Box Score

Fresno Pacific used a stifling defense and well-balanced offensive attack to defeat visiting UC Merced 86-55 on Tuesday night, completing a season sweep of the Bobcats for a third consecutive year.

FPU shot 61% from the field, including 73% in the second half, while holding UCM to 29% as the Sunbirds improved to 3-2 on the season. The Sunbirds outscored the Bobcats 54-16 in the paint and 28-5 on fastbreaks, but left room for improvement as the team turned the ball over 17 times.

"I thought our energy level was really low to start off," said head coach Chris Wright. "I thought we responded a little better in the second half."

Trevon Clayton scored 19 points to lead all scorers while Jackson Carbajal added 18, including 13 in the second half.

"Trevon has been an absolute stud since that first game," said Wright. "He's really turned it up for us. When he does what he does tonight it makes us really hard to stop. Jackson has been really efficient. As he continues to get more comfortable in our system he is just going to keep getting better."

Jonathan Jefferson added 15 points and eight rebounds and Malcolm Griffin posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists. Phil Jackson chipped in with nine points and eight boards. FPU shot 15-of-18 from the free-throw line for its highest percentage of the season (83%).

The Bobcats (1-5) got 17 points from George Idehen in the loss.

The Sunbirds now travel to Alaska for three tough games at the Nanook Classic. FPU leads off with Emporia State (Kansas) on Thursday.

"We're going to have to play better than we did tonight," said Wright. "Emporia State is about as talented a team as we'll see. University of Mary is a solid team and then we get the host school, Alaska Fairbanks, which is an extremely well-coached and disciplined team."