Academy of Art University Athletics

PacWest Freshman of the Week Uchenna Okeneme had a big night off the bench Saturday, scoring 21 points and coming through in the clutch with four free throws in the final 13 seconds to hold off a late charge by Notre Dame de Namur and help the Academy of Art University men's basketball team to a 69-63 Pacific West Conference win over the Argonauts at Walter Gleason Gym.

The rookie played 24 minutes off the bench Saturday and went a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-2 from beyond the 3-point arc. He was also 5-for-6 from the free-throw line and added four assists, two steals and two rebounds to his season-best performance.
 
Okeneme had put the Urban Knights ahead by double digits with a layup at the 10 minutes, 25 seconds mark of the second half. That lead slowly wilted away, though, in the final 10 minutes with NDNU pulling to within two at 65-63 with 1:55 to play. Notre Dame de Namur got one final chance when it grabbed a rebound off an ART U miss, but Jalani Davis missed a go-ahead 3-pointer with 16 seconds left, forcing NDNU to foul Okeneme.

Okeneme made good on both his attempts from the charity stripe to put ART U up 67-63, and after Davis missed another 3-pointer with 3 seconds on the clock, Okeneme iced the victory with two more free throws.