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Kurtis Monteiro
77
Fresno Pacific FPU-MBB 5-4/1-2
88
Winner Dixie State DX-MBB 4-3/2-1
Fresno Pacific FPU-MBB
5-4/1-2
77
Final
88
Dixie State DX-MBB
4-3/2-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Fresno Pacific FPU-MBB 37 40 77
Dixie State DX-MBB 53 35 88

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

FPU can’t weather the Red Storm in 88-77 defeat

St. George, Utah - Fresno Pacific had all five starters in double figures and shot 51 percent from the floor, but Dixie State proved too much to handle on its home court in PacWest action Saturday. FPU couldn't overcome a 35-10 DSU run in the first half to fall 88-77 at Burns Arena.

The Sunbirds drop to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in PacWest play with the loss, while the Red Storm improves to 4-3, 2-1.

Bobby Barnes led FPU with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Roger Paul scored 14 points and dished out six assists. Trevon Clayton recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Madison Higgins and Gabe Solarin were the final two Sunbirds in double figures with 10 points apiece.

FPU opened the game strong and earned its largest lead of the afternoon of 11 points with 13:13 remaining in the first half. Solarin and Barnes nailed treys to open the scoring for FPU before three points from Paul on a layup and a free-throw gave the Sunbirds the game-high advantage. The Red Storm answered with its run however, fueled by Zach Robbins' 16 first-half points, to take a 53-37 lead into the intermission.

DSU continued its momentum into the second half and eventually led by 20 points with 13:37 to go. The Sunbirds chipped away at the Red Storm lead in the final 12 minutes, powered by Jeff Amazan's nine second-half points, before time ran out on the comeback.

Dixie State scored a season-high 88 points on 55% shooting. DSU entered the game ranked 11th in the conference in points per game at 67.5. Robbins led the Red Storm with 26 points (12-14 FG), eight rebounds and three assists.

The Red Storm won the rebounding battle 35-33, and outscored the Sunbirds 38-30 in the paint and 22-14 in bench points.

"Dixie State is a very tough, disciplined team on their home floor," said head coach Shane Rinner. "We came out of the gate hot, but our defense was not very good when it needed to be today. We really struggled to guard their big fella all night. We have turn our attention to another good team in Point Loma next week and defend our home floor." 

FPU returns to action at home on Saturday, Dec. 20 against Point Loma at 7:30 p.m.
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