FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific men's basketball team came up just short in a tight battle on Tuesday night, falling 82-76 to Hawai'i Pacific at the Special Events Center. Junior point guard
Adrian Antunez dazzled with a career-high 29 points to lead all scorers, spending all but four minutes of the game on the floor.
QUOTABLE:
- "We were men tonight. We were tough and together enough to win, and I'm really proud of the resolve our guys showed with only eight of them healthy. Adrian Antunez and Sean Nealon-Lino were great on both sides of the ball, we defended at a high level, but we just came up short in making free throws and threes. Adrian gave us everything, his toughness was beyond impressive, and his desire to win is a testament to who he is. We will reset quickly, try to get our team healthy, and continue to learn and grow." – head coach C.J. Haydock
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: HPU 82, FPU 76 (OT)
- Records: FPU (6-12, 4-8 PacWest), HPU (8-10, 6-6 PacWest)
- Location: Special Events Center | Fresno, Calif.
- All-Time Series: HPU leads 10-8
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Spencer Heimerdinger controlled the opening tip, and three different Sunbirds each connected on their first shot of the night to help the Blue and Orange open the game with a 6-0 run.
- Nealon-Lino had the hot hand early, hitting each of his shot from the floor in the first half to help FPU head to the locker room with only a two-point deficit at the intermission.
- Antunez erupted in the second half, combining a 7-of-10 effort from the floor with a 7-of-11 stretch from the line to score 21 points.
- Antunez knocked down three free throws with under a minute to play to give FPU a three-point edge, but Lachlan Viney knocked down a triple with 22 seconds left in regulation to pull the Sharks even.
- Fresno Pacific never got the look they wanted out of a timeout, and an off-balance shot hit only the backboard to send the game to overtime.
- The Sunbirds scored the first three points in the extra period, but HPU answered with a 9-0 run that forced FPU to play the foul game down the stretch.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Antunez and Nealon-Lino finished with a combined 46 points for FPU, while David Rowlands and Ronald Blain gave the Sharks a total of 41.
- Blain rounded out a double-double with a game-high 13 boards to help HPU outrebound their hosts 35-31.
- FPU once again won the turnover battle, committing 14 and forcing HPU into 17.
BEYOND THE BOX:
- Antunez' big night is the most of any FPU guard so far this season. He is the second Sunbird to score a career-high in the last four days.
- Six different Sunbird players have led the team in scoring in a game this year.
SOCIAL:
UP NEXT:
- The Sunbirds are back at the Special Events Center on Saturday, when they are set to host Point Loma in PacWest action. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
#TeamFPU
