Brandon Simister and Austin Montgomery each had 12 points apiece to lead the Trailblazers while Marcus Bradley added 11 points in 12 minutes off the bench.
Next, ART U challenges PacWest rival Dominican this Saturday, Jan. 7 with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game inside the Conlan Recreation Center.
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