HILO, Hawaii – Fresno Pacific couldn't overcome a slow start on Monday, as the Sunbirds fell to Hawaii Hilo, 98-90, in PacWest action. FPU mounted a furious comeback with 53 second-half points, but it wasn't enough as the Vulcans escaped with their third straight win.
 
The Sunbirds fall to 9-8 overall and 4-6 in league action with the loss, while UHH jumps to 3-9 overall and 3-5 in the PacWest. FPU closes its three-game Hawaii road trip at 1-2.
 
Madison Higgins led the Sunbirds with 23 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Roger Paul added 17 points. T.J. Viney amassed 12 points and four assists, Jeff Bartley totaled nine points and six rebounds, and Zach Bartley brought down 11 boards in the setback.
 
The Sunbirds trailed from start-to-finish, as the Vulcans jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the opening minutes of action. UHH, behind eight threes from Parker Farris, would lead by as many as 23 in the half before heading into the locker room with a 57-37 advantage.
 
Down by 25 with seven minutes to play, FPU used a 25-7 run to cut the deficit to seven with more than a minute to play after a three from Suhail Mohammadi. The Sunbirds wouldn't come any closer, however, as the Vulcans finished off the win with free throws.
 
FPU was held to 39 percent from the floor and 35 percent from three, while the Vulcans countered at 49 percent from the field and made 11 threes. UHH out-rebounded the Sunbirds 47-42 and benefitted from 39 free-throw attempts, making 29.
 
Farris set a new Hawaii Hilo record with nine makes from deep and totaled 32 points to lead the Vulcans. Salim Gloyd added a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds.
 
FPU returns home on Saturday, Jan. 23 to take on Point Loma. Tip-off at the Special Events Center is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.