BELMONT, Calif. – Following their last contest where defense set the tone, Academy of Art men's basketball showcased its offense on Sunday against Holy Names by tying their season-best point total while connecting on over 50 percent of their attempts in both halves of a 98-65 Pacific West Conference victory, setting a new ART U program record for wins in a regular season with their 18th of the campaign. 

"What a great team win tonight to help break the regular season win mark," said ART U Head Coach Scott Waterman. "I am really proud of these guys for persisting and continuing to improve as the season has gone on, and we still have unfinished business to take care of." 

Though the Hawks (6-21, 3-16 PacWest) briefly led early after a Damiri Lindo 3-pointer countered the opening bucket of the game from graduate student guard Stephon Hall, it was the Urban Knights (18-8, 12-6 PacWest) that spent the early part of the first period building what became a double-digit lead by the 13 minute mark. Showing their resolve, HNU battled back by connecting on a couple of triples combined with a couple of buckets in the paint to quickly return the game to one possession. 

Following a nearly five minute stretch where the two sides traded buckets, the Hawks finally tied the game with a pair of points from the free throw line before later taking the lead. All told it was a 9-0 run for Holy Names to briefly recapture the advantage and lead by four, but that was HNU's largest lead of the ballgame. 

Flipping the switch just before the half, Academy of Art didn't trail long as they unleashed a 14-2 stretch with all 14 points scored by the trio of senior guard Klay Brown (five), graduate student guard Deang Deang (five) and senior forward Mike Asante (four). One last jumper from graduate student guard Will Balata in the final minute sent ART U into the half once again up double digits, 45-35. 

A Lindo fastbreak layup for HNU to start the second frame was the only time in the half that the ART U lead was under double digits, as Academy of Art made it a 20-point game by the midway point of the action before cruising down the stretch to a 33-point margin of victory, their third 30-point win of the campaign and the second-largest margin of victory trailing only the 34-point win prior to today's game against UC Santa Cruz. In the final ever meeting between ART U and HNU, the Urban Knights closed the all-time series on top 18-5 and have won each of the previous 10 meetings between the two sides. 

Having already clinched a berth in the PacWest Championship tournament, Academy of Art has now also clinched the best regular season record in program history with their 18th win of the year, topping the previous record of 17 that was accomplished last season with still two games remaining on the schedule. There still remains a chance for more program bests, as ART U entered last year's tournament the No. 4 seed in an expanded field, and currently holds that same position this year though they trail UH Hilo by just one game for the third seed. 

The shooting hand for the Urban Knights has been on fire as of late, as ART U has now shot above 50 percent in eight of their last 10 periods of game action dating back to their clash with Azusa Pacific on Feb. 2. They reached that barrier in both halves of today's action, with their best coming in the first when they went 16-for-29 (55.2 percent), ultimately finishing the contest shooting 52.9 percent (37-for-70) from the floor.

All the hallmarks of the ART U identity were on display, as their 46 rebounds nearly doubled that of Holy Names (46-27) while also helping lead to 22 second-chance points (to the four of HNU). Academy of Art also controlled the paint where they outscored the Hawks 58-30, and ART U's 14 steals produced 23 points off turnovers. 

"Our defensive pressure forced Holy Names into 24 turnovers which was the difference in the game," Waterman said. "It allowed us to get out in transition and disrupted their offensive flow. Having six guys in double figures shows just how explosive our offense can be. However, we need to improve our turnovers going forward."

Each of the nine Urban Knights to see game action recorded at least one bucket in the game while six ended in double figures, helping ART U tie their season high and fifth-best mark in program history with 98 points (also: Biola). It was also their seventh time eclipsing the 90-point barrier, further extending their new program record. Asante led all scorers as he was able to come up with his second 20-point game of the year and his new season-high with 21 points on 8-for-12 (66.7 percent), and turned that into his team-leading sixth double-double of the year with 11 rebounds. Matching his output on the boards with a double-double of his own off the bench was Balata, as he went for 17 points (7-for-10; 70 percent), 11 boards and a pair of steals. 

Also in double digits off the bench was sophomore forward Jamal Fuller, dropping 13 points while the duo of Deang and junior forward Latrell Williams chipped in 11 apiece, with Williams just missing out on a double-double with nine rebounds. The final Urban Knight with double figures was Hall who closed out with 10 points. 

Already one of the top defenders in the nation, Brown had his talents on display as he swiped four steals for the sixth time this year (one of those game with five) while also tying his season-high in blocks with three (four times). Much like Brown, the Urban Knights as a squad are among the nations leaders in steals and opponent turnovers, as they were 12th in the nation in turnovers forced entering the game and were able to top their season average (17.44) with their 24 forced in the contest.

Only two games remain on the ART U regular season schedule, as the Urban Knights host Fresno Pacific for Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. before closing the year at Dominican on Saturday, Feb. 25.