Game #26
ART U Urban Knights (17-8, 11-6 PacWest) vs. HNU Hawks (6-20, 3-15 PacWest) 
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. 
Belmont, Calif. – Walter Gleason Gym
Live Stats and Video
ART U Game Notes 2-19-23

ONE ON ONE
Fresh off a 2-0 week where they averaged 91.5 points per game in the two contests, Academy of Art men's basketball returns to the court for just a single game this week when the Urban Knights play host to Holy Names in the second meeting between the two teams this season on Sunday. 

TIP-OFF
The only contest of the week with the Hawks will tip off at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday from Walter Gleason Gym. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram, as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHTS' QUEST
Last week was a 2-0 week for Academy of Art, who are now winners in three straight and seven of their past nine. The Knights first took down Dominican in PacWest play 89-75 on Feb. 11, setting their new season high in shooting from the floor and the third-best field goal percentage in a game in ART U history at 61.8 percent. Meanwhile, they followed with a Valentine's Day win over UC Santa Cruz by a 94-60 final in non-conference action, their largest margin of victory this season (previous: 31, vs. CUI). That victory was in large part due to the tone set on defense, as ART U set their season high and tied the second-best mark in program history with 19 steals while also forcing 32 turnovers, all of which led ART U to score an eye-popping 43 points off of turnovers. 

After winning the first four games of the season for the first time in program history (all opponents in the CCAA), ART U dropped three of their next four games including their first two PacWest contests against Point Loma and Concordia. This was the first time since 2018-19 that ART U was defeated in its first two PacWest games, with the losses occurring to the same two teams, however, that season culminated in ART U's first ever PacWest Tournament appearance. Academy of Art got back on track winning five of their next seven contests, which included tying the program-record with four straight PacWest victories (accomplished twice last season under Coach Waterman) and consecutive 90-point performances with their largest point total of the season (98) against Biola, while the losses came against preseason PacWest favorite Azusa Pacific and NCAA Division I opponent Saint Mary's.

Though Chaminade put a stop to that stretch and snapped the conference winning streak, the Knights have still won seven of their last 10 games which included a new program record of three straight times eclipsing 90 points (93.0 ppg avg.), starting in the loss to the Silverswords (only loss scoring 75 points or more). The streak continued with Hilo and CUI, which also happened to see the Knights set a program record with their third and fourth 20-point win of the year (previous record: three, 2021-22) after beating Hilo by 22 before topping Concordia by 31 in the rematch. The other losses in that span came to No. 20 Point Loma, dropping the Knights to 1-1 against ranked opponents this season after an earlier win against then-No. 19 Saint Martin's, and a defeat at the hands of the No. 2 team in the PacWest Azusa Pacific. More recently ART U is on a three-game winning streak with all three victories by double digits, knocking off Biola and Dominican in conference action before a quick non-conference detour against UCSC. 

KNIGHT WATCH
ART U has scored 75 or more points in 15 of their 25 contests this year (14-1, 86.9 ppg in those games), including reaching the fifth-most (98 at Biola), sixth-most (97 at HNU) and ninth-most (95 at CUH) points in program history. In all, they have hit the 90-point barrier six times which sets a program record (previous: 2021-22). All told, that leads to an overall season average of 78.3 ppg, which would be a new program record. In 17 of 25 games ART U has shot above 40.0 percent from the field, including 12 of the past 15 contests, while reaching above 50.0 percent in seven of those 12 (including in consecutive games against Hilo and CUI) and eight instances overall with their season best against Dominican (61.8 percent, 34-for-55). However, they have eight times fallen below 40 percent with a season-low mark of 33.3 percent (25-for-75) against PLNU on Dec. 1, 2022, leading to a season average of 45.4 percent (739-for-1628). The current scoring margin of +7.4 would be an ART U record, which is lifted by their new program best of five 20-point wins with their season-best 34-point victory last time out against UCSC their largest since defeating UH Hilo 81-48 on Feb. 13 of last season. Ball movement has been key, recording double-digit assists in each of their first six games (14.7 apg in those games) and 20 of 25 total contests (13.68 apg), with their season-best of 23 against BU ranking fifth-most in program history while their 22 against Hilo is tied for sixth-most. In each of the past two games they have totaled 18 helpers. 

