Box Score

Fresno Pacific gave the #10 team in NCAA Division II all it could handle on Saturday night, but four-time defending PacWest champion Dixie State emerged victorious 85-80 after closing out the game on a 9-2 run to erase a late Sunbird lead.

The Sunbirds (5-4, 0-1 PacWest) took a 78-76 lead with just over a minute left on a Jackson Carbajal three-pointer before DSU's Kimball Payne answered with a three-point play on the other end. FPU had a chance to regain the lead, but threw the ball away on the inbounds pass for an easy layup by DSU. FPU missed a potential game-tying three-pointer on its final possession, being forced to foul as DSU then extended the lead to the 85-80 final.

Malcolm Griffin scored 23 points to lead the Sunbirds while Louis Garrett paced the Red Storm (6-0, 2-0 PacWest) with 17 points.

FPU was out-rebounded 47-31 in the loss as DSU's Zach Robbins pulled down 15 boards. FPU was outscored 21-7 on second chance points and 24-2 by the DSU bench.

Trevon Clayton added 18 points, Jackson Carbajal had 17 and Jonathan Jefferson finished with 14 for the Sunbirds in the loss.

The Red Storm, who have knocked off #2 Seattle Pacific and NCAA D1 UNLV already this season, had five players in double figures and remained undefeated with the victory as they look to win the PacWest for a fifth straight year.

The Sunbirds continue a very tough early conference schedule next week when they face another undefeated team, California Baptist, in Riverside next Saturday night.