Box Score

Fresno Pacific found itself in another tightly-contested GSAC game on Saturday, getting past San Diego Christian 86-79 on the road in overtime.

The win allows the Sunbirds to go into the break with a 3-1 GSAC record (8-3 overall). The Hawks dropped to 4-6, 1-3 in the conference.

FPU built up a 15-point second half lead, but the Hawks came storming back and made it a very interesting game down the stretch. The Sunbirds would pull away in the overtime, outscoring SDCC 12-5 despite shooting just 6-of-12 from the free-throw line in the period.

Jordan Wild, who had struggled to score in the last two conference games, was a force for the Sunbirds scoring 19 points and recording his sixth double-double of the season by adding 13 rebounds and five steals.

Kendall Holmes came up big in the post with 17 points and Matt Christman went through a hot-shooting stretch to finish with 14. Deshaun Legree added 10 points, including a key bucket in the overtime.

The Sunbirds built up a 44-36 halftime lead, thanks in large part to Christman who caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting four three-pointers in a less-than two minute span to extend the Sunbird lead.

A three-pointer by Rickey Vick early in the second half gave the Sunbirds their largest lead of the night at 15, but the Hawks had some hot shooting of their own on display. SDCC would hit 11 three-pointers on the night and would gradually close the gap until a three by Aaron Felix gave the Hawks a 58-57 lead with 11:53 to play.

"A lot of teams would have folded at that point," said FPU coach Chris Wright. "Our guys stepped up. I'm proud of the leadership our seniors showed in keeping us together."

The Sunbirds would come back and build up a five-point lead with five minutes left, before the Hawks closed the gap again with some strong inside play. Neither team would score in the final 1:57, forcing overtime.

Holmes quickly put the Sunbirds ahead in the extra period but a three by Felix gave the Hawks a brief lead. Wild answered with a layup, then stole the ball, which led to Legree's bucket which put FPU up 80-77.

The Hawks would get within two but would go cold from beyond the arc and turn the ball over against a revamped Sunbird defense. FPU struggled from the line all night (62%) and in the overtime, but Wild made them when it counted to put the game out of reach.

Xavier Mylleville led the Hawks with 20 points, while Tyler Mutton added 18 including five three-pointers. Larry Sanders added nine points and eight assists for SDCC.

The Sunbirds shot 51 percent on the night and made 9-of-16 from long-range. FPU now takes a break from conference action until January 6, when it has a big home matchup with first-place Concordia.

Wright feels good about how far the team has come, but knows there is room to get better.

"We've got to learn how to become more consistent, how to give physical effort and mental effort."

The team plays one final home game before Christmas, taking on William Jessup at 7 pm on Saturday.

Around the GSAC
#9 Azusa Pacific 108, Point Loma Nazarene (H) 104 (2 OT)
Westmont (H) 75, Hope International 69
#6 Concordia 91, The Masters (H) 72
#16 Biola (H) 69, Vanguard 49

FULL STANDINGS