Box Score HONOLULU, HI (January 4, 2014)—The Hawai`i Pacific Men's Basketball Team (8-2, 3-1)returned to Pacific West Conference play Saturday night earning a 61-45 victory over Academy of Art (3-9, 1-4).

The Sea Warriors came out strong early taking a 7-2 lead on a pair of Justin Long three-pointers. The Urban Knights responded with a run of their own to take a 17-12 lead with 7:30 to play. A long ball by Leif Rodney followed by a two-hand jam by Farbod Farman tied the score at 17.

The Sea Warriors regained a 23-21 lead with 3:33 to play on a pair of Malte Ziegenhagen free throws. Ziegenhagen answered the call again on the next possession drilling a three-pointer to give HPU a 26-22 lead.

The Urban Knights cut the lead to one with three seconds to play in the half, but Long answered by driving the length of the court for a layup, just beating the buzzer, giving HPU a 30-27 lead at the break.

HPU extended its lead early in the second half with a 7-0 run. The Urban Knights called timeout after a steal and breakaway layup by Darry Jones Jr. giving the Sea Warriors a 37-27 lead. The Urban Knights answered with a run of their own cutting the HPU lead to one. Jones Jr. responded with a three and Farman laid in another to put the lead back to six, 46-40 with 8:45 to play.

HPU stretched its lead out to 10 after a Long floater followed by a Jones Jr. steal and layup to make it 54-44 with 4:17 to play.

 It was Long again down the stretch hitting a runner down the lane, a pair of foul shots and the Sea Warriors won the game going away, 61-45.

Long led all scorers with a game-high 19 points while Ziegenhagen and Jones Jr. each added 10. Farman was strong on the glass, especially in the closing minutes, pulling down nine boards to go along with eight points, four blocks and two steals.

HPU finished the game shooting 42.6% (20-47) from the field including 31.6% (6-19) from three-point range.

Defensively the Sea Warriors were strong holding Art U to 30% (18-60) and a paltry 27.8% (5-18) from beyond the arc.

Head Coach Darren Vorderbruegge commented on his team's victory, "I thought we played a very balanced game both offensively and defensively. A lot of different guys chipped in scoring, on the glass and on the defensive end. I'm proud of our total team effort."

The Sea Warriors return to action on Monday when they face Dixie State at the Neal Blaisdell Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.