BELMONT, Calif. – After honoring their six seniors with a pregame ceremony, Academy of Art men's basketball went toe-to-toe with Pacific West Conference rival Dominican in a contest where the lead swung like a pendulum. Despite four ART U seniors scoring in double figures, the Penguins would be the ones to walk away victorious on Friday by a final of 81-76 after a second-half run captured the momentum and the lead. 

Two seniors got the scoring started for the Urban Knights (3-9, 2-8 PacWest), as guards Joshua Bagley and Stefan Milivojevic knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers before the two teams would proceed to swap the lead through the majority of the half. Looking to establish some control, ART U ripped off a 9-0 run with just under six minutes until the break after yet another trey from Milivojevic and a pair of buckets from junior guard Christian Popoola Jr. It wouldn't take Penguins (3-5, 3-5 PacWest) would immediately respond with three straight 3-pointers from Christopher Williams II. By the time the teams returned to the locker room, Dominican had the lead at 43-38 even though the Knights shot 52 percent from the floor and Milivojevic poured in 19 points.

In just two possessions ART U eliminated the deficit, as Popoola Jr. hit a jumper to begin the period followed by another 3-pointer from Bagley to knot the game once more. Once again as it looked that the Urban Knights would start to build a lead, Dominican found an unmatched 8-0 run of their own to seize the game's momentum. The Penguins would go on to hit a collection of clutch shots at the end of the game, as they would finish the half at 56 percent shooting from the field and put away the game down the stretch.

Five Urban Knights would hit double-digit scoring, while the seniors to do it were Milivojevic (19), Bagley (12), guard Dante Williams (12), and forward Josh Hill (11). Hill would collect his ninth double-double of the season after also snatching a team-high 13 rebounds, while Bagley ended the game with a career-high four 3-pointers along with Milivojevic. The only non-senior in double digits was Popoola Jr., adding 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting with four assists and two steals.

Leading all scorers was Jaelen Ragsdale of Dominican with 25 points, going 8-for-13 from the floor while also knocking down eight free throws. Williams II would chip in 18 points on the strength of four 3-pointers, while Romeo Mays led the team in rebounds with 10.

The two teams will run it back tomorrow in the final game of the season, as tip off is set from Tobin Gymnaisum at 6 p.m.