SAN FRANCISCO – Four freshmen combined for 44 points as the Fresno Pacific men's basketball team snapped its skid with a 71-69 road victory against Academy of Art on Thursday night in PacWest play.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Fresno Pacific 71, Academy of Art 69
Records: FPU (6-21, 4-15 PacWest), ART U (11-14, 10-9 PacWest)
Location: San Francisco, Calif. | The Swamp
Series: The Sunbirds lead 6-3
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QUOTABLE:
• "I thought our guys had tremendous grit, toughness and resolve tonight. We've been short-handed and beat up for a long time, and for us to hang in there with seven guys and defend, compete and come back from a nine-point deficit late speaks volumes of the character of our guys and who they are. We had a couple big time defensive plays from Sam Holmes as well. Any time you win with seven players dressed, and four of them freshman, it takes everything from everyone, and we found it in us. Tremendously appreciative of our seniors' leadership, their resolve, and their toughness as well." – head coach C.J. Haydock
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• An 11-0 Sunbird run, highlighted by four points from Adrian Antunez, had FPU leading 17-8 at the under 12 media timeout in the first half.
• The 'Birds then carried the lead into the locker room, 35-33.
• After a back and forth second half, the Sunbirds found themselves trailing 67-66 with only 42 seconds left.
• Senior Sam Burt then played hero down the stretch, as the center converted an and-one to give FPU a 69-67 lead with 28 seconds remaining.
• After the Urban Knights answered and evened the score, Burt was fouled on a last-second shot attempt to give the Sunbirds a chance at the win. The Minnesota native promptly converted his two attempts from the charity stripe to give FPU a two-point conference win.
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Burt closed the night just shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Antunez impressed with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal. The freshman had 12 points alone in the second half.
• Elijah Hill added 10 points, six rebounds and five assists, Aamondae Coleman chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds, and A.J. Kirby poured in six points on 2-of-2 from deep to round out the impressive showing from the underclassmen.
• The Sunbirds finished the night shooting 51 percent from the floor and 46 percent from deep.
• ART U received a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds from Cameron Niven.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• FPU snapped an eight-game skid with the win on Thursday.
• Burt has now scored in double-figures in 21 games on the season.
• Kirby's six points marked a career best.
 
UP NEXT:
• FPU finishes out the season on Saturday as the 'Birds head to Dominican. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.