Box Score (Dixie State)

Box Score (CSU San Bernardino)

St. George, Utah (12/22/08) -- Academy of Art University men's basketball wrapped up a four-game, four-night, three-state road-trip on Monday with a 62-78 loss to Pacific Conference foe Dixie State College of Utah (4-5). Sophomore guard Weleh Dennis erupted for 30 points including 5-of-6 from long range, but a 12-2 late-game run put the Rebels over the top. On the evening prior, the Urban Knights were defeated 54-96 by the Coyotes of Cal State San Bernardino (3-5).

Dennis began his three-point barrage early against Dixie State with a long ball to put his team ahead 5-4 in the first three minutes. Unfortunately for AAU, DSC would initiate a 26-8 streak over the next eight minutes to establish a 17 point lead. The Knights tried to stay with their opponent using points in the paint (freshman forward Josiah Jungsten dunked one home late in the half), but Academy of Art University could trim the advantage down to no less than 14 and headed into the halftime locker room behind 32-50.

The Urban Knights would go on to outscore the Rebels 30-28 in the second period as Dennis scored eight of the team's first 10 points to open the half. However, Andy Palmer and Nick Howard of Dixie State kept AAU at bay and each finished in double figures (13 and 11 points respectively).  Palmer also added 11 rebounds (seven on the offensive glass) and helped DSC win the battle of points in the paint, 28-48.

Besides his impressive long-range shooting in the game, Dennis also stuffed the stat sheet with three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Freshman forward Hunter Hayden, who had a special night, made a free throw with 11:24 on the clock to bring the Knights within 13, but they would come no closer. Hayden finished with career-highs in points (13) and blocks (4) while grabbing eight rebounds. Freshman point guard Marqus Crawford was the third Urban Knight who scored in double figures (11) and pulled eight rebounds of his own, a career-high.

At Valley High School in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, AAU played its second contest as part of the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament against host CSU San Bernardino. The Coyotes used 41 bench points, 26 points in the paint and 18 points off turnovers to give CSUSB a comfortable win. Brandon Brown turned in a 19-point, 12-rebound performance to pace five players in double figures for San Bernardino.

Dennis finished with a team-high 18 points and six assists while Jungsten put in 14 points and Hayden added 11. However, after being out-rebounded 42-33 and making just 32% of their shots, the Urban Knights simply could not handle the Coyotes.

With the pair of losses, AAU falls to 0-12 on the season while Dixie State and Cal State San Bernardino improve to 4-5 and 3-5 respectively.

On December 26^th, Academy of Art University heads south to face CSU Los Angeles (4-4) at the Eagles' Nest. Tip-off for this matchup is set for 3:00 PM this Friday.