Box Score

Phoenix, AZ -- The Urban Knights offense was up, then down, then up, and then down again just at the wrong time as Grand Canyon pulled away in the final minutes to send the Knights home to San Francisco winless on their three-game road trip. William Overton, Jr. stepped on the gas on both ends of the floor, putting up his best game in a week with 18 points, five rebounds, and two steals, but the 'Lopes emerged with the 75-59 victory.

"We got another lead in the second half. That's another game in conference that we've had a lead in the second half," said head coach Mark Sembrowich. "Grand Canyon is big, they're athletic, and I thought our kids played with heart and intensity."

Ameer Shamsud-din had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Hunter Hayden had nine rebounds in 30 minutes while doing a great job defending inside against the 'Lopes' bigs. The Knights had 13 steals on the night, and had fewer turnovers than Grand Canyon, but GCU converted more of those turnovers into points, and shot better from the free throw line to put the game away.

"We're pressing a little bit right now," Sembrowich said. "Czar (Robotham) for example. He's trying really hard. He's a sophomore still playing a tough position and he's grown a lot this year. I'm pleased with the fact that the guys are still playing very hard."

As in their game against Dixie State, and for most of the games this season, Academy of Art rallied from being down 12 in the first half to close on a 10-0 run, making it 33-31 going into the break. Coming out of the break, they eventually took the lead on a free throw by Overton, and then Shamsud-din got a layup to make it 42-39 ART U. It was a see-saw battle for the next few minutes, but Overton put the Knights up by one again with 14:30 to go.

"Will hit a groove well in the first half and he played some inspired defense," Sembrowich said. "You look at the conference stats and he's top ten in rebounds, and everyone in front of him is a power center. He's got a nose for the ball."

But that's when the home team turned it on. Kyle Speed hit a 3-pointer to put the 'Lopes up by two, and the closest the Knights got after that was a one-point margin with 11:09 left. Grand Canyon started to pull away after Ivan "B.J." Prema, Jr. brought the Knights within four by making two free throws to make it 58-54, but the 'Lopes went on an 8-0 run after that, and a 17-5 run for the rest of the game to send the Knights home disappointed. 

"These kids keep putting it out there," Sembrowich said. "I thought our kids played with heart and intensity. It was about getting stops. It was good to see the guys do that, because they're not quitting. We're excited to come home and we're still getting better and excited to be back in front of a home crowd."