Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Rob Garcia)

San Jose, CA -- The Academy of Art University men's basketball team got its first taste of competition Thursday evening against Division I San Jose State inside The Event Center. ART U's exhibition season opener ended with an 88-54 score favoring the Spartans, but more served as an opportunity for the Urban Knights to start finding a rhythm together. The team was led by a trio of players scoring in double figures including junior Rodrigo Maza (14 points), senior Ameer Shamsud-din (13 points), and freshman Alex Carmon (12 points).


“I think it was an opportunity to see where we are in terms of playing our first game and seeing where our deficiencies are and what we need to work on to get better,” head coach Julius Barnes. “If you come out and perform against a Division I [team] and you can have some success, even if that success involves the fact that you're able to run your plays without turning the ball over, that transfers over when you play teams in your own region and division.”

Though the Spartans got into the paint for their first two baskets, a layup by freshman Akil Johnson, a dynamic post player who redshirted for ART U last season, got the Knights on the board. Carmon, another 2011-12 redshirt, came in off the bench to nail his first attempt, but SJSU executed a 15-2 run early in the half to work a double digit advantage.

Johnson found Maza for an easy basket around the period's halfway mark to make it a 10-point game, but a 13-1 Spartan push got them further ahead. The Urban Knights were able to get shots off against their tough opponent as Shamsud-din, senior Ivan "B.J." Prema, Jr., Carmon, and Maza all took the ball to the rim for layups in the final five minutes.

A halftime score of 50-24 with San Jose State on top did not deter Academy of Art University who came out going end to end trading baskets with the Spartans. Prema, Jr. knocked down a smooth jumper to start and later Shamsud-din nailed a 3-pointer after Carmon found him on the right wing. In the bonus early, however, SJSU got the line repeatedly in the second half to maintain its lead.

As the Knights began to settle into their approach and the Spartans did not want any easy baskets, it was Carmon, junior Czar Robotham, and Shamsud-din who all got themselves to the free throw line. Robotham also connected from distance after a pass from freshman Bryan Fisher in the final minutes, but as the final buzzer sounded, SJSU took an 88-54 victory in front of its home crowd.

“The two things that stood out were defensively we've got to get better and that will come. Then also rebounding,” Coach Barnes said. “We got shots up, we just didn't convert and that'll come, but the main thing for us is to make sure we stay focused on the defensive end and that everybody's crashing the boards.”

Leading the way for ART U was Maza's 14 points to go with five rebounds. Shamsud-din added 13 points including a pair of triples while the third Knight to score in double figures was Carmon (12 points) with five rebounds as well. Johnson pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds and Robotham contributed six points along with a block and a steal.

San Jose State had three players score in double figures as well led by D.J. Brown's 22 points, half of which came primarily at the free throw line. Alex Brown offered 17 points and 11 rebounds as well as five blocks. Finally, Chris Cunningham had 13 points and three steals.

“We're just hoping to build on this,” Coach Barnes said. “It's the first game and doesn't count so we'll go back to the drawing board, watch film tonight, and have them ready for practice tomorrow.”

The season officially begins for Academy of Art University men's basketball on Nov. 9 when the Urban Knights play their first game against Seattle Pacific as part of the two-day Sodexo Tip-Off Classic.