SAN FRANCISCO- Saturday's inter-conference matchup between San Francisco State and the Academy of Art was an overtime thriller which resulted in a 73-72 final tally in favor of the Gators.
 
Four minutes and 19 seconds into the game, the Academy of Art was already facing a 12-0 deficit. The Urban Knights proved their resolve by continuing to claw their way back and slowly diminish the gap. The comeback was finally completed in the second half when only seconds remained on the clock.

 
Trailing by three with 16.4 seconds left in regulation, the Urban Knights made two quick passes to get the ball to the redshirt junior guard Sergio Valdeolmillos. As everyone held their breath, Valdeolmillos took the ball, set his feet, and sunk a three-point shot from the left wing, tying the game at 68. With 10 seconds on the clock, SF State took the ball for one last possession, but could not get one to fall, sending the game into overtime.

 
At the start of extra time, junior guard Herman Pratt IV took an early foul and landed one of his free throws to give the Urban Knights a one-point advantage and their first lead of the night. Soon after, Valdeolmillos made another three, making it 72-68. However, in the next four minutes, SF State went on a 5-0 run, giving the Gators a one-point lead. With 5.5 seconds remaining, Academy of Art passed the ball down to junior guard Chris Salas in the exact same location where Valdeolmillos forced the game into overtime; the result was different however, as the ball ricocheted off the side of the rim to end the game.
 
The resilient effort by the Urban Knights was lead by three players who notched double-digit point totals. Valdeolmillos was 6-for-9 with 17 points and four rebounds. Senior guard Nick Cary almost completed a double-double, amassing 13 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Jase Harrison also put up 10 points, three assists, and a pair of steals. As a team in the second half, ART U shot an incredible 61.5 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from downtown in the second half while holding the Gators to 36.0 percent from the field during that time.
 
For the second time this season, SF State had five players with double-digit points (last versus Pacific Union College): Nick Calcaterra (11), Israel Hakim (12), Brantley Bynum (11), Floyd Wormley (15), and Coley Apsay (12).
 
Next Saturday, December 5, the Urban Knights will begin conference play when they head to Belmont, Calif. to take on Notre Dame de Namur. Tipoff is 3 p.m. following the women's game.