OAKLAND, Calif. - Fresno Pacific defeated Holy Names in PacWest action, 77-67, on Thursday night at Tobin Gym. Madison Higgins scored 17 points to lead three Sunbirds in double-figures in the win.
 
FPU improves to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the PacWest with the win, while HNU falls to 2-9 overall and 1-3 in league play.
 
Roger Paul added 16 points and Spencer Krannitz scored 15 for FPU. Paul also amassed four steals and three rebounds. Suhail Mohammadi, Oliver Herting and Zach Bartley added five points apiece. Herting grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
 
The Sunbirds led by as many as 18 in the first half after a 21-4 run put FPU ahead 40-22. The Hawks fought back, however, and eventually led 63-61 with 4:03 left in regulation. The Sunbirds answered down the stretch behind Higgins, who nailed a three to give FPU the lead back at 64-63 and then delivered a layup in traffic to extend the Sunbirds' lead to 68-65 with 2:21 left. FPU would out-score the Hawks 9-2 in the final two minutes to earn the road victory.

"I thought our guys persevered tonight," said head coach Tim Kisner. "Give Holy Names credit, they came back when they were down and made it tough on us. We turned the ball over way too many time tonight, but we found a way to get it done. Madison really gave us a nice spark late to make a difference. It's never easy on the road."
 
FPU shot 45 percent from the floor and held HNU to 40 percent, including a 22 percent clip from three. The Sunbirds forced 21 turnovers, recorded 14 steals and scored 23 points off turnovers. FPU received 33 points off the bench to HNU's 14.
 
Joshua Crum led the Hawks with 24 points, while
 
The Sunbirds are back in action on Saturday in San Francisco against Academy of Art at 7:30 p.m.