FRESNO, Calif. – The top statistical team in the PacWest proved too much to handle on Wednesday night as Fresno Pacific fell to #19 Hawai'i Pacific 88-63 at the Special Events Center.
 
The Sunbirds drop to 2-13 overall and 2-6 in the PacWest with the setback, while HPU improves to 15-1 overall and 7-1 in league action.
 
Jeff Bartley led the Sunbirds with 14 points and four rebounds. Suhail Mohammadi added 12 points, Mike Crawley totaled 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists and R.J. Horn chipped in with 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
 
The Sharks, who entered as the top team in the league in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense, held the Sunbirds to a season-low 30.5 percent shooting clip on the night. HPU, also the highest scoring offense in the conference, countered at 49.2 percent from the field and made 13 threes in the win.
 
HPU led from start-to-finish after jumping out to an 11-3 advantage in the opening minutes, which featured three treys from Jordan Martin. The Sharks held a 41-29 advantage at halftime and led by as many as 36 in the second half.
 
FPU was out-scored 38-14 in the paint and was out-rebounded 45-33.
 
The Sunbirds will look to get back on track on Saturday, as FPU hosts Chaminade in PacWest play at 4:30 p.m.