Jacklyn Avila

Box Score

Fresno Pacific FPU 17-10,11-8 PacWest

Academy of Art ARTU 18-11,13-7 PacWest

Fresno Pacific FPU

17-10,11-8 PacWest

Final

Mar. 02, 2022

Academy of Art ARTU

18-11,13-7 PacWest

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Fresno Pacific FPU	26	31	57
Academy of Art ARTU	22	41	63

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 3/2/2022 8:29:00 PM

FPU Falls in Physical Battle with ARTU in PacWest Tournament

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific University men's basketball team competed in the PacWest Conference Tournament for the first time in program history, taking on Academy of Art in a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday afternoon. The Sunbirds battled the physicality brought by the Urban Knights and fell 63-57, bringing an end to their season.

QUOTABLE
"Credit to ARTU. They played an incredible physical style. I thought we were good on defense tonight, and they were even better than us on defense tonight. They disrupted what we wanted to do on offense. We got shots, and we didn't convert them. We have five seniors who are leaving us. This group is not defined by one outcome. The last several years, the accomplishments of that group have not gone unnoticed and our program will keep building because of the legacy they leave." head coach C.J. Haydock.

HOW IT HAPPENED

A little over two minutes into the game Darrin Person Jr. had a dunk that put the Sunbirds up 9-5 over the Urban Knights.
The run continued as Sean Nealon-Lino hit a jumper to put his team up 17-6 with 12:51 to play in the first half.
ARTU cut into the Sunbird lead, trailing 17-12 with just under 10 minutes left in the opening half.
With 5:21 remaining in the first half, Nate Kendricks knocked down a jumper to put the Birds up by eight.
The Urban Knights buried a 3-pointer at the end of the first half, as the Sunbirds held a 26-22 lead at the break.
The Urban Knights opened the second half with a quick run, taking a 30-29 lead two minutes in.
Spencer Heimerdinger made one of his three 3-pointers at the 16:29 mark in the second half, putting the Sunbirds up 37-32.
FPU led by six with 12:21 to play when ARTU went on a 13-2 run to go up 47-42 with 8:23 left.
Later, a steal from Kendricks led to a fast break slam from Person Jr. who was fouled on the play. He'd convert the and-1 free throw to put the Birds up 51-48 with 4:28 to play.
The FPU offense went cold late, as ARTU went on another crucial 14-2 run to seal their PacWest Conference quarterfinal win.

STATS FROM THE GAME

Jelani Watson-Gayle led the Sunbirds with 15 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
Person Jr. was solid with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Heimerdinger scored nine points, hitting three 3-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds for a great performance.

SUNBIRD SOCIAL