SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The opening game of the PacWest/CCAA Challenge was a roller coaster for Academy of Art men's basketball, as ART U turned nearly a double-digit second half deficit against San Francisco neighbor SF State into what would become a 10-point victory, walking away from the 2022-23 season opening contest with a 78-68 victory.

"What a great win to start the season against a very tough San Francisco State team," said ART U Head Coach Scott Waterman. "Tonight exemplified our toughness in the face of adversity as we came back from 10 points down in the second half with great defensive pressure and unselfish offense. It was a great team effort as everyone who played made contributions to the win."

Eager to start the campaign in defense of their Pacific West Conference tournament title, the Urban Knights (1-0) sprinted out of the blocks to a 17-8 lead within the first few minutes of the ballgame, forcing the Gators (0-1) to call an early timeout. The regroup worked for SFSU, as they dominated the next period of the ballgame with a 25-4 run. They returned the favor to ART U by forcing them into a timeout as the score reached 32-22 with just under over four minutes until the break.

Needing to score, the Knights were able to slow the Gators' momentum as they dropped multiple buckets to trail by just 34-30 at halftime. That was only temporary, however, as SF State went back on the attack coming out in the second frame and once again pushing their lead to 10 points with around 12 minutes left. 

It was then that Academy of Art started to turn the tides thanks to a total team effort, building upon small runs to make their way back into the game before ultimately taking the lead, with the stretch featuring key buckets from senior guard Klay Brown, junior forward Latrell Williams and sophomore guard Rodney Munson. 

Putting the nail in the coffin was graduate student guard Deang Deang, as his layup was the go-ahead basket for the Knights with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Keeping the pedal down, Academy of Art raced out to a large lead of their own, going up by 10 points with still a minute and a half to play before cruising to victory. This was the second time in as many years that ART U has defeated SF State in the season opening contest at the PacWest/CCAA Challenge, memorably doing so last year in another close win. 

Much like last year, three Urban Knights ended the contest in double-digit scoring led by the game-high 21 points from Brown, while Williams and Munson ended with 12 apiece. Leading the four Gators in scoring was Toby Okwuokei with 15 points, while Eche Okeke and John Bakke each chipped in 13. 

"We still have a long way to go, but it is great to start the season in the win column," Waterman said. "However, we have no time to rest as we must bounce back against a good Sonoma State team tomorrow. We need to take another step on both ends of the floor to continue to improve [and] reach our goals."

That battle with the Seawolves will tip off tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. as the PacWest/CCAA Challenge continues from the Conlan Center in San Rafael, Calif.