Box Score
Fresno Pacific will leave Las Vegas with a 2-2 record after falling 71-58 to #12 Westminster on Saturday. Jordan Wild posted his second double-double in as many days, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds, but no other FPU player finished in double figures.
The Sunbirds were unable to recover from a 20-4 run late in the first half by the Griffins, who improved to 4-0 with the win. FPU led for much of the first half and was up 21-20 with seven minutes left in the period.
Westminster would put together 20-4 run over the next seven minutes to take a 15-point lead, before Matt Christman knocked down a three-pointer just before halftime to cut the lead to 40-28.
“It all comes down to paying attention to details and today for whatever reason we lost our focus,” said coach Chris Wright, who pointed to Westminster's 21 points off turnovers. “We have to find a way to take care of the basketball; that right there is the difference in the ballgame.”
The Sunbirds started the second half off well, as a three-pointer by Christman and two buckets by Wild put the team right back in it, making the score 42-37. A jumper by Casper Hesseldal brought the score to 43-39 with 13:35 to play, but that was as close as the Sunbirds would come.
The Griffins went on another run, extending the lead to 13 in a span of five minutes. Eventually the Sunbirds had to resort to fouling down the stretch against a very good free-throw shooting team that hit 21-of-23 on the night (91%).
The Sunbirds, meanwhile, only got to the line nine times, struggling again by making just five of those. Christman, Jerante Morgan and Kendall Holmes each finished with nine points, with Holmes going 4-for-4 from the field.
Jake Orchard led Westminster with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Michael Stockton added 16. FPU out-rebounded the Griffins 37-30 in the loss, but were out-shot 48 percent to 38 percent.
“We know it's going to be a process when you've got 10 new guys,” said Wright. “You play in tournaments like this to see where you're at. It'll be nice to get home Monday and go to work again.”
The Sunbirds are back in action at home on Monday night, taking on Pacific Union at 7 pm.
