SAN DIEGO - The Fresno Pacific men's basketball team came up just short in overtime in the first game of the season falling 77-73 to Montana State-Billings on Friday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

• Final: MSU-Billings 77, Fresno Pacific 73
• Records: FPU (0-1), MSUB (1-0)
• Location: Golden Gym | San Diego

QUOTABLE:

• "Today was a tough outcome for us. We had a lot of chances to make winning plays and we failed to execute," head coach C.J. Haydock said. "We have to be more composed and execute at a higher level offensively if we want to move our competitive level forward. This was just a really sloppy and inconsistent performance from us. Spencer Heimerdinger was a bright spot today, and we had some really good stretches on the defensive side of the ball. We will have to respond quickly with a determination to get better in the next 24 hours."

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Sunbirds controlled the opening tip, allowing junior Aamondae Coleman to score the first bucket of the season.
• FPU and MSUB exchanged buckets for the bulk of the first half before a Coleman three put the Blue and Orange in front by a point heading to the intermission.
• Junior point guard Adrian Antunez opened the second half, and the two squads went right back to swapping leads.
• With the game tied at 64, Yellowjacket guard Tyler Green knocked down a triple with six seconds to play.
• Antunez took the inbound and spun around a defender before dishing off to newcomer Raine McKeython at the top of the key.
• McKeython knocked down a three to beat the horn, sending the Sunbirds to their first overtime game since last November.
• FPU managed to get 12 shots off over the final five minutes, but turnovers and missed opportunities proved costly down the stretch.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Coleman led FPU with 18 points, while Spencer Heimerdinger wasted no time recording his first double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) of the season.    
• McKeython went for 15 points in his Sunbird debut.
• The Yellow Jackets won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Sunbirds 51-40 for the game.
• The Blue and Orange shot 40% from the floor as a team but struggled from behind the arc.

 
BEYOND THE BOX:

• Heimerdinger's double-double is the first of his collegiate career. 
• The Sunbirds have started the season in San Diego for the second consecutive season.

 
SOCIAL:

• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics

 
UP NEXT:

• The Sunbirds wrap up the 2019 West Region Crossover Classic on Saturday, when they take on Humboldt State. Tipoff from the Point Loma campus is slated for 5:30 p.m.