Box Score
A low-scoring first half was too much to overcome on Tuesday night as Fresno Pacific fell 74-63 to #16 Biola in La Mirada.
The Sunbirds were held scoreless for the game's first seven minutes and could only muster five first half field goals, trailing 24-14 at the break.
Adam Kado led the Sunbirds with 15 points and Jordan Wild had 11 points and eight rebounds, as the Sunbirds dropped to 4-3 in conference play and the Eagles (16-1, 6-1) won their ninth straight.
During those first seven minutes, Biola built up a 9-0 lead after two three-pointers from Josh Miller began the game.
Deshaun Legree would score FPU's first points with 13:04 left in the first half as his three-pointer made the score 9-3. The Sunbirds would continue to struggle on the offensive end, not getting their second field goal until a Jerante Morgan three with 10:47 remaining that made the score 10-6 Eagles.
Kado and Wild connected on a well drawn-up play, resulting in a Kado three pointer to cut the lead to one, but the Sunbirds continued to look very uncomfortable with the ball. Despite the offensive woes the Sunbirds played well defensively, contesting and blocking shots, but with next-to-no offense the Eagles were able to build up a lead.
With the score 21-11, Matt Christman knocked down on three as the half winded to a close, but Nate Rakestraw answered for the Eagles on the other end, nailing the second of two threes to make the halftime score 24-14.
Wild opened up the second half with a three-pointer, but Rakestraw continued to have the hot hand for the Eagles, hitting two threes during a 10-2 Biola run. The Eagles would extend the lead to as many as 20, up 45-25 with 12:30 to play before a Wild three.
The Sunbirds kept applying pressure and hurried up the offense, allowing them to put a slight dent in the lead. By the seven-minute mark FPU had cut the lead to 13, capped by a Brandon Rowe steal and a throwdown-dunk by Wild.
When the Sunbirds finally began to out-match the Eagles, it would be too much of an uphill battle. The team got to within ten points multiple times in the closing minutes, making the Eagles work for the victory, but in the end the lackluster first half doomed the Sunbirds.
Rakestraw was the individual leader for the Eagles, scoring 21 on 6-of-10 from long range. Dwight Gordon added 13 points in the win. FPU did out-rebound Biola 42-37, but was hurt by 21 fouls committed.
FPU returns home on Saturday for a 4:30 pm game against Point Loma Nazarene. The Sea Lions are off to a hot start in GSAC play, coming in with a 5-2 conference record, their only losses coming at the hands of conference favorites Azusa Pacific (in double overtime) and Concordia.
