HONOLULU – Just 30 seconds remained on the clock after a pair of free throws knotted the game in the second meeting this season between Academy of Art men's basketball and Chaminade, but the Silverswords held for the last shot and made it count with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to steal a 98-95 Pacific West Conference victory on Tuesday. 

Despite the Urban Knights (10-6, 5-4 PacWest) holding an eight-point edge with just over six minutes to go, their largest lead of the contest, the Silverswords (8-9, 3-6 PacWest) ripped off an 11-2 run that was started and ended by Ross Reeves. He was first able to force his way to the free throw line where he went 2-for-2 before capping the stretch on a triple, giving CUH its first lead in over 10 minutes.

A timeout allowed ART U to regroup, and while their first shot attempt was swatted away, graduate student guard Will Balata collected the rebound before feeding graduate student guard Deang Deang for the layup plus the foul. Reeves was again the Chaminade answer, this time drawing a foul with the Knights in the double-bonus to make his way to the stripe where he was once again perfect. 

Following a defensive stop, Academy of Art was able to capitalize as senior guard Klay Brown rose up and connected on a jumper from the paint, but Brown would give it right back as a foul put Reeves at the line where he drained his fourth straight free throw attempts. While they were his final of the night, he finished a perfect 7-for-7 from the stripe while Chaminade, who entered the game as the top free throw shooting team in the PacWest, ended the night 23-for-28 (82.1 percent). Of those 23, more than half (17-for-18, 94.4 percent) in came in the second period.

Another two points came at the foul line in the next possession, as Deang had a perfect trip to put ART U up by two once again, until a three-ball from Reeves swung the score back in favor of the Silverswords. Long distance shooting was key for CUH as they finished the game 13-for-32 (40.6 percent) from beyond the arc, the most 3-pointers that ART U has allowed in a contest this season, but none of the triples would be more crucial than the final one. 

Chaminade worked their way back to the free throw line as Braden Olsen drew contact while he was driving toward the baseline on the right side, but he could only connect on the second attempt which left the door open for Academy of Art. In trying to operate the offense, Brown drew a foul on the perimeter that sent him back to the stripe where he bested Olsen by going 2-for-2 to knot the game at 95-95 with 30 seconds remaining, setting the stage for the final moments. 

Bringing the ball down the floor, the Silverswords held near the midcourt as they allowed the time to tick with the shot clock off to retain the final shot. While Reeves did much of the damage down the stretch, landing the final blow was Isaac Amaral-Artharee as he connected from downtown on a dish from Reeves as the buzzer sounded. It was the combination of Reeves and Amaral-Artharee doing much of the damage from beyond the arc, with both sinking five three-balls in the game. Reeves had the game high with 30 points on a total of 9-for-14 shooting (64.3 percent), while Amaral-Artharee was not far behind with 24 points on 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) shooting. 

This was the third time that Academy of Art reached the 90-point barrier, but the first that ended in defeat. It was also the second time that ART U had a game end on a shot at the final buzzer, but unlike the ending against Fresno Pacific, the Urban Knights could not come out on the winning end. Tonight's victory was a measure of revenge for CUH, making up for their three-point loss to ART U earlier this season with a win of their own, 98-95.

The exciting finish came after a first half in which the Silverswords took a 45-40 advantage into the break, with the Knights remaining close on the strength of 16 points and eight rebounds from senior forward Mike Asante. That total was one off of his season high that he posted against this same Chaminade squad in their earlier meeting.

A total of five Urban Knights ended the game in double-digit scoring, led by the 17 from Deang as he was 5-for-6 (83.3 percent) from the field in addition to going perfect at the line (6-for-6) along with a team-high four steals. Asante followed with his 16, while reaching double figures for the second straight game was junior forward Richard Rivers Jr., who added 14 after a season-high last time out. Meanwhile, Balata chipped 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while sophomore forward Jamal Fuller totaled 11 points and six boards. 

Just one game remains on the ART U road trip, as the Knights will hop islands in Hawaii to take on UH Hilo this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. HT.