SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Fresno Pacific dropped its Pacific West Conference opener on Saturday to Dominican, 102-92, at the Conlan Center. FPU shot 51 percent from the floor and received 21 points from Roger Paul on the night, but couldn't slow the hot-shooting Penguins who reached the triple-digit plateau for the first time this season.
 
FPU falls to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the PacWest with the setback, while Dominican moves to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in league play.
 
Paul scored his 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting and made 11-of-12 free throws. The senior added four rebounds, two assists and two blocks on the night. Andreas Bigum added a career-high 16 points, Gabe Solarin scored 15 points and Spencer Krannitz amassed 14 points and five rebounds for FPU.
 
The Sunbirds trailed 52-42 at halftime and found themselves down by as many as 20 in the second half before storming back. FPU used a 22-8 run to cut the deficit to six, 84-78, with 5:56 remaining, but wouldn't come any closer down the stretch.
 
"We really struggled to guard tonight," said head coach Tim Kisner. "I'm proud of our effort to come back and give ourselves a chance, but you can't dig that big of a hole by not competing on the defensive end."
 
The Penguins shot 60 percent from the floor, including a 62 percent clip from three, for a season-high 102 points. DU won the rebounding battle 29-27 and out-scored FPU 34-28 in the paint.
 
Matt Hayes and Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten scored 25 points apiece to pace the Penguins. They combined for 10 threes on the afternoon.
 
The Sunbirds travel to Reno to face Division I Nevada in an exhibition on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.