SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – In Academy of Art's season opener, ART U posted several moments for the highlight reel including a 17-0 run and a game-high, 20 points from senior guard Kendall Brown. However, after ART U took a lead into the second half, SF State managed to pull away and maintain their advantage despite a late, Knights run.
 
Academy of Art posted a dominant first half of the season, taking their first lead after junior center Cameron Niven posted his first two points as an Urban Knight to make it 4-3. From there, the lead changed twice before ART U obtained a stranglehold on the score: trailing 10-9 with 14:44 remaining in the half, the Knights went on a tear, scoring 17 unanswered points to take a 26-10 lead. The run took nearly seven minutes off of the clock and allowed Academy of Art to maintain their advantage as they rolled into halftime (33-24). ART U's defensive abilities were showcased in the opening period as well as the Urban Knight held the Gators to a 28-percent field-goal percentage.
 
SF State quickly closed the gap to begin the second half, starting with two unanswered three-pointers, reducing ART U's lead to just three points. On the following play, junior guard Cole Morgan responded with a layup in the paint to regain a five-point advantage. However, the Gators managed to pull even at 39 points apiece two minutes later before taking the lead for good with 13:29 on the clock. From there, SF State went on a 23-8 run, taking their biggest lead of the night (14 points). With just over five minutes remaining, the Urban Knights went on another run of their own, posting 14 points while holding the Gators to three. Their streak brought them to within just three points with only nine seconds to play, but a pair of free throws and a dunk with one second remaining solidified SF State's 72-65 victory.
 
In ART U's 2017-18 season opener, six individuals made their Urban Knights debut including: Niven, Morgan, junior guard Kiel Long, junior guard Zuri Williams, freshman guard Aaron Purnell, and freshman forward Nick Conway. Morgan led the newcomers with 11 points (4-for-8) and five rebounds while Niven nearly posted a double-double with eight points and eight boards. Brown was the game's highest scorer, leading Academy of Art with 20 points along with eight rebounds and one steal. With games all around the conference starting up this week, Brown has scored the fifth-most points in the PacWest out of those with one-game played.
 
The Urban Knights will have a chance to even their record on Saturday when they close out the PacWest/CCAA Challenge with a 12:00 p.m. tipoff against Stanislaus State.