FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno Pacific picked up its first win of the season on Thursday night, as FPU defeated Academy of Art 81-77 behind 23 points from Spencer Krannitz. All five starters scored in double-figures for the Sunbirds, who finished the night shooting a season-best 52 percent from the floor.
 
FPU moves to 1-5 overall and 1-0 in the PacWest with the win, while ART U falls to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in league action. The win marked the first career victory for head coach C.J. Haydock.

"I thought we really shared the ball well tonight and did a nice job of being aggressive," said Haydock. "We adapted well to what Academy of Art was throwing at us defensively. I'm really proud of our guys in the fact that they haven't wavered in their trust or identity in the early part of the year. To see the reward in the victory tonight is a step in the right direction."
 
Krannitz' 23 points were a game high, while freshman R.J. Horn added 14 points and Rafail Eleftheriou scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out four assists and blocked three shots. Adriel McGee and T.J. Viney added 10 points apiece and Mike Crawley chipped in with six points and four rebounds for FPU.
 
The Sunbirds and Urban Knights played a tight first half and were locked at 38 apiece at the intermission. After each team exchanged buckets for most of the second half, FPU found itself trailing by four with just under five minutes to play before Krannitz delivered a three-point play to bring the deficit to one at 67-66. The senior then ran off four straight points to give the Sunbirds the lead for good, highlighted by a fast-break layup after a steal from Crawley. The Urban Knights hung around before Viney put the game away with a three from the corner with 1:17 to play.  
 
The Sunbirds scored 25 points off tournovers and totaled 36 points in the paint. ART U out-rebounded FPU 39-32.
 
Kendall Brown scored 22 points to lead the Urban Knights.
 
The Sunbirds are back in action on Saturday as they host Point Loma at 4:30 p.m.