Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO — Close games are nothing new for the 2014-15 Academy of Art University men's basketball team. And winning them isn't anything new lately, either.
 
The Urban Knights used clutch free-throw shooting Wednesday – including making two with 5.2 seconds left – and stout defense down the stretch to earn the program's first-ever win over Fresno Pacific, a 90-88 Pacific West Conference victory in overtime at Kezar Pavilion. 
The two-point win was ART U's (6-15, 4-11 PacWest) third straight in games decided by 10 points or less and second in a row after a 79-71 win at Holy Names on Saturday. It was also the program's first-ever win in overtime. The Knights' all-time record against FPU (7-16, 3-12 PacWest) improves to 1-2, while their record in games decided by 10 points or less this season improves to 5-7.
 
Academy of Art began the game going 2-for-7 from the free-throw line but would go 18-for-20 the rest of the way, including 5-for-6 in overtime. Senior guard Alexis Moore hit both of his free throw opportunities with 5.2 seconds left to give ART U a 90-88 advantage. Fresno Pacific's Jeff Amazan brought the ball down the court and threw up a potential game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key, but the ball bounced high off the right side of the rim and the buzzer sounded, giving the Knights the win.
 
The Urban Knights almost won the game in regulation, but a last-second layup by Trevon Clayton off an in-bounds pass from Madison Higgins right underneath the hoop tied the game at 81-81 and sent it to overtime.
 
ART U trailed by double digits in both halves. Fresno Pacific held a 10-point, 55-45 lead with 13:06 left in the second half, but the Urban Knights went on an 11-0 run to take their first lead since 51 seconds into the game. Five of the run's 11 points came from the free-throw line and freshman guard Jase Harrison – who had a season-high 18 points on the night – closed the run with six straight points of his own.
 
No team led by more than three points for the next 4:47 until sophomore guard Herman Pratt IV gave Academy of Art a five-point lead with a three-point play. FPU stayed close though, cutting that lead to one with four straight points and not allowing ART U to get up by more than four the rest of the way.
 
Moore led the Urban Knights with 19 points, while Harrison and Pratt had 18 each. Harrison added six rebounds and three steals. Moore had seven assists, five boards and three takeaways while Pratt had five rebounds and two assists. Fresno Pacific outshot ART U 56.7 to 47.1 percent in the game, including 66.7 percent in the second half alone, but a 53.3 percent showing at the charity stripe did the Sunbirds in.
 
FPU had four players score in double digits, including two 20-point performances. Bobby Barnes led all scorers with 21 and Clayton added a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Higgins poured in 18 points with five rebounds and five assists and Roger Paul scored 13. The Academy of Art bench outscored the Fresno Pacific reserves 34-7.
 
Academy of Art next travels north to San Rafael, Calif., to take on Dominican University of California at 7:30 p.m. Monday.