Game #12
ART U Urban Knights (7-4, 2-3 PacWest) at HNU Hawks (4-9, 1-4 PacWest)
Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at 1 p.m.
Oakland, Calif. – Tobin Gymnasium
Live Stats and Video
ART U Game Notes 12-30-22

Game #13
ART U Urban Knights (7-4, 2-3 PacWest) at FPU Sunbirds (3-8, 1-4 PacWest)
Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. – Special Events Center
Live Stats | Live Video
ART U Game Notes 1-2-23

Game #14
ART U Urban Knights (7-4) at Saint Mary's Gaels (10-4)
Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at 7 p.m. 
Moraga, Calif. – University Credit Union Pavilion
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
ART U Game Notes 1-3-23

TOAST TO THAT
Academy of Art went into the holiday break on the sweetest of notes of thanks to a thorough trouncing of Biola, but now ART U looks to keep the momentum going as the Urban Knights turn the page from the 2022 calendar year and begin an extended road trip with a pair of Pacific West Conference contests on the road against Holy Names and Fresno Pacific before battling against NCAA Division I opponent Saint Mary's. 

TIP-OFF
Friday's faceoff with the Hawks will commence at 1 p.m., Monday's meeting with the Sunbirds is scheduled to get underway at 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday's tip time with Saint Mary's is set for 7 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 dominated its Pacific West Conference clash with Biola last time out, earning their second-largest margin of victory (26 points) with a 98-72 win just before the holiday break. Numerous season-bests and even a program record was set in the process, as the Knights knocked down an ART U best 14 triples, connected on 58.5 percent (40-for-68) of their looks with the 40 bucks tying the second-most in a single game, and tallied 23 assists for just the fifth time in school history while all nine Urban Knights that saw game action recorded points (six in double figures). 

After winning the first four games of the season for the first time in program history (all opponents in the CCAA), ART U had dropped three of their next four games including their first two PacWest contests against Point Loma and Concordia. Now, the Knights are back on track with victories in two of their past three, including their largest point total of the season against Biola. Four of the seven wins have come away from home (2-0 on neutral site), four have been by double-digits, four have been second-half comeback efforts (SFSU, CSUEB, SMU, CUH), and two have been double-digit comebacks (SFSU, CUH). Only two games have the Knights never trailed (Chico, BU) and one have they never led (STAN).

ART U has scored 75 or more points in six of their 11 contests this year (6-0, 83.3 ppg in those games), twice topping 80 points in consecutive games before most recently reaching the fifth-most points in program history with 98 against Biola. The current scoring margin of +6.5 would be an ART U program record, which is lifted by their pair of 20-point wins including a 27-point win over Chico, their largest win since defeating UH Hilo 81-48 on Feb. 13 of last season. Shooting from downtown has been crucial, making an average of 8.6 triples per game with a clip of 38.9 percent (95-for-244). Their 14 three-balls against Biola topped their previous season best of 11 (twice), and was a new program record (previous: 13, twice; last: Feb. 13, 2020 vs HNU). Ball movement has been key, recording double-digit assists in each of their first six games (14.7 apg in those games) and 10 of 11 total games (14.3 apg), with their season-best of 23 against BU ranking fifth-most in program history.

ART U's average of 75.6 ppg ranks fourth in the PacWest while their scoring defense slots third (69.1 ppg), leading them to rank fourth in overall scoring margin (+6.5). Though they rank eighth in field goal percentage, ART U is first in opponent field goal percentage (41.3 percent) while ranking third in both opponent 3-point percentage (30.8 percent) and 3-point percentage 38.9 percent). Meanwhile, ART U leads the conference in steals per game (9.5) and total steals (105) while ranking second in turnover margin (+2.3), third in rebound average (39.9 rpg), and fourth in assists (14.3 apg).

