Game #8
ART U Urban Knights (4-3, 0-0 PacWest) vs. Vanguard Lions (5-0, 0-0 PacWest)
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
San Francisco – SF State Main Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #9
ART U Urban Knights (4-3, 0-0 PacWest) vs. Point Loma Sea Lions (7-2, 0-0 PacWest)
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.
San Francisco – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats | Live Video

TURNING POINT
After closing out the non-conference schedule for 2024, Pacific West Conference play is upon us as Academy of Art men's basketball enters their next two contests at home this week against a new face to the PacWest in Vanguard with Point Loma following thereafter.

TIP-OFF
Thursday's tip time with the Lions is set for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, while Saturday's showdown with the Sea Lions gets underway beginning at 3:30 p.m on Dec. 7. 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
Coming off a 2-0 week and starting the 2024-25 campaign with a 4-3 record in non-conference play, ART U has seen both team basketball and individuals take off with their performances throughout the young season. Most recently, senior forward Quintin Metcalf proved what he is capable of as he took home the PacWest Conference Player of the Week honor for his performances in the squad's most recent victories against Stanislaus State on Nov. 27 and Simon Fraser on Nov. 29.

Senior forward Isaiah Williams continues to lead ART U in scoring through the seven games thus far, as his 17.1 points per game average not only paces the Knights, but ranks fifth in the conference. Senior guard Rodney Munson is right behind him on the team with an average of 13.9, while his 33.9 minutes per game leads ART U and is in fourth in the PacWest. Metcalf (11.9) and redshirt junior guard Donovan Vickers (11.3) also average within the double digits in points in addition to each putting up 10-rebound performances this past week. 

Vickers is currently sitting in fourth place in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.488), as he additionally ranks 22nd in all of NCAA Division II in the category. Numerous Urban Knights follow up by ranking in the PacWest top 10 as well, with Williams ninth in blocked shots per game (1.0), Munson ninth in steals (2.1), Metcalf seventh in rebounds (7.0), and Vickers seventh in assists (3.9) and third in assist/turnover ratio (2.7).

VIEWING VANGUARD
Also yet to play a PacWest game thus far, the Lions enter the contest against the Knights after having a hot start in their first year in the conference with a 5-0 overall record. Most recently, the Lions left the Point Loma Tournament 2-0 after defeating Central Washington and Seattle Pacific, while they took down Cal State LA, SF State, and La Sierra just prior. As the Lions are ranked second in total offense (87.2 ppg), they additionally hold the second-largest point margin in the PacWest (17.6). With VU's team-wide offensive scheme, it contributes to four members of the squad averaging above double-digit points. Anthony Tello leads the Lions in the category as he averages 18.0 per game, while three others average 11.6 or higher. Just 6.2 rebounds come in for VU's leader, as Jackson Larsen is just ahead of next-best Leonard Turner's 5.4. The contest against Vanguard will be the first battle between the two schools.

POINT LOMA PARTICULARS
The Sea Lions will enter their contest against Academy of Art with one PacWest game already under their belt as well as they will battle with Dominican two days prior. With a 7-2 record to start the campaign, Point Loma has already been seen on the NABC Coaches Top 25 list for numerous weeks with a most-recent No. 13 ranking in NCAA DII, but that changed on Dec. 3 when the most recent list showed the Sea Lions bumped down to just receiving votes after their 68-69 loss to Central Washington. With their success, they are shown as a middle-of-the-pack team in terms of conference statistics in their averages in each category. The Sea Lions contain over four double-digit scorers as well, as Luke Haupt leads his squad with 14.2 points per game while five members are taking in at least 4.4 rebounds per contest, none with a higher average than 5.2. Although Point Loma leads the all-time series 17-5, ART U has created a rich recent-history going 1-1 with the Sea Lions last season while the two additionally shared the regular season conference title.

53-POINT SECOND HALF SECURES 88-73 VICTORY FOR ART U
In a game that included a slow start from two teams that now average over 76.0 points per game, big second halves from both sides ultimately led to the 88-73 final score that saw Academy of Art men's basketball taking home the win over Simon Fraser on Nov. 29.

LOOKING AHEAD
ART U will stay at home to host another pair of PacWest Conference opponents as Fresno Pacific will enter Kezar Pavilion on Dec. 13 while Chaminade will do the same on Dec. 21.