Box Score

Fresno Pacific dug themselves a hole early on and didn't wake up until the game was too far out of reach in a 68-59 home loss to a middle-of-the-road Cal Baptist team on Saturday.

The unexpected loss drops the Sunbirds to 5-5 in conference play at the GSAC's midway point, putting the team in 6th place. Meanwhile, CBU was able to gain a game on the Sunbirds and now at 4-6, the seventh-place Lancers are just a game back of FPU.

The win for Cal Baptist avenged one of the most lopsided losses in school history; the Lancers were downed 80-39 by FPU in Fresno last season. This time around though, CBU came out with more energy and the Sunbirds seemed to lack the drive to stay with them.

After falling behind 15-5, FPU scored 14 unanswered points to take a 19-15 lead. The Sunbirds were unable to keep that momentum, however, as CBU finished the half on a 19-4 run from that point.

The Lancers extended the lead to as many as 24 with 11:10 remaining in the second half, up 52-28, and still led by 20 with 4:28 left before the Sunbirds finally got into a rhythm.

FPU would go on a 9-0 run to make it an 11-point game, capped by two three-pointers from Deshaun Legree. Matt Christman brought the Sunbirds within eight a minute later, knocking down a quick three and slashing to the hoop for another two.

It would be too little and too late to bring the Sunbirds back however. Legree and Adam Kado led the team with 12 points, Christman scored 10 and Kado added six assists as the Sunbirds struggled everywhere from the three-point line (22%) to the free-throw line (50%).

CBU allowed the Sunbirds to stick around longer due to an abysmal free-throw shooting night (10-for-22), but a 50 percent field goal percentage for the game was more than enough to make up for it. Four Lancers finished in double figures, led by Justus Von Wright with 15.

The Sunbirds will have a shot at redemption right away in the second portion of the GSAC schedule, getting #7 Azusa Pacific here in Fresno on Tuesday night at 7:30. The Cougars come in with a 9-1 GSAC record. In the first meeting between the two teams at APU, the Sunbirds led the then #1 Cougars at halftime before struggling mightily in the second half of an 18-point loss.

Around the GSAC
#7 Azusa Pacific 72, San Diego Christian (H) 67
Point Loma Nazarene 61, Hope International (H) 53
#3 Concordia (H) 98, Westmont 71