BELMONT, Calif. – Oliver Herting scored a career-best 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Fresno Pacific defeated Notre Dame de Namur 80-70 on Friday night in PacWest action. FPU used its best defensive effort of the year to earn its second straight victory (4-13, 4-6 PacWest).
 
Herting was a force in the middle throughout the night, making 11-of-14 shots and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. Herting did most of his damage in the second half with 22 points, which included a four-minute stretch where he scored 14 straight points for FPU.
 
"Tonight was a game we had to really grind it out and just chip away," said head coach C.J. Haydock. "NDNU really kept us out of rhythm offensively, and we rode Oliver during a run that carried us. It was a really great showing from him. We will learn and grow from some things and clean up a bunch of execution going forward."
 
The Sunbirds led 35-28 at the intermission and held their ground throughout the second half. FPU grabbed its largest lead of the night of 17 points, 76-59, with 2:31 to play. NDNU fought down the stretch before the Sunbirds held on for the win at Walter Gleason Gymnasium.
 
Each player that touched the floor for FPU found the net, as 11 different players scored. The Sunbirds shot 54 percent from the field as a team. Spencer Krannitz added nine points, six rebounds and two blocks for FPU, while Mike Crawley totaled eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Suhail Mohammadi facilitated the offense with five assists and added seven points, while R.J. Horn dished out four assists.
 
The Sunbirds held its opponent to a season-best 37 percent clip from the floor and allowed a season-low 70 points.
 
Korey Serna led NDNU with a double-double of 27 points and 15 rebounds.
 
FPU is back in action on Monday against #5 California Baptist at home. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Special Events Center.