SAN FRANCISCO – Using unrelenting defense and big-time, second-half shooting, Academy of Art men's basketball pulled off what could be considered the biggest triumph in program history, defeating Hawaii Pacific 67-66. Not only did the victory break the program-record for single-season wins (10), but it also kept the Urban Knights' hopes alive in their race down the stretch for the final spot in the PacWest Conference Tournament.
 
In the first half, the Sharks jumped out to an early lead. However, a pair of quick 3-pointers from senior guard Kendall Brown and junior guard Cobe Williams gave the Urban Knights a 2-point advantage (their first of the contest). HPU quickly jumped back out in front, but ART U kept it a 2-possession game for the majority of the half and they never trailed by more than 10 points. In fact, Academy of Art used a 7-1 run to pull within two points (30-28) with 4:28 to play. However, Hawaii Pacific went on a 10-2 run the close out the period and ART U headed to the locker rooms with a 10-point, 40-30 deficit.

 
To begin the second half, the Sharks extended their lead to 14 points with a 4-0 run to start the period. However, this was the most they would lead by, as the Knights' run to victory began at this moment. Over the next six minutes, the Urban Knights chipped away at the deficit and eventually broke the double-digit mark when sophomore guard Gary Davis made a pair of free throws to make it a 48-39 lead in favor of HPU with 14:16 left to play. Using stellar defense, ART U made three defensive stops to aid their offense which was able to score eight-consecutive points. Their run was highlighted by points from Davis, junior guard Cole Morgan, and freshman guard Stefan Milivojevic and it brought the Urban Knights to within just one point at the 11:56 mark.
 
Although Hawaii Pacific then pulled out to as much as a 7-point lead, it did not last for long as Milivojevic led the offense on a historic run in the final minutes. Whenever the Sharks looked to pull away, the Skobanja, Serbia native brought the Urban Knights right back into it with a clutch 3-pointer: at the 7:19 mark, his triple brought ART U to within four points and with 4:17 to play, his trey slashed the deficit to just three points. After Academy of Art forced HPU to miss a long 3-pointer, Milivojevic snagged the rebound and was the next Urban Knight to score as his layup with 3:14 on the clock brought ART U back to within one point.
 
As the Sharks' offense marched down the court, the Knights came up with another big stop, forcing HPU to miss yet another 3-pointer. Now, with 2:30 remaining, ART U turned the ball over, but it did not matter as junior guard Zuri Williams came up with a clutch steal 23 seconds later to give the Urban Knights the ball with 2:07 to play. With 1:23 on the clock, senior guard Uchenna Okeneme pulled up for a jumper at the top of the paint which hit the bottom of the net and gave ART U their first lead since back in the opening minutes of the first half. With 45 seconds remaining, HPU's Emil Isovic responded with a layup of his own to give the Sharks back a 1-point, 66-65 lead. However, exactly 20 seconds later, junior center Cameron Niven managed to sink a layup and the Knights regained their 1-point advantage.
 
With the ball, 25 seconds on the clock, and trailing by one point, the Sharks found themselves with the final possession. With 13 seconds to play, the Sharks' PacWest points leader Niksha Federico went for a layup, but ART U's defense put up yet another stop. However, this time HPU managed to snag the offensive rebound and they took a timeout with just 11 seconds on the clock.
 
In the biggest moment of the game, all 300 fans rose to their feet as Hawaii Pacific lined up to inbound the ball from underneath the basket. As HPU looked for an open man, the Urban Knights' defenders flew around the court, looking to prevent an easy shot. The ball eventually found Federico who was forced to take an off-balanced, 3-point attempt. The air stood still inside Kezar Pavilion as the ball soared towards the basket, but as the shot came down, it bounced off of the front iron and into a scrum of Knights and Sharks alike. It was Morgan who managed to come down with the rebound and as he took the ball up the court, the buzzer sounded to end the game. The entirety of ART U's bench vacated their seats and they all met in the middle of the court, cheering and hugging one another as their come-from-behind victory had been realized.
 
Brown was the points leader for the Urban Knights on Monday night as he scored a total of 16 while registering four rebounds. Milivojevic was next for ART U, compiling a career-high, 13 points while also recording three rebounds, an assist, and a steal. The third Knight to record double-digit points was Morgan who amassed 12 points, five rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
 
Hawaii Pacific entered the contest in seventh-place in the PacWest. However, Monday night's win allowed ART U to jump the Sharks for sole possession of seventh. With an overall record of 10-13 and a 9-7 conference mark, the Urban Knights now sit just below Chaminade who is two over .500 with a 9-7 conference record. With a tough schedule ahead, the Silverswords will face both California Baptist and Azusa Pacific in their final four games. While ART U will rely upon Chaminade to drop in the standings, the Urban Knights will look to pick up victories in their remaining contests against Notre Dame de Namur, Fresno Pacific, and Concordia.
 
ART U's final road game of the season will take place on Saturday, February 17 at 3:00 p.m. when they tip off against the Argonauts of Notre Dame de Namur.