LONG BEACH, Calif. - Fresno Pacific took on the toughest opponent it will see this season in an exhibition with perennial Big West power and NCAA tournament representative Long Beach State on Saturday, doing their best to hang with the much bigger and more athletic 49ers but ultimately falling 81-46. Gabe Solarin had 12 points to lead the Sunbirds, Madison Higgins added 11 and Jeff Amazan had 10.

The Sunbirds fell behind 19-4 in the game's first 11 minutes as Long Beach State showed early on why they've been able to challenge the likes of Syracuse and San Diego State thus far this season. FPU closed the half on a 5-0 run, for a more respectable 31-16 halftime deficit.

The length and athleticism of LBSU proved to be too much for the Sunbirds to handle in the second half, as the 49ers built their lead to as many as 39 points. LBSU was led by a game-high 16 points from David Samuels as the Sunbirds were able limit the team's star guard Mike Caffey to just six points due to foul trouble.

The 49ers improved to 6-10 in what was the final game of an otherwise grueling non-conference slate before heading into Big West play next week.

FPU was out-rebounded 41-32, a margin which would have tilted much more in the 49ers' favor were it not for an impressive nine boards by Trevon Clayton. The 49ers also had their way in the paint, outscoring FPU 28-10. The 49ers shot 51% from the field while limiting FPU to 27% and forcing 19 Sunbird turnovers, though FPU would force 16 LBSU turnovers on the other end.

Since 2007 the Sunbirds are 2-12 in exhibitions with NCAA Division I programs, with wins over USC (2007) and San Francisco (2008). The last time FPU took on a Big West opponent was Dec. 31, 2010 when the Sunbirds took UC Santa Barbara to overtime before falling 75-67.

FPU resumes PacWest play next week, traveling to Hawaii for a three-game road trip beginning on Tuesday with #17 BYU Hawaii.