Men's Basketball
Nick Van der Vaart Van Gulik
64
Academy of Art ARTU 19-12,13-7 PacWest
67
Winner Point Loma PL 27-5,18-2 PacWest
Academy of Art ARTU
19-12,13-7 PacWest
64
Final
67
Point Loma PL
27-5,18-2 PacWest
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Academy of Art ARTU 29 35 64
Point Loma PL 25 42 67

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Knights Hang Tough In PacWest Championship, PLNU Prevails

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Competing in the Pacific West Conference Tournament Championship Game, Academy of Art men's basketball battled until the final possession after an impressive run through the first two rounds, but it was No. 12 Point Loma that came out with the 67-64 win in the tournament's final contest.

Donovan VickersAhead after a defensive first half, the Urban Knights (19-12) held a 29-25 advantage entering the break with just three lead changes in the first 20 minutes. The Sea Lions (27-5) did manage to contain a narrow lead for a large portion of the half, but the Knights took over before the final media timeout with over four minutes to go and didn't give that advantage up for the rest of the half. A lay up from senior forward Isaiah Williams brought ART U that lead, and the squad held PLNU scoreless during the entirety of the last four minutes.

With the Knights maintaining their lead for nearly the first six minutes of the second half, the Sea Lions assumed a one-point lead from a Zack Paulsen layup. ART U and PLNU then traded the lead back-and-forth but as the Sea Lions gained it back with just under 13 minutes, they held it for the next 10 minutes by no more than seven points. Another Williams bucket regained the advantage with two minutes left, and a junior forward Robbie Armbrester steal gave the Knights another possession as well. With one minute and 18 seconds left, PLNU went back up after a Jaden Matingou score, and after free throws from both sides, the Sea Lions snuck out with the three-point victory.

While Williams led the team in scoring with 18 points, he was one of three Knights who earned a spot on the PacWest All-Tournament Team, as both senior forward Quintin Metcalf and redshirt junior forward Donovan Vickers joined him.

All eyes are on the NCAA Division II West Region standings, as ART U will hope to be awarded a spot to further their season with the NCAA Tournament announcement commencing tomorrow Sunday, Mar. 9 at 8 p.m. PT.