Not only does senior guard Klay Brown's 13.3 ppg lead the Knights in scoring, he also leads ART U in rebounds (6.8 rpg, sixth in PacWest), and blocks (1.1 bpg, fourth in PacWest). Meanwhile, graduate student guard Will Balata is the only other in double-figures with 12.3 ppg. Helping move the ball this season has been sophomore guard Rodney Munson, as his 3.0 apg (33 total) is the best on the squad and ninth in the PacWest. Defensively, Brown has notched multiple steals in all but two games (high of four twice) for a team-best average of 2.5 (27 total), leading the PacWest in steals average and total steals. Meanwhile, Munson trails shortly behind with 1.9 per game (21 total), with both marks fourth in the PacWest.

OH HAWK NO
Though they started the season with an equal split of their first six games, Holy Names has dropped six of their past seven contests including each of their past three games, the lone win over that span coming against Chaminade in PacWest action. Following that one-point victory over the Silverswords, HNU has found themselves on the losing end of battles against NCAA DI UC Davis before returning to PacWest action against Point Loma (87-59) and Concordia (70-64). Entering the matchup the Hawks allow the most points to opponents in the conference (81.8 ppg), and other than field goal percentage find themselves at or near the bottom of the conference in most statistical categories. Entering as the top scorer for the Hawks is Roman Behrens, who averages 11.2 ppg across the 13 HNU games. There have been 21 total meetings between ART U and Holy Names, with Academy of Art leading the all-time series 16-5 after winning each of the past eight matchups, most recently sweeping last year's season series in back-to-back games on Feb. 9 and Feb. 11. 

SUNDOWN ON THE SUNBIRDS
A recent win over Concordia in PacWest play helped put an end to a previous four-game skid for Fresno Pacific, but the Sunbirds ran into a tough Point Loma team the next time on the floor with PLNU taking the conference clash by a 30-point margin 84-54. Much like Holy Names, Fresno Pacific can be found at or near the bottom of most statistical categories including scoring offense (66.6 ppg; last) and scoring margin (-3.4; ninth), with exceptions in opponent three-point percentage (30.8 percent; second) and free throw percentage (76.2 percent; second). Leading the way for FPU is Darrin Person Jr., as the wing averages 14.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg, both of which are team highs, while Nate Kendricks also reaches double figures with an average of 10.9 ppg. It was an incredible trilogy between Fresno Pacific and Academy of Art last season, as though the Sunbirds came out on the winning end in the first matchup on Jan. 22, ART U closed out the regular season with a three-point overtime win over FPU on Feb. 26, leading to a third battle in the first round of the PacWest Tournament where the Knights dispatched of the host Sunbirds, 63-57. Overall, Fresno Pacific leads the all-time series, 14-7. 

GUARDIANS OF THE GAEL-AXY
Coming off of a year in which they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I Tournament, Saint Mary's is off to another hot start standing at 10-4 on the season after winning four of their past five contests. Following a close two-point defeat at the hands of Colorado State 62-60, the Gaels responded with a 66-54 win over Wyoming as part of the Jerry Colangelo Classic, and will now get to embark on West Coast Conference play before facing off against the Urban Knights. Though SMC is only averaging 68.6 ppg, their defense has been stifling by holding opponents to just 57.4 ppg leading to a +11.4 scoring margin. Shots often fall for Saint Mary's as they connect on 45.1 percent of their looks from the floor, and can shoot from range by hitting on 36.9 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc with an average of 7.6 triples per game. Four Gaels average double-digit scoring led by the 13.6 from Aidan Mahaney, while Mitchell Saxon chips in 12.9 ppg and Alex Ducas adds 12.5 ppg. Meanwhile, Saxen provides a dual threat by cleaning up the boards, averaging 8.5 rpg while Kyle Bowen snags 7.1 rpg. This will be the first ever meeting between Academy of Art and Saint Mary's. 

URBAN KNIGHTS LEAD ENTIRE WAY IN DOMINANT WIN OVER EAGLES
From the opening whistle until the final buzzer it was all Academy of Art men's basketball on Monday, never trailing in a contest in which they set numerous season highs as ART U earned its way back into the win column with a dominant 98-72 showing over Biola in Pacific West Conference action. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The road trip continues for ART U as they travel to the Hawaiian Islands set to face off against the trio of Hawaii Pacific, Chaminade and UH Hilo beginning on Jan. 8, 2023.