Box Score SAN FRANCISCO -- Despite multiple Penguins scoring in double-digit, Dominican men's basketball lost to Academy of Art 81-74 Wednesday night at Kezar Pavilion to end its three-game road trip.
 
Senior Jeremiah Gray led the Penguins (3-11, 2-5 PacWest) with 19 points and six rebounds, while junior Cedric Thomas contributed 17 points in the game, 14 of those points scored in the first half. Cameron Niven led the Urban Knights (6-9, 5-4 PacWest) with 22 points and nine rebounds.
 
The first half of the game got off to a slow start, as neither team scored in the first two minutes. Gray hit a jumper to jump-start things and Dominican slowly opened an early 8-5 lead. However, Kendall Brown drew a foul on a shot behind the arc and made all three free throws to give the lead back to Academy of Art 16-13.
 
A layup by Cobe Williams extended the Urban Knight lead to six points, but the Penguins battled back and Chris Williams II knocked down a 3-pointer to give them back the lead. Dominican closed out the half to take a 36-31 lead into the locker room. The Penguins outshoot the Urban Knights 54.2 percent to 37 percent from the field.
 
Academy of Art struck first in the second half with a quick three points from Niven to trim the Penguins' lead to one point. Niven then laid the ball in to give the Urban Knights back the lead for good. Although the game had remained close, with each team never leading more than six points, Academy of Art's Williams and Kendall Brown each hit 3-pointers to start an 11-0 run that gave it a 13-point edge.
 
The Penguins attempted a comeback with 2:42 left in the game, as free throws made by Williams and senior Reverend Maduakor kept Dominican's margin to single digits, and a 3-pointer by Gray made it a two-possession game at 73-69 going into the final minute. Academy of Art made its free-throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
 
The Penguins return home Saturday to face Chaminade at 4 p.m. PST at the Conlan Center. Live stats and video will be available online.