Box Score
Photo Gallery (images by Hailey Archambault)

San Francisco, CA -- Only two days after taking a defensive stand on the way to setting a record in widest margin of victory in program history, the Academy of Art University men's basketball team pushed the envelope even further on Monday night. In the second and final matchup of the year against Hawai'i Pacific, the Knights' defense hardened even more, setting up an offensive explosion as ART U cruised to an 86-56 victory at Kezar Pavilion, the biggest victory in the program's five year existence.

"We wanted to try to replicate what we did Saturday, and I think for the most part we did," said head coach Julius Barnes. "I think we probably boosted the intensity up even more on defense, and our defense has been great for us when we've been able to play with that type of energy. If we can continue to sustain the type of effort we had tonight and Saturday on defense, I think the sky's the limit for us.

Academy of Art (5-9, 3-4 PWC) rode the momentum from their win over UH Hilo on Saturday, where they used strong defensive play to get out on the fast break and score in transition. As a testament to their commitment to that gameplan, ART U outscored the Sea Warriors 19-2 when it came to fast break points, and used 15 steals to create high-percentage looks that gave them a season-high 55.7% rate from the field. The Urban Knights also defended well against the outside shot, putting together their third straight half limiting one of the premier three-point shooting offenses in Division II. After allowing the Sea Warriors (6-8, 3-4 PWC) to go 10-for-16 in the first half in their matchup in Hawai'i, Academy of Art has held HPU to 5-21 since then, including a 5-for-18 (27.8%) performance tonight.

"They burned us in the first half in Hawaii, so that was what we wanted to make sure that we would try to take away," said Barnes. "I think the guys did a really good job closing out on shooters and making them put it on the floor."

The game started out with the makings of a high-powered shootout, with the Sea Warriors averaging 73.5 points per game to the Knights 70.8. Ivan "B.J." Prema, Jr. nailed the first shot of the game for Academy of Art less than ten seconds into the game, and the game was on, with ART U making their first four field goals. HPU matched them step for step early on, tying the game at 9-9 and again at 12-12, but Ameer Shamsud-din hit another three-pointer to give the Knights a lead with 14:44 left in the first half that would hold true until the end of the game.

That triple by Shamsud-din sparked a 17-0 run by the Urban Knights, who used their defense to hold the Sea Warriors scoreless for over six minutes. Kawika Lyons made one from beyond the arc that ended the run with 8:47 left, but the damage was done, as the Knights shot 9-for-11 over that span to hold a 31-17 lead when HPU finally got back on the board. That lead immediately went back to a 17-point margin on a three-pointer from Alex Carmon, who finished with 15 points, and later reached 18 on another three from Shamsud-din. The Knights eventually went into halftime up 43-21, shooting a torrid 58.1% from the field.

ART U picked up where they left off in the second half, as Bryan Fisher hit a three-pointer of his own to get the Knights going again. Ten straight points by Shamsud-din, starting with yet another shot from beyond the at right at 16 minutes, made it 61-38 Urban Knights with 13:25 to play, and the rout was on. Two free-throws from Carmon pushed the margin to 27 with 10:30 to go, and in fitting fashion, Fisher and Shamsud-din buried jumpers from three-point land to make it 75-42 with 6:49 left on the clock.

"Guys are starting to realize now," said Barnes. "When they're patient, and they execute, and they look for each other on the offensive end, we're able to get pretty much every shot that we want to."

The Urban Knights were golden down the stretch, regressing slightly but still finishing the second half shooting 53.3 percent. That included a game total of 10-for-17 beyond the arc, a fitting way to end the game against one of the best teams in the country from distance. The Knights also held the Sea Warriors to only 25 points in the second period, forcing them to become volume shooters and holding them to a paltry 42.9% from the field and an even more meager 11.1% on three point shots. HPU, in a turn from their usual outside approach, were led by their two big men, as Farbod Farman had 16 points and Marko Cuckic added 14 of his own.

The Urban Knights filled the stat sheet, as five players scored in double figures. Driven by his single-handed ten point run in the second half, Shamsud-din led the Knights with 24 points, also chipping in five assists and four steals. Carmon had 15 points, four assists, and five steals, while Bryan Fisher had 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Prema was the final Knight in double figures, notching 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals while applying heavy pressure to the HPU guards throughout the game.

"BJ has been kind of the unsung hero for us all year," said Barnes. "Basically he created the tempo on defense by picking up the ball, making the guy work. The guys fed off of that. When they see a guy like BJ busting his butt to make it difficult for the opponent, it kind of makes them feel like they've got to match what he's able to do. He was a catalyst for us tonight, and he did a great job crashing the boards on the offensive end as well."

The Knights will look to continue their home streak and jump in the conference standings against Chaminade on Saturday, tipping off at 3:00 PM against the Silverswords.