Box Score

SEATTLE — With the score tied 68-68 and the ball in its possession, the Academy of Art University men's basketball team had an opportunity Saturday to once again grab victory in the final seconds.
 
But it slipped away.
 
The Urban Knights brought the ball across half court with 10 seconds remaining looking to set up the game-winning play. But as they set it in motion, the ball slipped out of freshman guard Jase Harrison's hands from just left of the key. It rolled straight to Central Washington's Joseph Stroud, who ran the length of the court and dunked it home with 1.8 seconds remaining. The Knights' desperation shot after the inbound went wide right, sealing the 70-68 win for CWU (2-0).
 
It was the last of 22 total turnovers in the game for ART U (1-1), who a night earlier turned the ball over just 10 times in a 70-67 upset win over No. 22 Seattle Pacific. The Wildcats were guilty of sloppy ball-handling too, however, turning it over 25 times Saturday. The two teams combined for 45 points off turnovers.
 
"Tough to lose a close one like this," said Academy of Art head coach Julius Barnes. "You've got to give Central Washington credit because their guys made plays when they had to."
 
Senior guard Alexis Moore led the Urban Knights for the second straight night with 18 points. He also added four rebounds, three assists and a steal. For his efforts Friday and Saturday, he was named the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic tournament MVP. Harrison had 13 points, five boards, three steals and two assists off the bench. Junior center Trent Stokes chipped in 10 points to go with six rebounds and a block. Sophomore guard Herman Pratt IV had a game-high six steals.
 
Academy of Art led or tied for all but one second of the final 7 minutes, 23 seconds of the game. Both teams went without a field goal for a 3:26 stretch while the Urban Knights held on to a 65-61 lead into the final two minutes. But two free throws from Marc Rodgers and a Stroud dunk tied it at 65 with 92 seconds left.
 
Both teams then traded 3-pointers, with junior forward Yanick Kulich putting the Knights up 68-65 before CWU's Jordan Russell answered 15 seconds later with a trey of his own to make it 68-68.
 
The Wildcats outshot Academy of Art 52.2 percent to 41.4 percent. ART U owned the boards 38-32, including 14-6 on the offensive glass. Three players scored in double figures for CWU, led by Russell's 11 off the bench. Rodgers and Roppo had 10 each.
 
The first half was a roller coaster all in itself, as the two teams traded run after run. ART U went on a 15-4 run to overcome an early deficit and take a seven-point lead just 7:25 into the game. But it turned quickly when Central Washington went on its own 23-2 run over a 6:26 span to take a commanding 14-point, 31-17 lead with seven minutes left before halftime. Academy of Art responded with a 17-6 stretch to close the half only trailing by three at 37-34.
 
"I thought our guys did a great job of clawing back after falling behind double digits," said Barnes. "However, we can't turn the ball over 22 times and expect to win close games like this.  We need to be able to handle pressure and understand the value of each possession, especially during the latter stages of the game."
 
Part of ART U's momentous first half comeback was due to its large 17-8 advantage in points off turnovers. Central Washington would grab that advantage in the second half despite turning it over five more times than ART U (16-11), getting 13 points off turnovers to the Knights' seven.
 
Academy of Art next plays in its home opener at 1 p.m. Wednesday versus California Collegiate Athletic Association member UC San Diego at Kezar Pavilion.

Sodexo Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament Team

MVP: Alexis Moore, Academy of Art
Cory Hutsen, Seattle Pacific
Mitch Penner, Seattle Pacific
Jordan Russell, Central Washington
Joseph Stroud, Central Washington