OAKLAND, Calif. - The Fresno Pacific men's basketball team picked up its' second win of the week on Saturday night, defeating Cal State East Bay 76-73 in a tight road battle. Behind a big night from point guard
Adrian Antunez, the Sunbirds have now won back-to-back games to close out the non-conference schedule.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: FPU 76, CSUEB 73
- Records: FPU (2-4), CSUEB (5-3)
- Location: Tobin Gymnasium | Oakland, Calif.
QUOTABLE:
- "This was a big-time win on the road for us tonight, and 11 guys made contributions. Spencer Heimerdinger really carried us on defense, and Adrian was the steady presence we needed on offense, showing his experience in a big way," head coach C.J. Haydock said. "We played really poorly in the first half, and let their pressure really get to us, but I'm really proud of our ability to get a good reset at halftime, and steady ourselves just enough on offense to get it done. Our toughness and togetherness against an elite regional opponent was on display tonight. We have closed out non-conference play the way we need to, and we will maintain our urgency to get better every single day as we enter the gauntlet of PacWest play."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Zafir Williams connected on the first bucket of the night to get the Pioneers on the board first, helping the home team jump out a lead that leapt as high as 13 points in the first half.
- FPU went on a 13-7 run over the final four minutes of the first half to cut the deficit to seven heading to the intermission.
- While the Sunbirds remained in striking distance for much of the second half, CSUEB maintained the lead until a Sean Nealon-Lino layup tied the game with 10:42 to play.
- Aamondae Coleman gave the Blue and Orange their first lead of the game three minutes later, connecting on a three-ball from the corner in front of the visiting bench.
- The two teams exchanged buckets down the stretch, with Williams knocking down a pair of free throws to give the Pioneers a one-point lead with 42 seconds remaining.
- Coleman came up with a layup that put Fresno Pacific back in front by a point, and CSUEB missed a potential game-winning three at their end of the floor.
- The Sunbirds came away with the ball, and with the Pioneers forced to foul, Antunez went to the line to knock down both free throws and give FPU a three-point edge.
- With four seconds on the clock, CSUEB called a timeout and managed to get shot off, but FPU again came up with the rebound at the final horn.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Antunez finished his night with a team-high 22 points behind an 8-of-9 effort from the floor, while Raine McKeython (13 points) and Coleman (10 points) joined him in double-figures.
- Heimerdinger gave the Sunbirds a career-high four blocks, while Antunez led the Sunbirds with eight rebounds.
- The Pioneers narrowly outrebounded the 'Birds 33-31 while forcing FPU into a season-high 22 turnovers.
BEYOND THE BOX:
- Saturday night was the fourth 20+ point game of Antunez' career, with his career-high of 24 coming this past February against Dominican.
- Antunez eclipsed 700 points for his career in the win, just five days after Coleman achieved the same feat.
- The two teams have met in four different locations in their four all-time meetings, and Saturday's victory is FPU's first ever against Cal State East Bay.
SOCIAL:
UP NEXT:
- The Sunbirds open PacWest Conference action on Thursday, when they welcome Academy of Art to the Central Valley. Tipoff from the Special Events Center is slated for 7:30 p.m.
#TeamFPU
