Box Score

Fresno, Calif. - Fresno Pacific (12-6, 7-3 PWC) jumped out to an early lead before withstanding a furious second-half comeback by Hawaii Pacific (6-10, 3-6 PWC) to hang on for a 94-87 win in overtime.

The Sunbirds led 40-19 at one point in the first half and appeared to be in cruise control before HPU cut the deficit to ten at halftime, 44-34.

FPU was still up by 11 points with 6:50 left in regulation before the Sea Warriors closed the gap quickly and eventually tied the game on a three-pointer by Malte Ziegenhagen with 3:47 left.

Two three-pointers by HPU's Jelaney White would give the Sea Warriors the lead in the final minute of regulation, but a Malcolm Griffin floater with 12 seconds left tied it up. HPU would have a chance to win it in regulation and went inside to center Marko Cukic who had his shot swatted away by Antonio Credit, one of his six blocks on the night..

The Sunbirds would control the overtime as John Taylor scored the first five FPU points to finish on a high-note after hurting his knee early in the game and until that point struggling with a lackluster shooting night. But the Sunbird star rose to the occasion when it counted. With 2:45 left Taylor drained a three to break an 83-83 tie and the Sunbirds locked down HPU on defense in the final minutes. Anthony Brant turned in another outstanding defensive performance to help FPU close it out.

"That was a gutty win," said head coach Chris Wright. "There were a couple times where it looked like we had lost the game. We found a way to come back down and tie the game and I give our guys a lot of credit for finding a way to win. It definitely was not pretty. It was not proficient by any means, but a win it is, and we'll take it."

FPU struggled from three-point range, making just 3-of-22, and hit just 37 percent on the night. The Sunbirds made up for some of that with a 33-for-40 night from the free-throw line (83%), including a perfect 11-of-11 night from Taylor. HPU shot 46 percent on the night, including 52 percent in the second half.

Taylor and Griffin finished with 20 points apiece. Matt Samuels added 16 points, while Credit added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Griffin added five assists and five steals as well.

Cukic led the Sea Warriors with 19 points. Ziegenhagen added 18 off the bench.

The Sunbirds improved to 10-0 at home on the season in front of the largest crowd of the season thus far, on alumni "Orange-Out" night.

FPU is back on the road next week, facing Dominican (10-7, 6-3 PWC) in the Bay Area on Tuesday night.