LA MIRADA – Fresno Pacific opened the 2014-15 campaign with a 73-69 overtime defeat to Biola Friday night at Chase Gymnasium. FPU's Trevon Clayton forced the extra time with a diving layup with four seconds remaining in regulation before the Eagles prevailed.
 
The contest counted as an exhibition for the Sunbirds (0-0) and a regular season game for Biola (1-0).

"I was very pleased with how hard we played and how we played together tonight," said head coach Shane Rinner. "Biola is a good basketball team with a lot of returners. They were skilled, deliberate and executed really well."

In Rinner's head coaching debut, FPU featured seven new players throughout the game in addition to returners Drew Packard and Clayton. The new roster struggled early and trailed 31-24 at halftime, but came out in the second half to score 40 points to force overtime.
 
With 11:58 remaining in regulation, FPU trailed by its largest deficit of the night by nine. The Sunbirds responded with a 17-7 run to take the lead 55-54 with 4:29 left. The run started with a Clayton layup and was finished off by a Gabe Solarin three. After each team exchanged baskets down the stretch, FPU needed Clayton's heroics at the wire to push the game into extra time.
 
Bobby Barnes gave FPU the lead with 1:19 to go with a three in OT before Biola scored the final five points to clinch the 73-69 win. The Eagles took the lead with four seconds left on a put-back dunk from Steve Herve.
 
Clayton finished with a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Jeff Amazan led the Sunbirds with 17 points. Barnes finished 6-of-11 from the floor for 14 points, Roger Paul totaled 13 points and Solarin was the final player in double-digits with 10 for FPU.
 
FPU finished .431 shooting from the floor and received 31 points off the bench.
 
The Eagles were led by Dakari Archer's game-high 26 points.

"After an adjustment period I was proud of how our guys stayed the course and executed to bring us back into the game," said Rinner. "We have a new group, but the guys stayed together and showed some mental toughness and resolve. We have a chance to build on what we did tonight and correct a few mistakes.  We will continue to grow each night by playing together as a group and playing with toughness."

The Sunbirds face Cal State San Marcos tomorrow in another exhibition as a final tune-up before the regular season starts. The game in Oceanside is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.