Game #3
ART U Urban Knights (2-0) vs. Chico State Wildcats (2-0)
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 7 p.m.
Chico, Calif. – Art Acker Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
 
Game #4
ART U Urban Knights (2-0) vs. CSUSB Coyotes (2-0)
Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 2 p.m.
San Bernardino, Calif. – Coussoulis Arena
Live Stats | Live Video

THE OPEN ROAD
After beginning the season 2-0 while competing in San Francisco as a part of the SF State Tip-Off Classic, Academy of Art men's basketball looks for its first ever 3-0 start in program history as it hits the road for the first time this year as the Knights take on California Collegiate Athletics Association opponents Chico State and Cal State San Bernardino. 

TIP-OFF
The week will begin on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Urban Knights takes on the Wildcats, and closes the week with an afternoon clash against the Coyotes at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram, as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps. 

KNIGHT WATCH
Key defensive stops and timely baskets highlighted the opening weekend for the ART U, pulling out a pair of exciting victories in the opening weekend of action. Starting with a wire-to-wire affair against host SF State in which three Urban Knights would finish in double figures, junior guard Klay Brown would nail a 3-pointer to put ART U back on top for good to end with a 77-73 win. Academy of Art needed a comeback effort to remain undefeated in the early season the following day, overcoming a slow start against Sonoma State to force overtime and eventually walk away the victor 78-74 thanks to a big defensive stop moments after a go-ahead putback layup by graduate student guard Deang Deang. As a squad, the Knights have so far averaged 35.0 rebounds and 11 assists per game to go with their 77.5 scoring average.

Depth has been a noticeable asset of the squad early on, as the Knights currently have five players averaging double figures led by redshirt junior guard Christian Popoola Jr., who was named both the Tournament MVP as part of the All-Tournament team and the Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week on Nov. 15. Leading the squad with 15.5 points per game, Popoola Jr. was clutch at the free throw line against the Gators, becoming the fifth Urban Knight to be perfect at the line with at least 10 attempts in a single game by going 10-for-10. His hands were active across the two games by averaging 3.5 steals, as well as grabbing seven defensive rebounds (eight total) in earning his first career weekly PacWest honor.

Also named to the All-Tournament team was sophomore forward Latrell Williams, who averaged 12.5 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game over the first two contests, including a double-double in his first game as a Knights where he dropped 19 points with 11 rebounds. Deang enters as the team's second-leading scorer with an average of 13.5 points per game, grabbing his own double-double in the win over the Seawolves with 20 points and 10 boards after shooting a perfect 9-for-9 from the field. Deang became the second player in program history to post a perfect shooting percentage while making at least eight buckets, joining Aaron Aikman who did so on Nov. 9, 2013. Rounding out the five in double figures are Brown (12.5 ppg) and graduate student guard Denny Slay (10.0 ppg).

HUNTING THE WILDCATS
It was a successful beginning to the season for Chico State while participating in the Conference Crossover Challenge, edging out a pair of victories over PacWest member Azusa Pacific (79-71) and GNAC school Seattle Pacific (70-65) to start 2-0. While the D2SIDA No. 19 ranked Wildcats have averaged just 64.5 points per game in their first two contests, they have been stout defensively by allowing just an average of 58.0 points, forcing 35 total turnovers (17.5 per game) while coming up with 17 steals (8.5 per game). Three players are averaging double figures led by the 19.0 points from Kevin Warren, shooting an astounding 65.0 percent from the field with an average of 2.5 steals per game. Kelvin Wright Jr. enters as the top rebounder with 8.0 per game, while the offense runs through the 5.0 assists per game from Isaiah Brooks. ART U is searching for its first win in the all-time series matchup, as Chico State has won all five previous meetings. 

COOLING OFF THE COYOTES
Cal State San Bernardino produced a pair of 80-point performances to begin the campaign 2-0, first surviving a 82-78 overtime affair against Western Oregon before cruising to a double-digit win over Central Washington, 88-74. Opponents have shot just 36.4 percent from the field and 21.5 percent from the 3-point line while playing against the Coyotes, but despite those marks are still allowing an average of 76.0 points per game. Brandon Knapper leads the four Coyotes that are averaging double figures, dropping 24.5 points per game while hitting 54.3 percent of his looks from the floor. Eddie Davis is nearly averaging a double-double, adding a team-high 9.0 rebounds per game to his 15.0 points per contest, while Darius Lubom chips in a team-leading 3.5 assists per game. CSUSB has defeated ART U in all three prior meetings. 

COMEBACK EFFORT ENDS IN 78-74 OVERTIME WIN FOR KNIGHTS
Academy of Art men's basketball was able to overcome a slow start against Sonoma State on Sunday, gaining momentum through the second half before eventually forcing overtime, and clinching the win with a big defensive stop moments after a go-ahead putback layup by graduate student guard Deang Deang. 

LOOKING AHEAD
ART U will host for the first time in the 2021 season next week, as the Knights will host Stanislaus State (fans not permitted) and Saint Martin's before returning to the road to battle against UC Davis.