FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Pacific was edged by Dominican, 73-66, on Saturday afternoon in a PacWest matchup that featured 10 lead changes.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Dominican 73, Fresno Pacific 66
Records: FPU (2-8, 1-2 PacWest), DUC (2-7, 1-1 PacWest)
Location: Fresno, Calif. | Special Events Center
Conference Series: The Sunbirds trail 8-3
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QUOTABLE:
• "I thought that was our best defensive performance of the year. We really competed for the most part on defense, and did a really good job against an elite offensive player in Jeremiah Gray. Unfortunately, we paired that with a rough offensive outing. We shot it poorly, didn't execute at a high level, missed free throws, and failed to share it the way we need to, especially in some crucial stretches. We have to keep moving this thing forward day-by-day." – head coach C.J. Haydock
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• FPU and Dominican went back and forth in the opening 20 minutes of the game. The Sunbirds shot 44 percent from the field, but trailed 33-30 at the intermission.
• Down four with under 10 minutes to play, the Sunbirds ran off a 4-0 run behind back-to-back buckets from Sam Burt. The run was highlighted by a pocket pass from Adrian Antunez to a diving Burt, who caught the dish in stride for a massive dunk in traffic.
• After DUC earned the lead back, the Sunbirds once again knotted the game up with a corner three from Sam Holmes with 3:29 to play.
• The Penguins then closed the game out with a 9-2 stretch the rest of the way to earn the road win.
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Antunez led the Sunbirds with 16 points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists, while Toby Christensen added nine points and 13 rebounds.
• Burt chipped in with 11 points, five assists and five boards for FPU. Holmes and Oliver Herting each added 10 points apiece as well.
• The Sunbirds shot 44 percent from the floor, but struggled from deep at 28 percent.
• Gray, who was held to only two points at half, led the Penguins with 23 points on 7-of-19 shooting. He ranks second in the conference in scoring.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Antunez picked up career highs in field goals made and rebounds.
• Christensen's 13 rebounds marked a career best.
• Burt's five assists were a season high.
• During halftime of the game, the PacWest Commissioner Bob Hogue awarded FPU with the 2016-17 PacWest Make-A-Wish Award.
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds host West Coast Baptist in their final non-conference game of the season on Monday at 7 p.m.