LOS ANGELES- Despite a pair of surges from deep, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (1-3 overall) fell 83-73 to the Cal State LA Golden Eagles (3-3 overall) Tuesday night at University Gym.

Fresno Pacific held the edge from the outside, at the free-throw line, and on the glass, but were unraveled by the Golden Eagles' advantage on the inside.

"Credit to Coach Saia and Cal State LA," Fresno Pacific head coach C.J. Haydock said. "I think that's a high quality Division II team that's going to beat a lot of people. "

Cal State LA, led by former FPU head coach Jim Saia, grabbed the lead early, widened it at the start of the second half, and quelched the Sunbirds' attempted rally in the final five minutes.

The game started fast, with both offense in rhythm from the jump.

Inglewood native Michael Mensah buried a three just seconds into the ball game to kickstart the Fresno Pacific offense.

That was just the beginning of the track meet that ensued over the opening minutes. Both teams combined to go 8-8 from three.

Mensah knocked down three 3-pointers in the first three and a half minutes, but Cal State LA had the other five, to hold a 17-14 edge.

The pace slowed over the next five minutes as FPU struggled from inside the arc, shooting just 1-11 on non-threes to start the game.

The Sunbirds combatted their struggles from the field by getting to the line, earning 10 free-throw attempts in the first half, and knocking down 8 to remain in striking distance.

But Cal State LA closed the half on an 8-0 run to put Fresno Pacific down 41-32 at the break.

The Sunbirds saw the deficit slip to as much as sixteen before the Sunbirds responded from deep.

Mensah knocked down three more threes' while Spencer Heimerdinger added another. The Sunbirds also continued their work at the free-throw line to pull within eight points.

Fresno Pacific could not get it closer than eight points over the final few minutes as the Sunbirds woes inside didn't ease up, forcing fouls late in the ball game.

Fresno Pacific's 20-23 night at the line also helped them hang around. They also were plus-6 on the glass, creating a number of second chance opportunities.

The Sunbirds shot 40% from three and from the field.

"I thought we had moments of offensive clarity that were really good." Haydock added. "We executed a good rate in stretches but didn't convert enough shots at the rim and had some really poorly timed turnovers. "

Cal State LA shot 50%, making eleven more field goals than the Sunbirds and essentially matched what the Sunbirds did from deep, knocking down 8 threes to ward off the comeback.

"Defensively, it was just a really poor effort all around," Haydock concluded. "There was not a lot of pride from our team on that side of the ball and we are going to have to quickly improve both our discipline and awareness."

Mensah finished with a game-high 21 points while Person Jr. added 14, Nate Kendricks delivered 11 points, and Heimerdinger rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10.

Fresno Pacific will be back in action against a pair of CCAA schools in the final tune-ups before conference play. FPU will travel to Rohnert Park to take on Sonoma State on Saturday and SF State on Sunday. Both games will be played at the Wolves' Den at Sonoma State.