Academy of Art University Athletics

FRESNO, Calif.- The Urban Knights (3-5, 1-1 PacWest) played one of their most tightly-contested games of the season on Saturday as they fell to the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (5-2, 1-1 PacWest) 70-59.
 
In the first half, ART U immediately faced a 5-0 deficit, but quickly returned the favor with back-to-back layups from redshirt senior center Trent Stokes and senior guard Nick Cary.
 
The Urban Knights would take their first lead of the contest when freshman guard Cobe Williams landed a 3-pointer with 11:40 remaining in the half, making the score 9-8. However, the lead would change four times within the next next minute, giving the Knights a slim 14-13 lead with 10:30 to play in the first.
 
With 8:15 on the clock, the Sunbirds held a 20-16 lead when ART U would go on an 8-0 run, giving them a 24-20 advantage. This string was highlighted by sophomore guard Jase Harrison landing a triple and immediately stealing the ball off of FPU's inbound and making a layup under the bucket.
 
The score would continue its volley between the two teams until the half ended with a 33-33 deadlock.
 
To emphasize the defensive focus displayed on both sides in the first half, there were 18 combined turnovers (10 by the Sunbirds, 8 from the Urban Knights) and the lead changed a total of six times. ART U also held the opposition to 37.5 percent shooting from the field.
 
Academy of Art's bench also held the advantage at the halfway point as they scored 15 points, whereas Fresno Pacific only posted nine.
 
When the second half began, the Urban Knights took an early five-point lead. However, the defense was again a large factor as ART U's two field goals were the only points recorded for the first three and a half minutes.
 
The Urban Knights would retain the lead for the majority of the second half's opening eight minutes, but FPU's Spencer Krannitz made a 3-pointer at the 12:18 mark that gave Fresno Pacific a 46-44 lead which they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
 
ART U continued to fight back however, cutting the lead to one point on two separate occasions and recorded 19 rebounds in the second half.
 
Despite the defensive performance, the Sunbirds were able to pull away in the final minutes which ended the game 70-59.

""We need to be able to consistently defend for 40 minutes," said head coach Julius Barnes after the game. "At times our defense was solid. We were able to create turnovers and limit [Fresno Pacific] to one shot."
 
Academy of Art had contributions from all over the board: Harrison recorded 13 points, four rebounds, and three steals and junior guard Herman Pratt IV nearly posted a double-double, scoring eight points and rebounding 11 (a career-high). Junior guard Chris Salas also contributed eight points and Stokes scored seven (his second-highest total of the season).
 
As a team, the Urban Knights were able to hold the FPU to their lowest point total in a PacWest matchup since February 26 of last season when the they fell to Cal Baptist 104-70. ART U also had a season high 35 rebounds which is their highest total since last season against BYU-Hawaii when they tallied 38 on February 26. The Knights also tied their season-high with five blocks (also November 14 against Sonoma State).
 
Fresno Pacific had a pair of players register double-digit point totals: Roger Paul recorded 21 points and Krannitz scored 18 and added five rebounds.
 
After spending the last two weeks on the road, ART U will return home next week. Their opponents will include: Dominican University of California on Thursday, December 17, and the Sunbirds again on Saturday, December 19.

"As we prepare for the upcoming homestand, our focus will most definitely be on defense," Barnes added. "Offensively, we need to take better care of the ball and look to establish an inside presence."