OAKLAND, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific men's basketball team snapped its five-game skid on Saturday, as the Sunbirds defeated Holy Names 77-72 on the road. FPU picked up its first PacWest victory on the season behind a balanced scoring attack and clutch shooting late.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Fresno Pacific 77, Holy Names 72
Records: FPU (2-7, 1-1 PacWest), HNU 4-6, 1-1 PacWest)
Location: Oakland, Calif. | Tobin Gymnasium
Series: The Sunbirds lead 22-8
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QUOTABLE:
• "I thought we were tremendously gritty tonight. We were going to find a way to get it done. We've been on the wrong side of three consecutive one possession games, and we just hung in there, faithful to the process and got an outcome. I'm just tremendously proud of our guys character and togetherness, and the leadership of our seniors in holding the line for us. As much adversity, and every kind of adversity as a college basketball program can endure, our seniors just continue to come with resilience, moral fiber and a commitment to being coached. It's about them and speaks unbelievably of who they are that our identity and culture only has grown and improved despite struggling to be competitive. We've discovered a ton about our team, and in the next week we have to grow our execution, our toughness, and prep for the grind of the PacWest." – head coach C.J. Haydock
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Fresno Pacific shot 48 percent as a team in the opening half to hold a 39-37 lead at the intermission. The Sunbirds highlighted the half with a 12-1 run that produced their largest lead of the night, 34-22, with 5:47 to play in the period.
• The second half was tight throughout and the Sunbirds eventually found themselves down 66-65 with less than five minutes to play.
• Adrian Antunez then came up with a clutch three that gave FPU a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Tyler Harris followed with a dagger from deep to put the 'Birds ahead 71-67 before the game was finished off with free throws.
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Jake Straughan led the Sunbirds with 15 points, while Toby Christensen added 14 points, four rebounds and three assists.
• Harris finished with 14 points, Oliver Herting scored 12 (6-of-8 FG), Sam Burt totaled nine points and 10 rebounds, and Antunez closed the night with seven points, two assists and four rebounds for FPU.
• The Sunbirds finished the game shooting a 51 percent clip from the floor, while HNU finished at 36 percent.
• The Hawks received 17 points and eight rebounds from Andre Green.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Burt has now pulled down 10 or more rebounds in five games this season.
• The 72 points allowed from the Sunbirds' defense marked a season best.
• FPU picked up its fourth game of the year shooting above .500 for the game.
• The road win marked the first of the year for the Sunbirds.
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds return home to continue PacWest play on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. against Dominican.