FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Pacific ran into a hot-shooting Western Oregon team on Saturday, as the Sunbirds couldn't keep up to fall 85-54 in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge at the Special Events Center.
 
FPU falls to 0-2 on the season, while the defending West Region Champion Wolves improved to 2-0 on the year.
 
Rafail Eleftheriou led the Sunbirds with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists on the night. The Cyprus native made 5-of-6 field goals, including 3-of-4 from deep. Mike Crawley added 10 points, Kavika Jimenez totaled 10 points and six rebounds, Jordan Belasco scored eight and T.J. Viney amassed three points, six rebounds and four assists.
 
The Sunbirds were limited to 39 percent shooting on the evening, including a 21 percent mark from three. WOU countered at 50 percent from the floor and 51 percent from three, as the Wolves drained 16 three pointers. WOU forced 21 turnovers, scoring 25 points off them, and received 41 bench points.
 
FPU hung around for the opening seven minutes of the game, trailing 17-14 with 12:59 to play before halftime after a three from Belasco. The Wolves then used a 13-0 run to take control of the game. WOU led 51-31 at halftime and led by as many as 35 in the second half.
 
Demetruis Trammell scored 16 points off the bench to lead the Wolves, while Tanner Omlid added 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks.
 
The Sunbirds are back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Cal State East Bay. Tip-off is schedule for 7:30 p.m. at Pioneer Gymnasium.