SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Tuesday night showed glimpses of history from multiple Urban Knights, as Academy of Art men's basketball comeback to take the victory from the Banana Slugs in non-conference action behind nearly 52 percent shooting from the field in the second half in a 76-65 win for ART U over NCAA Division III opponent UC Santa Cruz.

With the Banana Slugs' record dropping 10-13 overall, they found an early lead over the now 16-7 Knights, as UCSC started off hot in the first half. Beginning the contest with a 34-17 lead, the Slugs peaked early with ART U steadily creating a comeback in the latter half of the first period. The Knights used a 14-4 run to end off the opening frame to head into the break with a 36-29 score.

It was all ART U in the second half, as the squad was fueled by a new career-high 31 points from junior forward Quintin Metcalf, with UCSC unable to find an answer as the Wurzburg, Germany native scored the second-most field goals in a game in ART U program history (13). With nine of those buckets coming in the second half alone, Metcalf led the squad to erase the deficit early in the half, as the Knights took over the lead midway through the closing period. UCSC could never rebuild a lead over ART U, and the Knights would eventually cruise with momentum in the clutch to take the win with a 76-65 final.

With Metcalf's strong offensive outing, two other Knights scored double-digit points being junior guard Allen Taylor (11) and junior forward Jamal Fuller (10). While senior forward Latrell Williams was collecting boards as per usual (10), he also broke the all-time record for most steals in ART U program history with 147 to date. While junior guard Rodney Munson (7) and Metcalf (8) each collected rebounds of their own, Munson (four assists), Allen Taylor (three assists), and redshirt sophomore Eli Taylor (three assists) were dishing the rock all night.

Tyler Kessinger did all he could for the Slugs, putting up the team-high in points (17) on 7-for-13 shooting while going 60 percent from distance. Zino Okah followed behind Kessinger in points on the squad (12) while Joe Espy collected the team-high in rebounds (9).

It will be a return to conference action for Academy of Art the next time out, as the Knights will get set to host UH Hilo on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Laney College Gym in Oakland, Calif., tipping-off at 3:30 p.m.