Box Score

Despite being undermanned and dealing with foul trouble all game, Fresno Pacific gave a talented NCAA Division II Cal State Stanislaus team all it could handle before falling 71-65 to the Warriors in the final game of the FPU Thanksgiving Shootout on Saturday.

Eric Hipolito led the Sunbirds with 20 points and nine rebounds, going to work inside against bigger defenders. Zach Kaul added 12 points, George DeLeon finished with 11 and Kenny Bradford had 10 for the Sunbirds. Matt Christman led the team with seven assists.

FPU led for most of the first half before the Warriors ended the half on a 5-0 run to take a 31-30 lead into the locker room. The Sunbirds would fall behind by as many as eight in the second half, trailing 53-45 with 11 minutes to play, but would claw their way back into it with strong defensive effort and rebounding.

A Christman three-pointer brought FPU within three at 53-50 with 9:07 remaining, but the Sunbirds then caught a tough break. Trailing 53-51 DeLeon stole the ball and had a breakaway chance to score but fell down after appearing to be fouled. There was no call however and it led to a fastbreak bucket on the other end, making it a 55-51 Warrior lead rather than a tie game.

DeLeon's drive and layup minutes later would bring the team back within one at 61-59 but he would foul out on a similar play, being called for an offensive foul with 3:39 left and the Sunbirds trailing 61-60.

A big putback and-one by Hipolito with 3:07 remaining gave FPU the lead 63-61, but the Warriors answered on the ensuing possession with a three-pointer by Vincent Fuller to regain the lead.

FPU trailed by three as the clock winded toward the final minute, but a good defensive possession was all for naught when CSUS's Ronnie Sawyer hit a desperation three with two seconds left on the shot clock giving the Warriors a 69-63 lead. The Sunbirds would have chances to bring it closer, but missed free throws hurt them down the stretch as they did all game.

FPU made just 13-of-23 from the line (57%), though the Warriors were even worse (50%). CSUS actually shot a higher percentage for the game than they did from the line, finishing at 58% including an incredible 72% second-half. Reggie Jones led the Warriors with 16 points. Ronnie Sawyer added 14 and Vincent Fuller had 13 points and eight assists. CSUS improved to 3-0.

The Sunbirds did manage to out-rebound the Warriors, who had a slight size advantage, 38-25. FPU also held an 18-2 second-chance points advantage, a result of out-rebounding CSUS 14-1 on the offensive boards.

Coach Chris Wright and the Sunbirds, though disappointed with the loss, felt the team's overall performance was strong as they get set to begin GSAC play at Hope International next week.

"Hope will likely be another game like this one, so we'll be prepared for that," said Wright. "I was really pleased with the way we rebounded. As athletic as this team (CSUS) is, we were able to out-rebound them and hold them to just one offensive board."

The Sunbirds (5-2) had won four straight coming into the day. They now begin the first portion of the GSAC schedule, with games against Hope International and #4 Concordia before Christmas break. FPU travels to Fullerton for its matchup with HIU on Tuesday night. The Royals are undefeated and are looking to build on a solid GSAC campaign a year ago. The Sunbirds swept the season series last year, though both games were tightly-contested.