GAME #5
AAU Urban Knights (0-4) vs. Loyola Marymount University Lions (2-5)
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Loyola Marymount Univ., Gertsen Pavilion

Game Notes (includes season/career highs)


AAU TRAVELS TO LMU FOR MID-WEEK CONTEST:
Urban Knights men's basketball plays its one and only Division I opponent, Loyola Marymount, this week on the road. After dropping a pair of games in Western Washington's tournament this past weekend, Academy of Art finishes up its five-game roadtrip at LMU's Gertsen Pavilion. The game can be followed online with Game Tracker here or at the LMU men's basketball schedule page here.

OPENING TIP:
The matchup of Academy of Art and Loyola Marymount will take place this Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the Lions' Gertsen Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 PM and free live audio can be found on KXLU 88.9 FM here in addition to the live stats provided on Game Tracker.

SCOUTING THE LIONS:
Although Loyola Marymount University may have the lowest overall record in the West Coast Conference, the Lions have had some extremely close losses. They began the season with a 90-87 defeat at the hands of Boise State on Nov. 13 and then dropped a heart-breaking 64-63 decision to Montana two days later. LMU also defeated USC 67-59 on Nov. 21. Forward Drew Viney has been the most consistent Lion on offense thus far with an average of 17.3 points per game. Versus UCSB in LMU's most recent contest, Viney converted 10 free throws as part of a game-high 25-point outburst. Academy of Art will also have to contend with last year's Lions scoring leader, guard Vernon Teel, who averages 12 ppg.

11TH CHUCK RANDALL THANKSGIVING CLASSIC:
The Urban Knights played a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents in a tournament hosted by Western Washington University this past weekend. Beginning on Nov. 27, Academy of Art could not recover from an early deficit versus WWU and eventually lost 86-23. Less than 24 hours later, the Knights battled Saint Martin's University and again struggled in the first half before falling 73-33. In both games, AAU played a better second half, particularly against SMU where freshman guard Ivan Prema, Jr. scored seven of his nine points in the second half.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Academy of Art University's first home game is now on the horizon. Saturday, Dec. 12 will mark AAU's return to UCSF for a contest against Simpson University (CA). After that lone home game, the Knights head back out on the road for tournaments hosted by Humboldt State and Seattle Pacific.