FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific University men's basketball team found itself looking up at a 19-point deficit midway through the first half against Chaminade on Friday night. Jelani Watson-Gayle led the Sunbirds with 34 points, five rebounds, and seven steals, but it wasn't enough as the Silverswords cut down the comeback effort, taking the game 76-73. 
  
QUOTABLE
"We were tremendously poor in the first half, and that was compounded by a lack of toughness and discipline, and we simply dig a hole we could not recover from. Just a thoroughly disappointing effort from our team. We will take responsibility, look in the mirror, and work hard to be tougher and more disciplined tomorrow." – head coach C.J. Haydock
  
 HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Silverswords couldn't miss early, accruing a 14-6 lead with 10:49 to go in the first half.
• Watson-Gayle took willed the Sunbirds back into the game with 4:10 left in the first half, scoring all 11 points of an 11-2 run that trimmed a 19-point lead to an eight-point lead at halftime. 
• A jumper from Ryan Abbott brought the Birds within five points of the Swords early in the second half. 
• The Silverswords' lead hovered around five points for the majority of the second half.
• A layup from Nate Kendricks had the Sunbirds trailing 62-59 with 5:39 left to play. 
• After two made free throws from the Silverswords, Kendricks nailed a 3-pointer that kept it a one-possession game. 
• Watson-Gayle splashed home a tough 3-pointer with seconds left, but it wasn't enough to overcome a late run from the Swords as they took it 76-73.

STATS FROM THE GAME

• Watson-Gayle led everyone with 34 points on 12-for-22 shooting as he pulled down five rebounds and seven steals for a stellar night. 
• Kendricks attacked the basket early and often, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, and a team-high five assists.
• The FPU bench scored 13 points, 10 of which came from Abbott who went 5-for-7. 
• The Sunbirds went 3-for-16 (18.75 percent) from 3-point range in the first half before going 8-for-17 (47.06 percent) in the second half.  

UP NEXT

• The Blue and Orange host CSU Los Angeles on Monday at 3 p.m. inside the Special Events Center. 

SUNBIRD SOCIAL

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