SAN FRANCISCO – Looking to build momentum as they just entered the new year, Academy of Art men's basketball did just that by looking strong in all areas of a convincing 65-51 win over Hawaii Pacific in Pacific West Conference action on Tuesday.
"It was great to get back on the court after the holiday break," said ART U Head Coach Scott Waterman. "With the way we went into the break, we needed to come out and play ART U basketball from the opening tip and we definitely did that. It was great to see us force 21 turnovers and only allow HPU to shoot 38 percent from the field. This was a good step before we head back out on the road for some tough PacWest games. I know our guys will continue to rise on occasion."
While the Urban Knights, who improved to 7-5 overall and 3-2 in conference, snatched control in the very early stages of the game, the Sharks, who dropped four spots in the Pacific West Conference standings with a 7-4 overall record while sustaining their first conference loss (2-1), found themselves attempting to climb back all game after giving up an initial 22-4 run in the beginning half of the first period. In an all-around team effort in the first frame, eight points and three steals from junior guard Rodney Munson, six points from junior guard Allen Taylor, five rebounds from junior forward Ashton Howard, and three assists by redshirt sophomore Eli Taylor sprung the squad ahead in a half that ended with a 36-18 lead for the Knights going into the break.
The Sharks' opening frame consisted of having just seven points midway through, while shooting just eight percent at the time. They would go on to add 11 more points in the final five minutes, bringing their shooting percentage back up to 30 percent, and turn their 24-point deficit into 18 as halftime began.
HPU looked hungry to get back into the game coming out of the break, but ART U continued to play strong defense that would turn into offense and built their lead back up to 26 at 50-24 The Knights let the second half clock tick down as they contained long possessions, and ART U cruised to a 65-51 victory at home in their first contest of the New Year.
Junior forward Jamal Fuller would end as the team's leader in points for the contest (14), while senior forward Latrell Williams was right there with him (11). Latrell Williams, Howard, and junior forward Quintin Metcalf would go on to finish the game with six rebounds apiece.
Dominique Winbush of HPU led the Sharks with 15 points and Charlie Weber joined him in the double-digits with 12 points off the bench. HPU's 51 points is the fewest that ART U has allowed this season, and is the fewest since Feb. 13, 2022.
Academy of Art will finish off the week with an away contest as they head down to Montecito, Calif. to take on Westmont for the first time in the Warriors' first year in the PacWest Conference on Jan. 5 with a 2 p.m. tip-off.
