Box Score
Fresno Bee Article on Jerante Morgan
Fresno Pacific played #16 BYU closely for about the first 15 minutes, but facing its second Division 1 opponent in as many days the Sunbirds were unable to keep up as the game wore on, falling 93-57 in Provo on Saturday night.
Jerante Morgan gave the Cougars matchup problems all night, scoring 25 points, but the Sunbirds went cold from beyond the arc (4-for-23), struggled on the boards against the much taller Cougars (out-rebounded 48-24) and were at a clear disadvantage at the free-throw line (only getting three total attempts compared to 24 for the Cougars).
The Sunbirds trailed 22-20 with 6:45 left in the first half, but the Cougars would close out the half on a 22-4 run to put a damper on any hopes of an upset. FPU did hold All-American candidate Jimmer Fredette to four points in the first half and the senior guard would finish with 13, well below his season average of 25.
BYU didn't need a big night from its star player though, as six players finished in double figure scoring led by Stephen Rogers with 16 points. Rogers benefited from an 11-of-11 night from the line.
Morgan did his best to keep FPU in the game, but was the only Sunbird player in double figures. He scored the team's first eight points as FPU took an early 8-6 lead and swatted a BYU dunk attempt in the first half.
He was in foul trouble throughout the game though and came out after his third foul with the score 24-20 BYU and 6:16 remaining in the half. BYU would go on a 20-4 run from that point to end the half and would continue the run in the second half.
The Cougars shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from long-range, putting the game completely out of reach with a 14-0 run in the second half. BYU improved to 14-1 with the win in its final game before Mountain West play.
The game counted as an exhibition for the Sunbirds, who shot 39 percent but just 17 from three-point range. Adam Kado scored eight points, while Jordan Wild added seven with five assists. Morgan led the Sunbirds with six rebounds.
FPU resumes GSAC play next week when they play host to first-place Concordia on Thursday at 7:30 pm. The Eagles come in ranked #5 in the NAIA and feature reigning GSAC player of the year Justin Johnson and Villanova-transfer Taylor King. The Sunbirds, with a 3-1 conference record, are just a game back from the 4-0 Eagles and could propel themselves into a tie for first with a win.
"We scheduled these back-to-back Division 1 games to get us ready for conference play, specifically for Concordia," said coach Chris Wright after the game. "Hopefully these games served their purpose and we'll be ready to go next Thursday night."
