OAKLAND, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific University men's basketball team's defense was stingy against Sonoma State on Friday evening, as the Sunbirds suppressed the Seawolves to their lowest point total of the season in a 60-53 victory that gave FPU their fifth-consecutive win to open the new season.

QUOTABLE
"I thought Sonoma was well prepared and their physicality at the point of attack disrupted us a little bit. We had to keep finding offensive solutions against their zone, and we made just enough plays on that end to squeak it out. We were sloppy defensively, and that's an area we must be grittier and more disciplined in, and we must keep working to grow on the offensive side of the ball. Huge minutes from Marten Maide and Garrett Cook tonight, and we will get prepped for a quick turnaround against a quality San Francisco state team."– head coach C.J. Haydock.
  
HOW IT HAPPENED

• A three-pointer from the Seawolves put them up 12-6 just over six minutes into the game.
• Back-to-back threes from Jelani Watson-Gayle and Garrett Cook tied the game at 12 less than minute later.
• Marten Maide splashed home a three-pointer to put the Sunbirds up 23-20 with 6:21 left in the first half.
• A jumper in the lane from Spencer Heimerdinger gave the Birds a 29-24 lead going into halftime.
• Ryan Abbott made the first bucket of the second half, putting the Blue and Orange up seven and causing the Seawolves to take a timeout less than a minute into the second half.
• With 15:06 left, the Sewolves hit a three that put cut the Sunbirds lead to one.
• A quick 7-3 run put the Sunbirds up 43-38 with less than 12 minutes remaining.
• FPU's lead would hover around six points throughout the remainder of the contest, as the Sunbirds went on to take it 60-53.

 STATS FROM THE GAME

• Watson-Gayle led everyone with 19 points, knocking down four three-pointers along the way.
• Heimerdinger was perfect from the field, knocking down all four of his shot attempts and both free throw attempts to finish with 10 points and two rebounds.
• The FPU bench scored 24 points and were led by Darrin Person Jr. who scored nine points and gobbled up four rebounds in 15 minutes on the court.
• The Sunbirds went 18-for-46 (39.1 percent) from the field, and made eight threes throughout the game.

UP NEXT

• The Blue and Orange play one more game against San Francisco State before jumping into PacWest Conference play. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.

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