GAME #8
ART U Urban Knights (2-5) vs. Bethany Bruins (0-10)
Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at 7:00 PM
San Francisco, CA - Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats

Game Notes

FINAL KNIGHTS HOME GAME OF 2010 THIS WEEK
Academy of Art University men's basketball comes off a pair of tough losses to Cal State Monterey Bay and Western Washington last week. The Urban Knights now turn their attention to Bethany University of the NAIA's California Pacific Conference on Saturday. It is the final 2010 home contest for ART U.

OPENING TIP
The Knights and Bruins meet inside Kezar Pavilion this Saturday, Dec. 18 for a non-conference matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM. In addition to live stats, live score updates will also appear on the Academy of Art University Athletics Twitter.

KNIGHT WATCH
With his third consecutive weekly PacWest honor, freshman forward William Overton, Jr. continues to lead the way for ART U. He paces the entire PacWest with 24.1 points per game, constituting an impressive 7.0 points more than the next highest scorer. Junior forward Keith Davis is averaging 14.3 points per game and nearly 6.0 rebounds per contest behind Overton, Jr. In addition, senior forward Jonathan Burnett broke out with his first double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) of the season against Western Washington this past week.

SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Bethany University has played several strong opponents thus far in 2010. After sustaining losses to Division II schools such as Humboldt State and Northern Arizona, the Bruins recently fell 84-46 to Biola University, the No. 18 team in the NAIA. As the squad's leading scorer, guard Marqus. Crawford averages 13.7 points per game with 20 steals on the season. Forward Travis Derochowski, who comes off a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double against Biola, paces the Bruins with his 6.6 rebounds per game average.

ART U EDGED OUT BY OTTERS, VIKINGS LAST WEEK
The Urban Knights played their second home game of the season on Dec. 8, falling 76-62 to Cal State Monterey Bay despite multiple second half rallies. Trailing by 12 at halftime, Academy of Art surged back using a 9-2 run and later a 9-3 push all with under 10 minutes remaining. The Otters would prevail, but Head Coach Mark Sembrowich felt the Knights' effort was particularly significant that evening.

“That [comeback] was really important,” Coach Sembrowich said. “We've got fight in us and it's important that the guys feel that about themselves and know that. I think that's good and it's going to pay off some other time.”

Against Western Washington on Dec. 12, a memorable first half had ART U shoot over 70 percent from the floor and execute an 18-0 run in the process. Led by major scoring efforts from Overton, Jr. and Burnett (each had 15 points at the half), the Knights went on to achieve a program record 53 points in the period, leading by 19 at the break. In the second half, the Vikings battled back to eventually tie the game, 60-60. Academy of Art burst ahead again with an 8-2 run capped by a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Ivan "B.J." Prema, Jr., but WWU made it a dogfight in the end. Western Washington earned an 84-80 victory with key layups down the stretch.

LOOKING AHEAD
An extended 10-day break follows the conclusion of Saturday's action. ART U men's basketball retakes the court on Dec. 29 when they play a pair of games for the Holy Names University New Year's Classic to conclude the non-conference schedule.