IRVINE, Calif. – Playing the team's last game before Christmas, the Concordia University Irvine men's basketball squad unwrapped a second straight win behind solid shooting and a breakout performance from one of their young freshmen.

The Golden Eagles shot 55 percent from the field as a team and knocked down nearly all their free throws to knock off Academy of Art, 81-74.

CUI went 20-for-21 at the free throw line to ice the game down the stretch and improve to 3-1 in PacWest play.

Tim Adetukasi continued his impressive campaign with a team-high 21 points and shot 50 percent from the field. The graduate student from England also went a remarkable 11-for-11 at the free throw line.

Freshman guard Luis Marin displayed an array of interior moves and totaled a career-high 14 points. He added four assists, four rebounds and led the team in made field goals by going 7-for-14 from the floor.

Plus, Connor Gleason scored in double figures for the fourth straight contest.  The Capistrano Valley High School alum from Mission Viejo knocked down four triples and scored 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field.

Timely plays came from up and down the bench as Jackson Harding came in and immediately made an impact by cutting to the rim and converting a tough off-balance layup. Ador Athuai and Jonah Tolmaire helped set the tone defensively and Freddie Dybala was a difference-maker once again by adding eight points and a couple steals.

"It's so awesome to see," said Gleason. "Not only does it give the team a lift, but as an individual it makes me happy to see everyone do well, gaining confidence and doing what they know they can do."

A pair of key runs by the Golden Eagles helped swing the game in their favor. Trailing 14-6 a few minutes into the contest, CUI rattled off a 14-0 run to go ahead 20-14.  Gleason hit back-to-back threes and CUI found success attacking the paint from multiple angles. The Golden Eagles led 35-29 at intermission and you could see players like Harding and Marin gaining confidence as they had success hitting layups down low.

CUI also held ART U scoreless for nearly three minutes midway through the second half. Clinging to a three-point lead, CUI opened up a 61-48 advantage thanks to a 10-0 run that started off a tough jumper by Marin. The run included two baskets from Dybala and four straight points from Gleason and really took the wind out of the sails of the visitors.

"I think also even the guys who didn't get in the game (today), but ran the scout team for the whole week were awesome," added Gleason. "They don't get seen necessarily on the court, but what they do in practice is incredible, going 100 percent, and they might not always get the recognition they deserve. But just seeing guys do what they're capable of and letting the work that they put in show is just amazing."

The Golden Eagles are in the middle of an unorthodox five-game home stand, which comes entirely during Christmas Break when school is not in session.

"The only thing we can do is put ourselves in the right mental space, whether it's practice, a week of practice with no games, or an unorthodox home stand to be the best we can be," added Gleason.

Next up is a home date against PacWest preseason favorite Azusa Pacific University after Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4:30 pm.  The men will play in a doubleheader that day following the women's basketball game, which is slated to start at 2 p.m.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's basketball schedule