BELMONT, Calif. – Academy of Art men's basketball erased a double-digit deficit in both the first and second periods to ultimately knot the score with a minute and a half left in regulation, however, ART U's go-ahead chance would miss the mark allowing Azusa Pacific to steal a Pacific West Conference victory 61-57. 

Despite scoring their lowest point total of the season, the Urban Knights (6-4, 1-3 PacWest) found buckets when they needed to as both halves were tightly contested. While each team found the bottom of the net early, the Cougars (9-3, 4-1 PacWest) slowly built their first double-digit lead of the game by holding an advantage of 11 points with over eight minutes remaining in the half.

It was then that Academy of Art put together one of its best stretches of the game with a 13-2 run, storming past APU to take their largest lead of the night with a three-point edge. The span was started with a jumper from senior forward Mike Asante, his first of two during the run, and was capped off by consecutive triples from senior guard Klay Brown and graduate student guard Stephon Hall. Unfortunately that lead would not hold, and the sides traded buckets into the break, 30-30. 

Starting the second period it was all Azusa Pacific, as the Cougars held the Knights scoreless while putting together an 11-0 run through the first four minutes to match their largest lead of the contest. Immediately ART U started its response with a layup from junior forward Richard Rivers Jr. and a pair of buckets from graduate student guard Will Balata, eventually growing to an 11-2 stretch of their own to nearly match APU and return it to a one-possession game. 

After trading layups, a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Rodney Munson briefly put the Urban Knights back in front, but again the Cougars would match with a three-ball from Ken West to regain the advantage. The score stayed within two possessions through the remainder of the contest, and after a triple from Brown, both teams entered the bonus leading many of the final points coming from the free throw line. 

Trailing by four, Academy of Art earned their way to the line and hit the first but missed the second, and could not capitalize despite gathering an offensive rebound on the miss. An Azusa Pacific turnover would allow the Knights to earn their way back to the stripe, as Munson drew the foul on his way to the basket before going 2-for-2, bringing the game level with one minute and 28 seconds left to play. 

Although ART U was able to produce a stop, this time they were unable to capitalize after a turnover, and one more foul would lead to the Cougars hitting both of their subsequent free throw attempts to jump in front by two with 25 seconds remaining. Academy of Art was able to draw up a play and run their offense holding for a late shot, but their go-ahead three-point attempt was offline, and APU would clinch from the line 61-57. It was a measure of revenge for the Cougars after the loss in last year's PacWest Tournament Final in which the Knights won by three. 

Only Brown and Munson would finish in double figures for ART U, with Brown's 18 leading the way while Munson chipped in 10. Dominating the glass was Asante, as his 14 rebounds were a new career best and the most in an ART U game since Josh Hill had 16 against Cal Poly Humboldt on Feb. 26, 2021. Meanwhile, both Brown and Balata also pulled down seven rebounds apiece, while graduate student guard Deang Deang dished out five assists and swiped six steals, tied for the most in an ART U game historically. Brown also chipped in three blocks, which also was an ART U game-high for the season. 

It will be a short turnaround for the Urban Knights, as they will play host to Biola on Monday with the tip time set for 3:30 p.m.