Box Score

#25 Fresno Pacific played neck-and-neck with NAIA #4 Concordia for the first 30 minutes, but a 20-1 Eagle run would prove to be the difference as Concordia defeated the Sunbirds 73-58.

FPU trailed 48-45 with 11 minutes to play before the Eagles (8-0, 2-0 GSAC) began the run, holding the Sunbirds (6-3, 1-1 GSAC) without a field goal for seven minutes and forty seconds.

"I thought we came out ready to go and played well," said FPU coach Chris Wright. "Toward the end of the first half our offense got stagnant and we had a few defensive breakdowns...definitely not the formula to beat Concordia."

FPU led 23-16 after the game's first 10 minutes and was matching CUI's athleticism and quickness. The Eagles would draw even as the half came to a close though and a blown FPU layup at the end of the first half led to a four-point swing as CUI went into the locker room up 34-31.

The Sunbirds played the Eagles tight for the first 10 minutes of the second half, before seeing their offense go completely stagnant in the game's final 10 minutes. FPU also stuggled mightily from the free-throw line, hitting just 4-of-13 on the night.

Eric Hipolito led the Sunbirds with 14 points and eight rebounds. Antonio Credit added 12 points and Matt Christman had 11. Point guard Kenny Bradford did a great job against one the best defensive teams in the country, finishing with seven assists and four steals. Credit added three blocks for FPU.

The Sunbirds shot slightly better than the Eagles (45% to 44%), but turned the ball over 25 times in the loss.

Edward Willis led the Eagles with 19 points. Four others scored in double figures including sharpshooter Cameron Gliddon with 13. The Eagles entered the game beating their opponents by an average margin of 25 points.

The Sunbirds now take a break from conference play, facing Cal Maritime on the road in two weeks before traveling to Las Vegas for a tournament after Christmas. They'll resume GSAC play in early January. By that time, the Sunbirds will have back one of their impact players in Donte Nicholas, who should be a difference-maker as the team looks to contend for a conference title.

In other GSAC action tonight, Hope International upset #9 Azusa Pacific on the Cougars' home court. It was the first ever win for HIU over APU and solidified FPU's road win over Hope International earlier this week as a quality victory.

Around the GSAC
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (H) 71, The Master's 65 (non-conference)
#15 Biola (H) 83, Vanguard 53
Hope International 53, #9 Azusa Pacific (H) 49
Westmont 68, Point Loma Nazarene (H) 64