LACEY, Wash. – It took just one game for Academy of Art men's basketball to get back into the win column after their undefeated start to the 2022-23 campaign was snapped, showing their character as ART U overcame losing a double-digit first-half lead against nationally ranked No. 19 Saint Martin's, in turn handing SMU its first loss of the season with a 78-73 clash on Friday. 

"Going on the road to beat the No. 19 team in the nation is no small feat and it was a total team effort," said Head Coach Scott Waterman. "Our pressure really made it hard for them to execute their offense. Overall we followed our game plan and that is what allowed us to have success on both ends of the floor. Coach [Aaron] Landon does a great job and to come out of Lacey with a win is a great accomplishment."

Both teams needed a couple of minutes before finding the bottom of the net, but the Saints (5-1) broke through first before the two squads preceded to trade buckets leading to six first-half lead changes. The last came during the course of a 14-0 run that swung the game's momentum in the direction of the Urban Knights (5-1); a span of just four minutes that saw six different Knights contribute to the run and featured a pair of buckets from junior forward Latrell Williams.

Sophomore guard Rodney Munson was clutch in helping Academy of Art push its lead to 39-30 at the break, pouring in 11 points on the strength 3-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc. As a whole, the Knights connected on over half of their attempts at 51.6 percent (16-for-31), while knocking down 60.0 percent from downtown (6-for-10). 

Though the ART U lead increased to double-digit points, things were tense down the final stretch of the contest as the advantage became a three-point deficit thanks to a 12-1 stretch by the Saints with nine and a half minutes left in the contest. Another bucket pushed Saint Martin's to hold its largest edge of the night at five points, trying to continue their undefeated season with just over eight minutes to go. 

Much like they did in the first, ART U returned the favor and reeled off its second 14-0 run of the evening, stealing back the game's momentum and once more building a nine-point lead over a five-minute span. All was started on a pair of free throws from Munson, saw three layups from senior guard Klay Brown (two) and graduate student guard Deang Deang, and was capped off by a pair of 3-pointers from graduate student forward Will Balata. 

With one final layup from Williams, ART U was able to ice the game from the free throw line down the stretch. Tonight's win for ART U marked the second consecutive win over Saint Martin's, drawing the all-time series level at 2-2 after the Knights also topped the Saints almost exactly one year ago by a 90-78 final on Nov. 26, 2021. 

Helping secure the win was Balata, totaling 12 of his team-high 19 points (season best) in the second half. By the end of the night he finished  6-for-8 (75.0 percent) from the line, and was 3-for-4 (75.0 percent) from three-point range while chipping in six rebounds. Leading the three other Urban Knights in double-digit scoring was Williams, who added 14 points by going 7-for-10 (70.0 percent) from the field while nearly missing a double-double with eight rebounds.

Meanwhile, Munson ended the contest with 13 points and five of the 14 ART U assists. That would tie for the team high with senior forward Mike Asante, who chipped in 11 points and six rebounds in addition to his five dimes. 

This victory puts Academy of Art back on the winning path just as Pacific West Conference play begins, as ART U will hit the road to take on PacWest preseason favorite Point Loma and PacWest Preseason Player of the Year Kaden Anderson in the conference opener on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.