Will Overton PacWest

Men's Basketball

Overton, Jr. Named PacWest Player of the Week, Davis Also Honored

PacWest Release

Phoenix, AZ – ART U freshman forward William Overton, Jr. has been selected as the Pacific West Player of the Week for his record-setting 44-point game against Menlo this past Saturday. Overton, Jr. established a new Academy of Art University record and even set a new PacWest scoring mark with his memorable performance. In addition, junior forward Keith Davis captured his second PacWest Weekly Top 10 selection of the season for a strong offensive game as well. The honors were announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ, on Monday, Dec. 6, for games contested on Nov. 29-Dec. 5.

Will Overton
Overton, Jr. made PacWest history by becoming the first men's basketball player to score 44 points in a single game. He bested the previous record of 39 points belonging to Zack Whiting of Chaminade on Dec. 30, 2006, vs. Indianapolis. Current PacWest records begin with the 2006-07 season when the league reformed to its current structure. Overton, Jr.'s 44 points also squashed the previous ART U mark of 33 points set by Weleh Dennis against Holy Names on Jan. 6, 2009.

The freshman forward scored a variety of ways in the 86-75 victory over Menlo on Dec. 4. Overton, Jr. finished shooting 10-of-15 (66.7%) from the floor and 5-of-10 (50.0%) from beyond the three-point arc, but perhaps the biggest achievement was his 19 made free throws. He was 19-of-23 (82.6%) at the foul line and made several crucial shots there to fend off an Oaks' comeback. The Perth Amboy, NJ native also added seven rebounds, two steals, and one blocked shot on the game.


Keith Davis
Adding to the ART U scoring punch, Davis put in 16 points which included five made free throws and one 3-pointer. He grabbed seven rebounds (five on the offensive glass) in the win to tie Overton, Jr. for the team-high. Davis also added one assist and a steal in the contest.

As Menlo tried to fight back to end the first half, Davis scored the final five Knights' points in the period then added a jumper which got Academy of Art off to a strong second half start. The junior forward finished with 10 points in the second period and, like Overton, Jr., Davis made important free throws down the stretch to hold off the Oaks.

“Keith and Will are a talented pair of wings,” Coach Sembrowich said. “[Saturday night] they combined for 60 points and that's very good. We needed all those points. Will piled some up at the free throw line at the end, but we needed all of them. I credit our team with knowing he needed to have the ball in his hands at that time so it worked out well.”

This is the first career PacWest Player of the Week honor for Overton, Jr. and the second PacWest Weekly Top 10 selection for Davis this season.