Box Score

Belmont, Calif. - Fresno Pacific faced a ranked NCAA Division II opponent for the first time, falling 85-65 to West Region power #18 Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday at the Notre Dame de Namur Thanksgiving Classic. The Sunbirds (3-3) played the Broncos (4-0) neck-and-neck in the first half and were tied 33-33 before CPP closed out the half on an 8-2 run and never looked back.

FPU shot just 21 percent in the second half as the Broncos quickly extended the lead to double digits. Malcolm Griffin led FPU with 23 points and 11 rebounds, with 19 of those points coming in the first half. John Taylor added 20 points for the Sunbirds.

FPU jumped out to a 12-5 lead before the Broncos battled back to eventually take a 32-22 lead with just over five minutes left in the half. The Sunbirds then went on an 11-1 run, fueled by Griffin who seemingly couldn't miss. He knocked down three three-pointers during the run, the last of which tied the game 33-33.

The Sunbirds would turn it over on each of their next two possessions however and the Broncos capitalized, going into the locker room with a 41-35 lead. The Broncos then set the tone early in the second half, going on a 14-2 run in the first four minutes of the half to go ahead 55-37.

Minutes later the Broncos had extended the lead to 21 and the Sunbirds would never get closer than 17 the rest of the way. Mitchel Anderson led the Broncos with 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Mohamed Fall added 15 points in the win.

"Obviously they're a good team," said head coach Chris Wright. "A lot of talent and very well-coached. Anytime you lose by 20 you're disappointed but the thing I'm most disappointed with is just the fact that we got out-toughed. We have to be tougher. Tough teams win come March. In the toughness category we're a long ways away from where we need to be."

"We're going to make shots, I'm not worried about that. We got some good looks on their zone tonight but just didn't hit them. We reverted back to our old ways and gave up a lot of easy buckets defensively. You're just not going to beat good teams that way. I have a lot of faith in this team and I know we are going to continue to get better."

The Sunbirds return home this Wednesday for a 7 pm matchup with UC Merced. FPU won the first game between the two teams on November 12 in Merced 81-70 behind 30 points from Taylor. The Sunbirds are 3-0 all-time in meetings with the Bobcats.