FRESNO, Calif.-In a tightly contested game that swung dramatically in both directions, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (2-5 overall, 0-1 PacWest) could not fend off the Biola Eagles (5-2 overall, 1-0 PacWest), falling 63-61 in the PacWest opener Thursday night in the Special Events Center.

The Sunbirds huge 13-0 run, behind stellar three-point shooting, in the second half swung momentum in favor of FPU, but that was one of a few large momentum swings in a back and forth conference opener.

"That second half was the best half we've played," Fresno Pacific head coach C.J. Haydock said after the game. "That first half was pretty frustrating. We'll keep finding solutions and keep getting better."

Fresno Pacific held the advantage early as Darrin Person Jr. and Nate Kendricks got to the basket early and often.

The Sunbirds led 14-10 until Biola went on a 12-0 run behind a trio of three-pointers.

Biola would maintain the double-digit lead heading into half, but FPU prevented Biola from running away with it as Ryan Abbott and Spencer Heimerdinger knocked down big shots to keep the deficit at just 10.

The Sunbirds exploded out of halftime as Marten Maide grabbed 8 quick points to fuel a 10-3 run which rolled into another 13-0 FPU run, putting FPU in front 46-41 halfway through the period.

Fresno Pacific was on fire from deep in the second half, finishing the final twenty minutes by shooting 5 of 7 from beyond the arc.

But Biola answered again, delivering a 10-2 run late to seize the lead.

Biola clung to the lead late, but FPU still had a chance to tie with a three after the shot clock was turned off. A decent look rimmed out and the Sunbirds were forced to foul allowing Biola to turn the game into a two-possession lead with just 4 seconds left.

Nate Kendricks hit a buzzer-beating three as time expired to land at the 63-61 final.

Person Jr. finished with a game-high 14 points while Maide and Kendricks each contributed 13 points.

Fresno Pacific will be back in action, for the last time before Christmas, when they host Azusa Pacific on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the Special Events Center.

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