PacWest Weekly Awards (Jan. 4)

IRVINE, Calif. – Following a busy week for Academy of Art men's basketball in which ART U went 2-1 with the only loss coming against a NCAA Division I opponent, including holding one opponent to a season-low 52 points, senior forward Mike Asante has been picked as the Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week after he averaged 9.3 rebounds (7.7 defensive rebounds), 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steal per game. This awards is for games played from Dec. 29 - Jan. 3.

It was a strong all around week for the Toronto native, as Asante led the Urban Knights on the defensive end in a close 54-52 victory over Fresno Pacific in game two of the week. While ART U held the Sunbirds to the lowest opponent point total since the Knights allowed UH Hilo to score just 48 last season on Feb. 13, 2022, Asante posted his new ART U career high in blocks with four, tied for the third-most in a PacWest game this season. Additionally, he collected a season-best two steals while producing his first double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds (all on the defensive end). Meanwhile, Asante snatched eight boards against Holy Names before most recently grabbing seven against Saint Mary's. 

This is the first PacWest weekly award of Asante's career, but it is the second PacWest Defender of the Week award for the Urban Knights this season after senior guard Klay Brown collected the honor on Nov. 21. It is also the second consecutive year that ART U has had multiple Defender of the Week honors, as they are nearly halfway to the five Urban Knights and seven total awards earned last season.