IRVINE, Calif. – Fresno Pacific shot a season-best 58 percent from the floor on Wednesday night, but the Sunbirds fell to Concordia 86-78 at CU Arena in PacWest play. FPU's Spencer Krannitz led all scorers with 20 points in the setback.
 
The Sunbirds fall to 1-7 overall and 1-2 in the PacWest with its second straight setback, while CUI improves to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play with the win.
 
"I was really proud of the way we battled tonight," said head coach C.J. Haydock. "I thought, with the exception of one four-minute stretch in the first half, we went toe-to-toe with a really good team. I thought T.J. Viney was a stud today, and Kavika Jimenez gave us a nice lift of the bench."
 
The Sunbirds came out aggressive in the opening minutes of the game, jumping out to a 17-8 lead after the first media timeout. Adriel McGee set the tone with early with six points, highlighted by a driving dunk a minute into the game.
 
The Eagles chipped away and eventually earned their first lead of the night, 24-23, with 7:19 to play in the first half. CUI then used a 14-4 run the final five minutes before intermission to head into the locker room with a 45-33 advantage.
 
Down by as many as 16 in the second half, FPU managed to cut the deficit to five with just over two minutes to play. The Sunbirds wouldn't come any closer, however, as the Eagles put the game away with free throws.
 
Krannitz scored his game-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and added five rebounds, two steals and a block. T.J. Viney added a career-best 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting and McGee scored 13 on 6-of-7 shooting. Rafail Eleftheriou was the final Sunbird in double-figures with 10, while also adding four steals and two assists. Jimenez tallied six points with a pair of threes off the bench.
 
"Our guys continue to trust the process, make positive strides, and stay together. We are headed in right direction, just have to stay hungry," noted Haydock.
 
CUI out-rebounded FPU 32-23 and received 40 bench points. The Eagles also took advantage of 38 free-throw attempts, making 31.
 
Case Burton led CUI with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Justin Davis added 15 points.
 
FPU is back in action this Saturday in a non-conference matchup with Cal State LA at 3 p.m.