SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Dior Lowhorn matched his season high with 26 points as San Francisco gave first-year coach Rex Walters an easy win in his home debut, beating Academy of Art, 74-23, on Friday night.
Blake Wallace added nine points and six rebounds while Manny Quezada had seven points and four assists for the Dons (3-1), who never trailed and allowed only one basket over the final 16:57 of the first half against the smaller and overmatched Urban Knights.
Prior to the game, a moment of silence was held in memory of legendary former Dons coach Pete Newell, who died Monday at the age of 93. Newell coached San Francisco for four seasons beginning in 1946-47, winning an NIT championship in 1949. Newell also led California to the NCAA title in 1959 and was coach of the U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in Rome in 1960.
The game was just the second ever for the Academy of Art, a Division II school in San Francisco playing its first year of intramural athletics. Former 49ers tight end Jamie Williams is the school's athletic director and was in attendance.
The Urban Knights inexperience showed. After making two of their first four shots from the floor they missed their next 10 attempts and committed 11 turnovers, allowing the Dons to go on a 34-3 run and decide the game early.
Lowhorn had 20 points and four rebounds before the break. The junior forward scored 15 points during the big run, including 10 straight to help San Francisco take a 45-9 halftime lead.
The Dons opened the second half with a 16-4 run, and Walters emptied his bench after that. Academy of Art played better over the final 20 minutes but still fell well short to stay winless in its inaugural season.
