FRESNO, Calif.-Riding behind a hot start and strong performances from their seniors, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (6-14 overall, 3-10 PacWest) fended off the Hawai'i Pacific Sharks (7-14 overall, 3-10 PacWest) 88-82 Tuesday night in the Special Events Center.

"Our seniors are really good," Fresno Pacific head coach C.J. Haydock said. "Nate and Darrin were really good flexing the rim and getting three's for others and getting layups.. And then Spencer had three threes in the second half that widened the gap. They deserved that. They are incredible humans."

The Sunbirds earned one of their best starts of the season thanks to a 60% field goal percentage in the first half.

Nate Kendricks and Darrin Person Jr. helped set FPU on the right foot as the 'Birds found a steady diet of points in the paint. Fresno Pacific also knocked down four threes in the first half and kept three of Hawai'i Pacific's four double-digit scorers in check.

Fresno Pacific's 48-36 halftime lead grew at the start of the second half behind Kendricks and Person Jr., but Spencer Heimerdinger knocked down a flurry of threes as the advantage grew to as much as 18.

But Hawai'i Pacific responded behind their four-headed monster and would erase the difference and tie the game at 76 with just 3 minutes remaining.

The Sunbirds delivered the counter-punch after Kendrick and Heimerdinger combined on a block setting up Kendricks' drive that earned two free throws.

Person Jr. added a layup and Fresno Pacific came up with a number of stops allowing them to seal the game at the line.

"We weathered a big run," Haydock added. " And then we punched back a little bit. We've been there a lot and our response hasn't always been fundamentals or toughness. Tonight, it was. I thought we focused on the things we needed to and raised our level defensively.  To weather the storm and return like that, its something we need to build on."

The Sunbirds will continue their homestand with another team directly in front of them in the PacWest standings when Chaminade comes to the Special Events Center at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

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