GAME #11
ART U Urban Knights (3-7) vs. Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans (8-3)
Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 at 7:30 PM HST
Hilo, HI - UHH Gymnasium
Live Stats
Live Video
Live Audio
GAME #12
ART U Urban Knights (3-7) vs. Chaminade Silverswords (7-5)
Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 at 7:30 PM HST
Honolulu, HI - McCabe Gymnasium
Live Stats
Twitter Updates
GAME #13
ART U Urban Knights (3-7) vs. BYU-Hawaii Seasiders (5-3)
Monday, Jan. 10 2011 at 7:30 PM HST
Laie, HI - Cannon Activities Center
Live Stats
Live Audio
Live Video (or tape delay)
GAME #14
ART U Urban Knights (3-7) vs. HPU Sea Warriors (5-7)
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 at 7:30 PM HST
Kaneohe, HI - Neal S. Blaisdell Center
Live Video
Game Notes
CONFERENCE SEASON BEGINS ON THE ISLANDS
With 2010 now complete, Academy of Art University men's basketball travels to Hawaii for a four-game trip to start Pacific West Conference play. The first contest comes against Hawaii-Hilo this Thursday, followed by matchups with Chaminade (Jan. 8), BYU-Hawaii (Jan. 10), and Hawaii Pacific (Jan. 12).
OPENING TIP
The Urban Knights' first PacWest contest pits them against Hawaii-Hilo on Thursday, Jan. 6 inside UHH Gymnasium. Two days later on Saturday, Jan. 8, ART U travels to Chaminade for a matchup inside McCabe Gymnasium. The third contest on ART U's trip has them facing BYU-Hawaii on Monday, Jan. 10 inside Cannon Activities Center. The final stop is Kaneohe, HI where the Knights take on Hawaii Pacific inside Neal S. Blaidell Center on Wednesday, Jan. 12. All contests are scheduled to tip off after the women's games at 7:30 PM HST (9:30 PM PST). Live Stats and ART U Athletics Twitter updates will be available for select games.
KNIGHT WATCH
Coming off PacWest Weekly Top 10 honors, junior forward Keith Davis and freshman guard Czar Robotham made major contributions last week in the Holy Names New Year's Classic. Davis unloaded 24 points against Cal Maritime and currently ranks fifth in the PacWest in scoring (15.5 points per game). Robotham, who made his first start of the year versus Holy Names, had the most assists by any Urban Knight in that game (8) and now paces ART U with 29 assists for the season. He, along with senior guard Devin Williams and freshman forward William Overton, Jr., are all tied for fourth in the conference in steals per game (1.2). Overton, Jr. remains entrenched as the PacWest's leading scorer with his 21.0 points per game.
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
During its non-conference season, Hawaii-Hilo enjoyed two separate win streaks. After a 78-61 loss to Saint Martin's to open the year, the Vulcans captured three consecutive victories (including two against Western New Mexico). UHH fell to BYU-Hawaii 82-69 on Dec. 9 in the Hawaii Challenge, but then pulled off a 79-78 overtime win against Hawaii Pacific. Currently in the midst of an eight-game homestand, the Vulcans have won four in a row to bring their record to 8-3. UHH forward Justin Smith ranks as the third best scorer in the PacWest (17.6 points per game) and behind him, forward Zach Wilde puts up 13.4 points per contest. Both Vulcans are amongst the top five conference rebounders, each averaging over 8.0 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING THE SILVERSWORDS
Chaminade sports a 7-5 record after a non-conference season highlighted by a three-game win streak and a 68-64 victory over Division I Oklahoma in the EA Sports Maui Invitational on Nov. 24. The Silverswords played well in a variety of tournaments thus far, including three wins in the GNAC/PacWest Challenge to open the year and a pair of victories in the Hawaii Tournament. Most recently, CUH fell 77-63 to Texas A&M International on Dec. 17. Guard Steven Bennett, who ranks sixth in the PacWest in scoring, averages 15.4 points per game and leads the conference in assists per game (6.0). The Swords also carry the PacWest's top shot blocker in center Mamadou Diarra who currently posts 3.3 blocks per contest.
SCOUTING THE SEASIDERS
After winning a share of the PacWest Conference Championship with Hawaii Pacific last season, BYU-Hawaii defeated #18 Seattle Pacific to advance in the NCAA DII Tournament. The Seasiders were unable to reach the Elite Eight, however, because Cal Poly Pomona managed to defeat them, 78-75, in the Regional Final. This season, BYU-Hawaii began by winning three of its first four games, including an 87-83 overtime victory over Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 16. The Preseason PacWest Player of the Year, guard Tsung-Hsien (Jet) Chang, has lived up to expectations by ranking second in the conference in scoring (17.8 points per game) behind Overton, Jr. Forward Marques Whippy, the only PacWest player currently averaging a double-double, leads the conference in rebounding (12.1 rpg).
SCOUTING THE SEA WARRIORS
The 2010-11 season began strong for Hawaii Pacific, one of the 2009-10 co-PacWest Conference Champions, with four victories in its first five games. Since that point, the Sea Warriors endured a six-game losing streak that included a 79-78 overtime defeat at the hands of Hawaii-Hilo (Dec. 10) and a 56-45 loss to Texas A&M International (Dec. 15). Hawaii Pacific has righted the ship so to speak since then with victories over Concordia University (MI) and Westminster College (MO) to conclude non-conference play. The Sea Warriors are currently led by guard Nick Frazier with his 10.1 points per game and 14 3-pointers made. However, seven different HPU players have scored team-highs this season via numerous second-chance opportunities for the top offensive rebounding team in the PacWest.
KNIGHTS IN TOUGH BATTLES FOR HOLY NAMES NEW YEAR'S CLASSIC
Closing out the 2010 year with a pair of contests in a tournament hosted by Holy Names, Academy of Art University started with a neutral site contest against Cal Maritime on Dec. 29. The teams stayed close early on before the Keelhaulers took a 34-24 halftime lead. Using an 8-0 run and later an 11-0 burst in the second half, the Urban Knights fought back to within three points, 56-53, with 5:43 still remaining. However, Cal Maritime would prevail in the end, 78-69, despite 24 points by Davis and season-highs in scoring for three other ART U players.
Academy of Art then matched up with host Holy Names the following evening on Dec. 30. The Knights and Hawks had faced one another in three close contests during the 2008-9 season and this year was no different. ART U shot over 50 percent from the floor in the first period (including 4-for-8 from long range) and managed a 47-45 advantage at the half. Five ties came in the second half prior to an Urban Knight lead on a layup by sophomore center Mike Jorritsma. Unfortunately for Academy of Art, Holy Names then put together a 16-3 run to take control late. The Hawks won 96-82 at the end of the night, but a balanced ART U attack came with four different Knights registering double figures in scoring.
LOOKING AHEAD
A five-game homestand is on tap for the Urban Knights when they return from Hawaii. ART U faces Dixie State on Jan. 17 back at Kezar Pavilion to begin the stretch.
