IRVINE, Calif. – In what was a wild finish, the Academy of Art men's basketball team was able to steal a Pacific West Conference victory on the road against Concordia (Calif.) by a final of 70-68 on Saturday.
 
"I could not be more proud of our guys," said ART U head coach Scott Waterman. "To bounce back like we did on the road after our game Thursday is a testament to how far we have come this year as a team. Down the stretch we made big plays and got stops."
 
Both teams were in the bonus in the closing moments of the contest, putting each other at the line where the last 14 points of the game were scored. Six of those free throws belonged to Urban Knights (11-16, 9-11 PacWest) junior guard Stefan Milivojevic, and he scored the last eight points of the game for ART U en route to finishing with a game-high 23 points. 
 
With a two-point lead and two seconds left, the inbound pass from the baseline was stolen by the Eagles' (20-9, 14-6 PacWest) Robert McCoy, but a last-chance 3-pointer from went long. The victory for the Urban Knights, along with a Hawai'i Hilo loss, pulls them into a tie for sixth place in the race for the final spot in the PacWest Conference postseason tournament. ART U would hold the tiebreaker over UH Hilo due to their record in head-to-head matchups. 
 
A 7-0 run started the game for the Urban Knights, beginning with a senior guard Nemanja Kovacevic three-pointer. The lead would grow to nine points only four minutes into the game before CUI would make its first push, but the lead would again grow to nine points with just over three minutes left in the half. A couple of late buckets would bring the score to 33-29 at the break.
 
The lead stayed at two-to-three possessions for ART U through most of the second half, and it wasn't until just under five minutes left in the game when the Eagles would tie the game thanks to an 8-0 run. Each team would come up with a couple of more baskets, leading to the stretch at the free throw line where the Urban Knights would ice the game.
 
"Offensively, we got taken out of our plan because of their pressure, but we had guys step up and make plays," Waterman said. "However, the work isn't done as we turn and round and prepare for what will be another difficult week."

 
With his 23 points, Milivojevic has now set the ART U single-season mark for scoring with a total 483, he surpassed the 466 set by Ameer Shamsud-din back in 2011-12. Milivojevic has also set the single-season mark for field goals made at ART U, with his 167 topping the old record of 162 set by Andrija Blatancic last season. 
 
Recording his 11th of the season and third consecutive double-double was junior forward Josh Hill, chipping in 13 points along with his 14 boards.  All Urban Knights scored points in the game, with four scoring at least six points. Three players for the Eagles scored in double-digits, led by Jamel White with 15 points on 4-for-9 shooting. 
 
The Urban Knights will return to Kezar Pavilion for their next matchup, as they host Point Loma for senior night on Thursday.