OLYMPIA, Wash. – Fresno Pacific had four players in double-figures and shot 48 percent from the field, but the Sunbirds fell to #21 Western Oregon 82-73 on Saturday at South Puget Sound CC. FPU's Roger Paul led all scorers with 19 points in the setback.
 
FPU wraps up the PacWest/GNAC Challenge at 1-1 overall, while WOU improves to 2-0.
 
"I'm proud of our men and I thought we competed, but we just weren't tough enough tonight," said head coach Tim Kisner. "We need to do a better job of blocking out and being strong with the ball. Being tough is something I pride our program on, so it's something we will continue to work on and get better at."
 
With the game tied 34-34 near the start of the second half, WOU used a 21-6 run to take control of the game. The Wolves earned their largest lead of the evening of 15 points, 55-40, with 12:28 remaining.
 
The Sunbirds fought down the stretch, however, and cut the deficit to six with 3:56 remaining. FPU ran off a 10-2 run, four points coming from Tyrone Viney Jr., to make the score 70-64. The Sunbirds still trailed by six with 1:24 left following a Madison Higgins three, but wouldn't come any closer as the Wolves finished out the victory.
 
Paul's 19 points came on 4-of-7 shooting and an 11-of-12 clip from the free-throw line. Higgins and Viney Jr. scored 11 points apiece for the Sunbirds, while Spencer Krannitz finished with 10 points. Tyler Shea added eight points on 3-of-3 shooting.

The Wolves had five players in double figures, led by 17 points from Devon Alexander.
 
The Sunbirds were out-rebounded 42-28 on the evening. The Wolves grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and totaled 17 second-chance points. FPU turned the ball over 18 times.
 
FPU faces UC Davis in an exhibition on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.