FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Pacific took Azusa Pacific to the final seconds on Saturday, but the short-handed Sunbirds ultimately fell 71-70 in PacWest play at the Special Events Center.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Azusa Pacific 71, Fresno Pacific 70
Records: APU (15-9, 12-5 PacWest), FPU (9-13, 6-11 PacWest) 
Location: Fresno, Calif. | Special Events Center
Series: FPU trails 79-24

QUOTABLE: 
• "We got better tonight. We competed, we had some grit to us, we had a really good defensive effort, and we weathered a couple of runs well. Unfortunately, a couple stretches left us coming up a little short this evening. We continue to develop an understanding of how narrow the margin is for us and how much urgency we must have every day to get a little better. Just a little short tonight." - head coach C.J. Haydock

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Sunbirds closed the first half on a 10-3 run to lead APU 32-30 at the intermission. FPU shot 47 percent from the floor and had eight different scorers find the bottom of the net.
• Each team exchanged the lead throughout the second half and with just under two minutes to play the score was knotted at 67-67.
• After APU connected on a jumper, Elijah Hill came up clutch for the Sunbirds with a three with 15 seconds left to make the score 70-69.
• APU came out of a timeout and fed big-man Selom Mauwugbe for a contested layup, however, which proved to be the game winner with seven seconds remaining.
• FPU had a chance for the win, but an in-bounds play resulted in a turnover as APU ran out the final two seconds of the clock.
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• FPU's Adrian Antunez led all scorers with 20 points and added five assists, while Aamondae Coleman totaled 18 points and eight rebounds. Hill added 10 points, Toby Christensen had a solid all-around game with eight points, six rebounds and six assists and Kevin Howland added seven points off the bench.
• Each team finished the night 27-of-57 from the floor (47 percent).
• The Sunbirds forced 15 turnovers and tuned them into 17 points, while the offense only committed seven (season low).
• Mauwugbe led the Cougars with 19 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Antunez was just two points shy of his career high. His 20 on Saturday night proved to be a season best for the sophomore however.
• The game featured 18 lead changes.
• Mauwugbe is second in the nation in blocked shots.
• FPU was limited to only eight bodies on the night due to injuries.
 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds
• Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds host Biola on Thursday, Feb. 14 next. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.