Game #18
ART U Urban Knights (11-6, 6-4 PacWest) vs. CUI Eagles (4-11, 3-7 PacWest)
Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Belmont, Calif. – Walter Gleason Gym
Live Stats and Video
ART U Game Notes 1-19-23

Game #19
ART U Urban Knights (11-6, 6-4 PacWest) vs. No. 20 PLNU Sea Lions (16-3, 11-0 PacWest)
Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.
Belmont, Calif. – Walter Gleason Gym
Live Stats and Video
ART U Game Notes 1-21-23

Game #20
ART U Urban Knights (11-6, 6-4 PacWest) vs. HPU Sharks (5-11, 1-7 PacWest)
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 at 7 p.m. 
Belmont, Calif. – Walter Gleason Gym
Live Stats and Video
ART U Game Notes 1-24-23

HOUSE PARTY
Academy of Art will face off against all areas of the Pacific West Conference standings as ART U starts its upcoming extended homestand after winning five of their previous seven contests, with the Urban Knights beginning by seeking revenge against Concordia before a Saturday showdown with conference leader No. 20 Point Loma, finally ending with their third game in six days against Hawaii Pacific to finish the stretch.  

TIP-OFF
Thursday's tip time with the Eagles is set for 7 p.m., Saturday will be an afternoon matinee at 3:30 p.m. against the Sea Lions, and Tuesday's meeting with the Sharks commences at 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.

KNIGHTS' QUEST
Academy of Art was 2-1 on its trip to the Hawaiian Islands, starting off with a 74-67 victory over HPU in a second-half comeback before being just narrowly defeated in a 98-95 thriller with Chaminade after the Silverswords hit the game winner at the buzzer. The trip concluded with ART U's first win in Hilo since 2021, as the Knights rebounded strong with their third 20-point win of the season by defeating UH Hilo 90-68. Driving the scoring was graduate student guard Will Balata with an average of 15.7 ppg over the three contests, dropping his season high in the clash with the Vulcans by leading the team with 25 points. Senior forward Mike Asante twice reached double-digit scoring including his third double-double of the year with 15 points and 12 rebounds against Hilo, while junior forward Richard Rivers has hit the double-digit scoring mark in all three games with an average of 14.7 ppg and 5.7 rpg. 

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. This was the first time since 2018-19 that ART U was defeated in its first two PacWest games, with the losses occurring to the same two teams, however that season culminated in ART U's first ever PacWest Tournament appearance. Academy of Art got back on track winning five of their next seven contests, which included tying the program-record with four straight PacWest victories (accomplished twice last season under coach Waterman) and consecutive 90-point performances with their largest point total of the season (98) against Biola, while the losses came against preseason PacWest favorite Azusa Pacific and NCAA Division I opponent Saint Mary's. While the conference winning streak was snapped last at the hands of Chaminade, giving ART U its first loss when scoring 75 points or above, the Knights responded with their third 20-point win of the season over Hilo (also BU and Chico). Eight of the 11 wins have come away from home (6-5 away; 2-0 on neutral site), six have been by double-digits (SFSU, CSUEB, Chico, BU, HNU, Hilo), six have been second-half comeback efforts (SFSU, CSUEB, SMU, CUH, FPU, HPU), and two have been double-digit comebacks (SFSU, CUH). Only two games have the Knights never trailed (Chico, BU) and one they never led (STAN). Additionally, they are 1-0 against ranked opponents this season, with the win coming against then No. 19 Saint Martin's.

KNIGHT WATCH
ART U has scored 75 or more points in nine of their 17 contests this year (8-1, 86.9 ppg in those games), twice topping 80 points in consecutive games before reaching the fifth-most (98 at Biola), sixth-most (97 at HNU) and ninth-most (95 at CUH) points in program history. That leads to an overall season average of 76.8 ppg, which would be second in program history. The current scoring margin of +5.6 would be an ART U program record, which is lifted by their three of 20-point wins including a 27-point victory over Chico, their largest win since defeating UH Hilo 81-48 on Feb. 13 of last season. Shooting from downtown is crucial, with ART U averaging 7.8 triples per game at a clip of 36.1 percent (133-for-368), though they have shot 25.0 percent or less six times. Earlier this season the Knights had made at least half of their attempts from deep in three consecutive games prior to Stanislaus (high of 55.0 percent, 11-for-20), and overall they have shot above 40.0 percent from three-point range a total of seven times. 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 14 of 17 total games (13.76 apg), with their season-best of 23 against BU ranking fifth-most in program history while their 22 against Hilo is tied for sixth-most. With a total of 234 assists, ART U has assisted on 48.0 percent (234-of-487) of their total baskets this year. 

In comparison, opponents are averaging 71.2 ppg against ART U this season, only five times allowing an opponent to score 75 or more points (high of 98 at CUH).They allowed a season-low 52 points against FPU on Jan. 2, which was the fewest allowed since they gave up just 48 to UH Hilo last season Feb. 13, 2022, and is tied for the sixth-fewest points allowed in school history. Recently FPU was held to just 28.8 percent shooting from the field, the second-lowest percentage ART U has held an opponent to in program history (previous: 27.8 percent at HNU, Jan. 6, 2009). ART U normally defends the perimeter well, as opponents have made double-digit triples in just five of 17 games (most recently allowing a a season-high 13 triples to CUH), though they have connected on over 30.0 percent of their attempts from deep a total of nine times. Overall, opponents hit on only 31.5 percent (129-for-410) of attempts from three-point range. Eight times has ART U totaled double-digit steals, reaching the mark in three consecutive games (12.0 per game) prior to Hilo, with a season-high of 15 against Sonoma State (Nov. 13, 2022). That leads to a current season average of 9.71 per game (165 total), and they are currently on pace to finish with 271 by season's end (would be the second-most in ART U history). In the battle on the boards, ART U has snatched 675 rebounds (39.7 per game) to the 625 of their opponents (36.8 per game), eight times grabbing 40 or more with their season-best coming against PLNU by snatching an eye-popping 52 rebounds. Currently they are on pace to finish with 1,111 rebounds, which would be the third-most in school history while the rebounding average would be a program record. 

