Game #5
ART U Urban Knights (4-0) at Stanislaus State Warriors (1-4)
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022 at 5 p.m.
Turlock, Calif. – Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena
Live Stats | Live Video
ART U MBB Game Notes 11-22-22

Game #6
ART U Urban Knights (4-0) at #19 Saint Martin's Saints (4-0)
Friday, Nov. 25, 2022 at 4 p.m.
Lacey, Wash. – Marcus Pavilion
Live Stats | Live Video
ART U MBB Game Notes 11-25-22

ON A ROLL
Sitting at 4-0 for the first time in program history after a pair of convincing double-digit victories, Academy of Art men's basketball looks to remain unbeaten in two games around the Thanksgiving holiday this week starting with a short trip south to take on Stainslaus State, and ending with a longer trip north to take on No. 19 Saint Martin's. 

TIP-OFF
Both contests come on the road for ART U, with the first commencing at 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening against the Warriors while Friday's clash with the Saints takes place at 4 p.m. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram, as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Academy of Art went 2-0 last week against a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association teams, starting with the second ART U second-half comeback of the season when they turned what was a five-point halftime deficit into a double-digit victory thanks to 49 points in the final frame against Cal State East Bay. Meanwhile, the Knights never trailed during Saturday's clash with Chico State, taking a double-digit lead by halftime before dominating the second frame en route to the 84-57 win, ART U's first ever program win over the Wildcats. For the second straight game the Urban Knights set their season-best mark in margin field goal percentage (55.0 percent), and they also set a new best in assists (19) while tying season-highs in 3-pointers (11) and blocks (three). Four Knights finished in double-figures led by 15 from senior forward Mike Asante, while senior guard Klay Brown tallied five helpers to go with eight rebounds, both of which were team highs.

On the strength of his two performances, Brown was picked as the PacWest Defender of the Week earlier today for the first time in the 2022-23 campaign, giving him four in his career after he collected three last season (Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24) which is an ART U program record. He is now the second Urban Knight to earn the honor in multiple seasons since the current version of PacWest weekly awards began (2013-14), joining Alexis Moore who did so once in 2013-14 before earning the award once more in 2014-15. In addition to Brown's award, Academy of Art was picked as the PacWest's unofficial Team of the Week, the first time that has happened in the campaign.

After starting the year at 2-0 at the PacWest/CCAA Challenge for the second consecutive season, the third 2-0 start in program history, the Urban Knights now have the best overall start in program history after taking care of both Cal State East Bay and Chico State last week. Three wins have come away from home, including going 2-0 in neutral site games. While this season has featured two second half comeback wins, ART U led the whole way  in a rematch of last year's NCAA DII West Region Quarterfinal with Chico State, setting their new season-best mark in margin of victory (+27).

Not only does Brown's 17.3 ppg lead the Knights in scoring, he also leads ART U in assists (4.8 per game) and rebounds (7.5 per game). His rebounding lately has been supreme, totaling 17 rebounds in the past three games (high of seven at CSUEB). Meanwhile, graduate student guard Will Balata and sophomore forward Jamal Fuller are both averaging double figures, with Balata slotting second at 10.8 ppg and Fuller third at 10.3 ppg. Fuller's damage has come largely off the bench, shooting a team-best 64.7 percent (14-for-21) shooting from the floor. Three other Knights fall just shy of double-digit averages, as Asante chips in 9.7 ppg while both graduate student guard Deang Deang and junior forward Latrell Williams average 9.5 ppg. Defensively, Brown has notched at least two steals in every game for an team-best average of 2.5 (10 total), while sophomore guard Rodney Munson trails shortly behind with 2.3 per game (nine total).

JOUSTING WITH THE WARRIORS
It has been a slow start to the season for Stanislaus State, as the Warriors have dropped each of their past three games since going 1-1 during the Stanislaus State Crossover Classic when they topped Fresno Pacific 65-57 in game two. Through five games the Warriors average just 67.2 ppg on the strength of 42.3 percent (131-for-310) from the floor and just 28.5 percent (35-for-123) from beyond the arc. However, defense has been tough for Stanislaus as opponents hit nearly half of their attempts from the floor (49.8 percent; 126-for-253), leading to a scoring margin of -5.8. Three Warriors are averaging double-digit scoring to begin the year led by the 16.4 from Kobe Ordonio, followed by 12.8 ppg from Tony SIngleton and 11.6 ppg from Marlon Short. Meanwhile, dynamic from the guard position has been Benno Zecic as he has averaged 5.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game, both of which are team highs. Academy of Art and Stanislaus State have met just four times previously, with Stanislaus leading the series 3-1 thanks to victories in each of their past two games (most recently: Nov. 23, 2021).  

BATTLING THE SAINTS
Much like the Urban Knights, Saint Martin's stands unbeaten at 4-0 that all began with an 84-72 upset of No. 13 Cal State San Marcos in the season opener. Just as impressively, the Saints average just slightly higher than ART U with 85.3 ppg and a scoring margin of +20.5, doing so on the strength of 50.8 percent (127-for-250) from the floor and 37.6 percent (47-for-125) from three-point range. Posting double-digit assists in all four games, their season average is buoyed by a season-best 27 in a single game against Douglas (CAN), and have twice reached 40 rebounds in a game. Five Saints currently sit in double-digit scoring for the season, tops of them all is Branden Bunn with 15.8 ppg while Kyle Greeley chips in an average of 13.3. Of those who have played in more than one game, Jaden Nielsen-Skinner posts the team high in assists with an average of 4.3. While Saint Martin's won the first two meetings against the Urban Knights, ART U was victorious most recently by a 90-78 final on Nov. 26, 2021 to bring the all-time series to 2-1. 

ACADEMY OF ART PULLS AWAY LATE AGAINST CHICO, MOVES TO 4-0
Never trailing during a rematch from last season's NCAA DII West Region Quarterfinal, Academy of Art men's basketball extracted a measure of revenge against Chico State as ART U took the lead early before pulling away late with a dominant second frame, remaining undefeated on the campaign and earning its first ever victory over Chico by an 84-57 final. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Pacific West Conference play awaits the Urban Knights, as ART U begins conference play on the road against top-projected team Point Loma and PacWest Preseason Player of the Year Kaden Anderson on Thursday, Dec. 1 before continuing on to face Concordia on Saturday, Dec. 3.