SAN FRANCISCO – In the first game of the SF State Tip-Off Classic, the battle between Academy of Art men's basketball and the Seawolves of Sonoma State came down to the wire, as the eventual overtime battle saw SSU escaping from the Urban Knights with a 64-62 final score.

The Knights and Seawolves saw a similar game script all night as both teams went back and forth without ever gaining a lead of more than six points. ART U got off to a hot start in the first half, as they came out with energy and an eagerness for an early lead. The Knights quickly went up 4-0 to start the game from a junior guard Allen Taylor bank shot 3-pointer as he got the foul call and knocked down the free throw. The Seawolves then scored six straight points and Academy of Art answered after a few more baskets to yield a 14-8 advantage with junior forward Jamal Fuller throwing down the dunk. The Seawolves would once again battle back, as the teams went into the half tied 29-29. Fuller and senior forward Latrell Williams would combine for 16 points going into the break with both players shooting 50 percent from the field.

Throughout the duration of the second half, neither side could pull ahead by a big margin as the biggest lead of the half was just five points. To start the second period, the Knights saw junior guard Rodney Munson score six straight points, but Sonoma State would once again fight their way back to then take a lead of their own. The Knights then saw buckets from Fuller, Latrell Williams, and junior forward Ashton Howard before junior guard Treylon Payne would contribute his piece. With just eight seconds left in regulation, Payne found himself driving to the basket on a fast break and laying the ball up for a bucket to tie it up at 54-54. Off a timeout, the Seawolves looked to end it in regulation as they put up a shot at the buzzer, but Payne sent it back as he recorded the clean block to prevent the game-winner.

Overtime was even tighter, with the biggest lead being just three points through the five minutes of extra time. The additional period started with SSU taking a one-point lead on a free throw, but junior forward Isaiah Williams took it away as he pulled up from deep, knocking down the triple. Sonoma State responded with a shot from beyond the arc of their own and got it to go, and Isaiah Williams took it right back once again with a layup in the paint while getting fouled, scoring the free throw as well to take a two-point lead with three and a half minutes left. The Seawolves responded with back-to-back layups while Fuller matched one to bring the game back to a tie at 62-62. SSU's Cameron Barry converted a bucket with 16 seconds remaining, which would inevitably be the last score of the game with Sonoma State taking it 64-62.

Fuller would be the leading scorer for the Knights, now 0-1 overall, recording 19 points (5-for-5 from the foul line) with his five rebounds. Payne would record five points, six rebounds, and four assists while Latrell Williams would finish with nine points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Andrew Henderson of Sonoma State would lead the 1-0 Seawolves with 16 points and nine rebounds.

A quick turnaround awaits ART U, as the Knights will play their second and final game of the SF State Tip-Off Classic against the host Gators tomorrow, starting at 7 p.m.