Box Score

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — There wasn't quite enough close-game magic left in the tank Monday for the Academy of Art University men's basketball team, as the Urban Knights fell 59-52 in a Pacific West Conference contest to Dominican University of California at the Conlan Center.
 
It was ART U's (6-16, 4-12 PacWest) 13th game of 22 played this season decided by 10 points or less. Entering Monday the Urban Knights had won three such games in a row but after Monday's defeat their season record moved to 5-8 in close games. It was also the second time this season Dominican (12-13, 9-8 PacWest) beat ART U by single digits after doing so on Jan. 3 in a 67-61 win at Kezar Pavilion.

Uchenna Okeneme going strong to the rim on the breakaway! @ART_U_MensBBall battling in a close first half with Dominican! PacWestMBB ArtSchool A video posted by Be Artist. Be Athlete. (@artu_knights) on Feb 16, 2015 at 8:50pm PST

 
It was another comeback victory for Dominican over ART U, just like on Jan. 3. The Urban Knights never trailed for the first 16 minutes of the game, a low-scoring contest that saw both teams still not at 20 points with less than three minutes to play in the half.
 
With Academy of Art leading by three at the 5:32 mark, the two teams went opposite directions. Dominican went on a 12-0 run over the final 5 1/2 minutes while ART U went 0-for-6 from the field with two turnovers. Sophomore guard Herman Pratt IV snapped the Knights' scoreless streak with a buzzer-beating jumper for two of his eight points in the game, making the halftime score 25-18 in favor of Dominican.
 
The Penguins led the entire first half, pushing its lead to as many as 12 points 5:45 into the period. Academy of Art closed that gap with a 16-5 run over the next 4 1/2 minutes that featured points from five different players, including ART U leading scorer sophomore guard Sergio Valdeolmillos (11 points). Dominican doused the comeback, however, with four unanswered points and a defensive effort that allowed ART U to get within two points only twice in the game's final eight minutes.
 
Reigning PacWest Freshman of the Week Jase Harrison didn't factor in the Knights' comeback run, but he finished with 10 points and eight rebounds – his fifth game this season with at least 10 points and five rebounds. Dominican had three players in double figures led by Dominique Taplin's 16.
 
Academy of Art next returns home for its final game at Kezar Pavilion this season, where it will honor its two seniors – guards Aaron Anderson and Alexis Moore – in a pregame ceremony before playing Notre Dame de Namur.