Game #8
ART U Urban Knights (4-3, 0-0 PacWest) vs. DU Penguins (3-4, 0-0 PacWest)
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021 at 3:30 p.m.
Belmont, Calif. – Walter Gleason Gymnasium
Live Stats & Audio

IGNITING THE RIVALRY
Fresh off its first win over a NCAA Division I opponent during the regular season in program history, Academy of Art men's basketball begins its Pacific West Conference schedule by putting its two-game win streak on the line against Bay Area rival Dominican for the first time this season on Saturday after clashing often in the spring of 2021. 

TIP-OFF
Saturday's home showdown against the Penguins will tip off from Walter Gleason Gym at 3:30 p.m. as the second part of ART U's basketball doubleheader. 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
Academy of Art men's basketball rebounded in a big way last week, dropping the first contest of the week to Stanislaus State before putting an end to the three-game losing streak with convincing wins over Saint Martin's (90-78) and UC Davis (79-60). In both of the victories the Knights hit over half of their looks from the floor, the first times they have shot above 45 percent from the field this season, and even took it a step further against the Aggies by draining 61.5 percent (8-for-13) of their looks from beyond the three-point line. Offense is a good predictor of finish for the Knights, as they are averaging 81.0 points per game across four wins compared to just 61.3 ppg in the three defeats (overall average of 72.6 ppg). Defense has been a hallmark of the team early on with ART U often setting the tone early in the game by closing passing lanes and keeping its hands active, which has led to opponents shooting just 43.4 percent from the floor (fifth-best in PacWest). Additionally, the Knights continue to lead the conference in steals both total (64) and per game (9.14), while also ranking third in turnover margin (+0.86) thanks to the most-forced opponent turnovers (117).

Key in the strong start to the season has been sophomore forward Latrell Williams, posting consecutive double-doubles against the Saints and Aggies to give him a total of three on the season. He's nearly averaging a double-double for the season, leading both ART U and the PacWest in rebounds both total (61) per game (8.7) while also adding 10.6 points per game (second-most on ART U). The best scoring average of the squad belongs to graduate student guard Deang Deang and his 12.1 ppg, while junior guard Klay Brown is the last of three Urban Knights to average double figures with 10.1 ppg. Brown has also been one of ART U's best defenders, as he leads the PacWest in total steals (14) and is tied for first in steals per game (2.0). He is just the first of three Knights in the top-10 in steals, joined by redshirt junior guard Christian Popoola Jr. (T-5th, 1.8 spg) and graduate student guard Denny Slay (T-9th, 1.6 spg).  

Helping the Knights start 2-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 season was the duo of Popoola Jr. and Williams as the two were named to the SF State Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament Team. For Popoola Jr., he averaged 15.5 points per game and 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. Williams chipped in an average of 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. Popoola Jr. also collected a Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week honor on Nov. 15, the first PacWest weekly award of his career, capping off a week where he averaged 3.5 steals per game as well as 7.0 defensive rebounds (eight total). 

Also key in the 2-0 start was Deang as he chipped in 13.5 ppg in the season-opening tournament and grabbed his own double-double during the win over the Seawolves with 20 points and 10 boards, going a perfect 9-for-9 from the field. He became only 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.

PENGUIN CLIMATE CHANGE
Entering the first PacWest game of the season at 3-4 is Dominican who used a pair of back-to-back wins over Pacific Union College to put an end to their four-game losing streak which included defeats by SF State, Cal State East Bay, Stanislaus State, and Humboldt State. While Dominican ranks near the bottom of the conference in scoring average (10th; 64.4 ppg), they rank as the conference-best by allowing just an average of 58.6 ppg (+5.9 scoring margin), and are the fourth-best rebounders in the league (38.4 rpg). Only two Penguins are averaging double digits through the first seven games led by 13.1 ppg from Adam Parker, while Jordan Josephs produces 12.4 ppg and enters as the team's top rebounder with an average of 8.6 rpg. Dominican holds the edge in the all-time series over ART U 20-8, having won each of the past three meetings. 

ART U DOMINATES DAVIS 79-60 FOR FIRST WIN OVER DI OPPONENT
Academy of Art basketball showed no fear of UC Davis on Sunday, seizing momentum early on in the game with their active hands on defense and putting it away with the hot-shooting hand, as ART U dominated the Aggies 79-60 for the program's historic first win over a NCAA Division I opponent during the regular season. 

LOOKING AHEAD
It's a continuation of PacWest play when the Urban Knights travel to Southern California for the first time this season, as ART U prepares to take on the combination of Concordia on Dec. 9 before battling Point Loma on Dec. 11.