SAN DIEGO – Fresno Pacific received big performances from
Adrian Antunez and
Sean Nealon-Lino on Saturday, as the Sunbirds defeated #17 Point Loma 88-72 in San Diego in PacWest play. Antunez led the way with 28 points for FPU, while Nealon-Lino poured in a career best 23 points and seven threes.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: FPU 88, #17 PLNU 72
- Records: FPU (9-16, 7-12 PacWest), PLNU (17-6, 13-4)
- Location: Golden Gymnasium | San Diego
- All-Time Series: PLNU leads 45-37
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- "Immensely proud of my team's toughness and togetherness tonight. We had two fearless leaders in Adrian and Sean, who not only made shots, but flew around on defense and gave us multiple efforts. Nate Kendricks gave us great individual defense, our bench guys gave great energy in their runs, and Aamondae was all over the floor with deflections and charges. We will try to reset and be this same team tomorrow and Monday." – head coach C.J. Haydock
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A competitive first half saw each team exchange buckets before a dunk from Nehemiah Allen capped off an 11-2 run to hand FPU its largest first period lead of eight points with 2:27 left.
- FPU held a 39-33 advantage at the half, as Nealon-Lino led the way with 11 points and a trio of threes.
- The momentum carried into the second frame for FPU, as Aamondae Coleman scored 10 points in the opening four minutes.
- Another trey from Nealon-Lino moved FPU's lead to 15 points with just over five minutes to play in the second half, which capped a 11-0 run by the 'Birds.
- The Sunbirds would go on to lead by as many as 18 down the stretch to clinch the road win.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Antunez played the role of floor general throughout the night, making 9-of-15 shots from the floor and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line.
- Nealon-Lino closed the afternoon 8-of-11 overall and 7-of-10 from long range, a season high for a Sunbird this year. He also added seven rebounds.
- The Sunbirds scored 26 points off turnovers.
- Kaden Anderson led PLNU with 26 points and seven rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX:
- The Sunbirds snapped a 10-game losing skid to Point Loma.
- FPU's last victory inside Golden Gymnasium came in 2013.
- Nealon-Lino's seven treys are the most from any Sunbird since the 2015-16 season when Gabe Solarin drilled eight against Hawai'i Hilo.
SOCIAL:
UP NEXT:
- Fresno Pacific now takes on Chaminade at the Special Events Center on Monday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
#TeamFPU
