Box Score

Donte Nicholas and Matt Christman each scored 20 points and Zach Kaul added 12 as Fresno Pacific picked up a key GSAC road win, defeating Vanguard 71-61 in Costa Mesa on Saturday evening.

The Sunbirds (14-14, 5-11 GSAC) pulled within one game of the Lions (14-13, 6-10 GSAC) for seventh place in the GSAC with the victory. FPU also moved into sole possession of the #8 spot in the standings (the final spot in the GSAC tournament) after Hope International lost to Biola.

"Everybody that played tonight made big contributions," said head coach Chris Wright. "They have a lot of quickness at the guard spots and we did a good job of guarding the ball. When you do that in our zone it makes everyone's job easier."

FPU led 63-59 with 2:16 left when Nicholas was called for a questionable technical foul, fouling him out of the game and allowing the Lions to get within three. The Sunbirds remained poised though and after getting a stop and an offensive rebound, Christman came through with a three-point play, sinking the free-throw to put FPU up six, a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

"When we have somebody else scoring and taking the pressure off Donte, we can beat anyone," said Wright of Christman's 20-point performance. "The way Matt's been playing lately has given us a huge lift."

FPU shot 50 percent from the field and 53 percent from the three-point line. Jake Hager added eight points off the bench, Antonio Credit had nine rebounds and Kenny Bradford dished out five assists.

Chris Pynch led the Lions with 16 points and Christopher Raybon added 12. Vanguard took 33 three-pointers, connecting on 30 percent, and was held to 34 percent from the field.

The Sunbirds now turn their attention to Westmont, a team they came within a possession of beating the first time the teams met in Fresno last month. FPU faces the Warriors, who are currently in second place in the GSAC, in Santa Barbara on Tuesday night.