Box Score

Seaside, Calif. -- The Urban Knights men's basketball team fell to Cal State Monterey Bay 66-52 in both teams' season opener at the Otters' Kelp Bed. Junior forward Jonathan Burnett led Academy of Art University with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting. AAU played a stronger second half, but after falling behind early and shooting just under 26 percent from the floor, the visitors could not recover.

The teams matched one another early on and came to a 7-7 tie before the CSUMB executed a 9-0 run sparked by two steals and later a blocked shot. A three-pointer from freshman guard Ivan Prema, Jr. ended the push by the Otters, but the lead would grow to 14 points as the first half progressed. At halftime, Cal State Monterey Bay had a 38-25 advantage over the Knights after a last-second jumper by CSUMB's guard Jeremiah Campbell went down.

Academy of Art University came out of the locker room began the second period on a positive note with a three-pointer by junior guard Phillip Samuel. The 10-point margin would be the closest for AAU, however, because an 8-2 surge from the Otters put them back up by 16. The Knights played a desperation game with the long ball in the final three minutes, but they were unable to cut the lead down to single digits and eventually lost 66-52.

Behind Burnett's 12 points, Samuel and junior guard Lance Olivier each added seven points apiece. Samuel also pulled six rebounds and Olivier dished out a game-high five assists. Sophomore forward Hunter Hayden finished with a team-high eight rebounds (three on the offensive glass) and three blocks, but the reserve play of Prema, Jr. and freshman forward Aaron Aikman kept the Knights in the game. Each freshman had six points and four rebounds off the bench.

The Otters were led by a game-high 16 points from guard Jamelle Tolliver. Guard Keith Wilson, one of CSUMB's two players to score in double figures, had 12 points along with nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Although AAU had fewer turnovers compared to Monterey Bay, the home team out-rebounded Academy of Art 43-34 and had 11 second-chance points.

Academy of Art University's five-game roadtrip continues against The Master's College in Santa Clarita, CA on Nov. 21. Tip-off at the Mustangs' Bross Gym is set for 3:00 PM.