In comparison opponents are averaging 70.9 ppg against ART U this season, only nine times allowing an opponent to score 75 or more points (high of 98 at CUH).They allowed a season-low 52 points against FPU on Jan. 2, which was the fewest allowed since they gave up just 48 to UH Hilo last season Feb. 13, 2022, and is tied for the sixth-fewest points allowed in school history. Meanwhile, opponents are shooting 41.7 percent (652-for-1498) shooting from the field, 17 times allowing opponents to shoot above 40 percent for the game (high of 50.0 percent vs. SMC). On Jan. 2, FPU was held to just 28.8 percent shooting from the field, the second-lowest percentage ART U has held an opponent to in program history (first: 27.8 percent at HNU, Jan. 6, 2009). Twelve times has ART U totaled double-digit steals with their season best of 19 against the Slugs on Feb. 14 tying the second-best mark in program history. That leads to a current season average of 9.92 per game (248 total), and they are currently on pace to finish with 277 by season's end (would be the second-most in ART U history). In the battle on the boards, ART U has snatched 973 rebounds (38.9 per game) to the 903 of their opponents (36.1 per game), 10 times grabbing 40 or more with their season-best of 53 coming recently against HPU which is tied for third-most in a game in program history. 

The duo of senior guard Klay Brown and graduate student guard Will Balata are tied for the team lead with 12.1 ppg apiece, though Brown also leads the team in blocks with a season best of three on three occasions (1.0 bpg; sixth in PacWest). Brown had finished in double figures 15 times this season, while Balata is not far off having done so 13 times. Joining them as the third Urban Knight to hit double figures is senior forward Mike Asante, who has reached the mark in seven of his past nine games and now averages 11.7 ppg on the year. Many have cleaned up the glass for ART U, but Asante's 8.1 rpg leads the Knights and is fourth in the PacWest, and he just recently set a new career mark and tied the program record for rebounds in a game with 20 (also: Hunter Hayden vs. DSU, 1/17/11). Meanwhile, Williams now pulls down 6.7 rpg which places him behind Asante for sixth in the PacWest, recently grabbing 19 boards to also set his career high and rank third-most in program history. When moving the ball, Brown's 2.7 apg (68 total) leads the team and ranks 10th in the conference, while sophomore guard Rodney Munson adds 2.2 per game and Asante with 2.0 apg. Defensively, Brown has notched multiple steals in 17 of 25 games (high of five vs. UCSC) for a team-best average of 2.2, leading the PacWest in steals average and total steals (55). Meanwhile, graduate student guard Deang Deang trails shortly behind in sixth in the PacWest with 1.6 spg (39 total, seventh), while Munson sits 10th with 1.5 per game (37 total, 10th).

RED AND WHITE HAWK DOWN
It was an 88-78 victory over Dominican on Senior Night the last time out for Holy Names, however that win snapped a previous seven-game losing streak as the Hawks enter the matchup with ART U already mathematically eliminated from the PacWest Championships with an overall record of 6-20. That record is due in part to ranking last in scoring margin (-10.2) and scoring defense (81.8 average ppg allowed), and the Hawks find themselves towards the bottom of most PacWest statistical categories except for 3-point shooting (sixth), free throw percentage (fourth) and turnover margin (sixth). Three Hawks are averaging double-digit scoring for the season led by the 11.2 ppg from Roman Behrens, while the duo of LJ Smith (10.9 ppg) and Dale Currie (10.3 ppg) trail shortly behind. Cleaning up the glass has been Damiri Lindo with 4.9 rpg, while Behrens has been the primary ball-mover for HNU with an average of 3.1 helpers per contests which is eighth in the PacWest. This will be the final meeting ever between the two teams, and already on a previous nine-game winning streak against the Hawks, Academy of Art currently leads the all-time series between the two sides, 17-5. 

DEFENSE SETS BAR FOR MEN'S HOOPS IN 94-60 DEFEAT OF UCSC
Tuesday night was all about defense for Academy of Art men's basketball, setting their season high and tying the second-best mark in program history with 19 steals on the night while also forcing 32 turnovers, all of which led ART U to score an eye-popping 43 points off of turnovers and allowed them to pull away down the stretch for a 94-60 victory over NCAA Division III opponent UC Santa Cruz. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Next week will see the final two games of the regular season for Academy of Art, as the Urban Knights host Fresno Pacific on Feb. 23 for Senior Night beginning at 7 p.m., while the season finale takes place Feb. 25 on the road in San Rafael, Calif. when the Knights clash with the Penguins at 3:30 p.m.