Not only does senior guard Klay Brown's 12.8 ppg lead the Knights in scoring, he also leads ART U in assists (2.8 apg) and blocks (1.0 bpg, seventh in PacWest). Meanwhile, Balata and Asante both reach double-digit scoring, with Balata chipping in 12.6 ppg while Asante adds 10.8 ppg. Falling shy of that mark is graduate student guard Deang Deang (9.0 ppg), sophomore forward Jamal Williams (8.5 ppg), and junior forward Latrell Williams (8.0 ppg). Many have cleaned up the glass for ART U, as Asante's 7.1 rpg leads the Knights and is fifth in the PacWest while Balata's 6.4 rpg is eighth, with Williams (6.2 rpg) and Brown (6.0) just miss the top 10. Brown's 2.8 apg (48 total) fall just outside the PacWest top 10, while sophomore guard Rodney Munson adds 2.2 apg (38 total). Defensively, Brown has notched multiple steals in all but five games (high of four three times) for a team-best average of 2.2, leading the PacWest in steals average and total steals (37). 

CONQUERING CONCORDIA
A three-game skid has followed what was a short two-game winning streak for the Concordia Eagles, as they have fallen to eighth place in the PacWest after losing six of their past eight overall, all of which have come in conference action. Their scoring offense ranks last (67.5 ppg) while their scoring defense isn't much better in ninth (76.8 ppg) leading them to sit next to last in scoring margin (-9.3). Free throw percentage is the only category in which Concordia sits inside the top-six in the PacWest (third, 73.9 percent), as they can be found at or near the bottom of all other categories including rebounds (last, 29.4 rpg). Despite their record, Lance Coleman II's average of 19.1 ppg is third in the PacWest, as only he and Bryce Fitzgerald (13.9 ppg) average double figures for the Eagles. Fitzgerald provides two-way value by snatching a team-best 6.0 rpg, while Kobe Sanders' average of 3.8 helpers per games is fifth in the PacWest. Academy of Art will be looking for revenge against Concordia for the loss earlier this season that snapped a previous three-game winning streak over the Eagles, however CUI still leads the all-time series over ART U by a 7-4 margin. 

SLIPPERY SEA LIONS
Yet to taste defeat in PacWest action are the No. 20 Point Loma Sea Lions, who have won each of their first 11 conference clashes including the PacWest opener for both PLNU and ART U by a 69-61 margin back on Dec. 1, 2022. Overall Point Loma has won 12 straight thanks to a conference detour against San Diego Christian, and most recently the Sea Lions are coming off close wins over Chaminade and Azusa Pacific before dominating Concordia last time out. Point Loma's scoring offense may only be third with 78.2 ppg, they boast the second-best scoring defense by allowing just 65.9 ppg to hold the conference's best scoring margin at +12.3. Despite their offense, PLNU posts just the fifth best field goal percentage (44.4 percent) and the seventh-best three-point percentage (34.5 percent), but they lead the conference in free throw percentage and turnover margin while ranking second in steals. Kaden Anderson continues to be the primary option for Point Loma, as he is the only player in the PacWest to average more than 20 points at 22.3 per game, though he scored just 11 when he faced the Urban Knights. Meanwhile, he is also third in rebounds (8.6 per game), while teammate Luke Haupt is third in assists with 4.3 per game and fifth in steals with 1.6 per game. While the two teams have split the last four meetings (including PLNU's earlier win this season), Point Loma holds the edge in the all-time series, 14-4. 

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS
Brining up the rear of tne PacWest standings are the Hawaii Pacific Sharks, having lost four of their past five games which also includes a 74-67 defeat at the hands of Academy of Art just 10 days ago. Hawaii Pacific finds itself at or near the bottom of all conference statistical categories with the exception of rebounding (fourth, 37.2 rpg), though they just miss out on having a positive scoring margin for the season (seventh, -1.6). Three Sharks are averaging double figures thus far into the year led by the 16.1 per game from Marquis Moore (eighth in the PacWest), while joining him is Melo Sanchez (12.3 ppg) and Mason Landdeck (11.0 ppg). Moore has been a do-it-all type of player, also leading the squad in rebounds with 7.1 boards per game (fourth in the PacWest), while Landdeck adds 3.1 assists per game. Academy of Art has won each of the past four meetings with Hawaii Pacific dating back to Jan. 29, 2020, but HPU still leads the all-time series 14-8. 

MEN'S BASKETBALL CONTROLS ROAD TRIP FINALE AGAINST UH HILO
Competing in the final contest of a six-game road trip, their third game in the past five days, Academy of Art men's basketball seemed as if it was going to be locked into another close contest as ART U and UH Hilo traded leads in the first frame. Just before halftime was when the Knights grabbed control, ending the first and starting the second period with a combined 28-4 stretch, ultimately leading to ART U's fourth 90-point performance of the season with a 90-68 win over UH Hilo on Thursday. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The ART U homestand continues, though the Knights will host just one game as the play only contest, a rematch with current PacWest second place UH Hilo on Jan. 29 at 3:30 p.m.