FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific men's basketball team returns home this week to begin a five-game homestand. The Sunbirds will face Point Loma on Monday before welcoming Hawai'i Hilo on Saturday in PacWest play.

THE SCHEDULE
Game #17
vs. Point Loma (10-6, 4-3 PacWest)
Monday, Jan. 8 • 7:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. • Special Events Center
Live Stats • Video
 
Game #18
vs. Hawai'i Hilo (4-8, 3-2 PacWest)
Saturday, Jan. 13 • 4:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. • Special Events Center
Live Stats • Video
 
ABOUT THE SUNBIRDS
• Fresno Pacific will look to snap a four-game losing streak on Monday against Point Loma. The Sunbirds currently sit at 4-12 overall and 2-6 in league action. FPU most recently fell to Concordia on Saturday despite 19 points from freshman Aamondae Coleman.
• The Sunbirds are currently averaging 72.7 points per game and rank second in the PacWest in assists per game at 14.63. Jake Straughan leads the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game, while Sam Burt is adding 13.1 points and a team-best 7.4 rebounds per night.
 
FPU LEADERBOARD
• Scoring: Jake Straughan, 13.3 PPG
• Rebounds: Sam Burt, 7.4 RPG
• Assists: Elijah Hill, 3.0 APG
• Blocks: Sam Burt, 8
• Steals: Adrian Antunez, 22
• FG%: Sam Burt, .609
• Three-Pointers: Jake Straughan, 42
 
PACWEST HONORS
• Elijah Hill was recently named the PacWest Freshman of the Week (1/1). In his collegiate debut, Hill led FPU with 16 points and added six rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal in a setback to Academy of Art. The freshman came off the bench to make 7-of-15 field-goal attempts, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Hill had eight points and four rebounds in the second half and nearly led the 'Birds over ART U.
• Adrian Antunez has been named the PacWest Freshman of the Week three times this season (12/20, 12/11, 11/13). The Clovis West product is the only player in the conference to be a repeat selection.
• Sam Burt was named the PacWest Player of the Week on Dec. 19 after averaging 19.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in two wins. The same week, Aamondae Coleman was tabbed the Freshman of the Week after averaging 10.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.
 
PACWEST PRESEASON POLL
• The Sunbirds were picked to finish 11th in the 2017-18 Pacific West Conference standings according to a poll of the league's head coaches. California Baptist received 178 points and 10 first-place votes to top the poll. Dixie State was second with 169 points and two first-place votes. Following the two were Point Loma and Concordia in third and fourth, respectively. The Sea Lions garnered 161 points and two first-place votes, while the Eagles amassed 154 points. Rounding out the poll was Azusa Pacific (142 points), Chaminade (132), Hawai'i Pacific (121), Dominican (94), Biola (79), Hawai'i Hilo (72), FPU (63), Holy Names (43), Academy of Art (37) and Notre Dame de Namur (25).

ABOUT THE SEA LIONS
• Point Loma currently sits at 10-6 overall and 4-3 in the PacWest. The Sea Lions most recently had their four-game winning streak snapped by California Baptist (85-58) on Friday at home.
• PLNU sports the top defense in the league and is holding its opponents to 66.4 points per game. The Sea Lions are also third in the conference in scoring margin (plus 5.3). Preston Beverly leads the offense with a 13.6 scoring average, while also leading the team in rebounding average at 6.8. Tanner Nelson is adding 12.1 points per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• FPU trails 41-36 all-time against Point Loma. The Sea Lions have taken the last six meetings, the latest coming on Jan. 9, 2017 by a score of 79-74.
 
ABOUT THE VULCANS
• Hawai'i Hilo begins a four-game mainland road trip on Saturday against the Sunbirds. UHH holds a 4-8 overall record and is 3-2 in conference play. The Vulcans most recently suffered a setback to Academy of Art, 74-64, on Friday in Hilo.
• UHH is currently averaging 74.1 points per game, while the defense is allowing 81.3. The Vulcans are leading the league in blocked shots, however, at 4.71 swats per game. Trey Ingram is the team's leading scorer (15.4 ppg), while Ryley Callaghan (14.7 ppg), Devin Johnson (11.4 ppg) and Denhym Brooke (10.5 ppg) are also averaging double-digits in scoring.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• The Sunbirds trail the Vulcans 4-3 in the all-time series. Hilo took the last meeting, 97-92, in Hilo on Feb. 9, 2017.
 
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