SAN DIEGO-Strong flashes of brilliance were not enough for the young Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (0-1 overall) to overcome a ten point deficit in a season opening 68-63 loss to the Cal State East Bay Pioneers (1-0 overall) Friday evening at the PacWest-CCAA Crossover inside Golden Gymnasium.

FPU started three underclassmen who gave the CCAA's preseason #2 team fits during stretches. But the Pioneers converted 12 FPU turnovers into 17 points to fend off a second half surge from the young 'Birds.

"I thought we were very solid in stretches tonight in a really physical, grind it out game," Fresno Pacific Head Coach C.J. Haydock said after the game. "I thought there's some really encouraging spurts on offense, and some quality stretches on defense."

The Sunbirds opened the season by relying on experience as grad transfer Avery Lewis knocked down a three on the opening basket for the early lead.

But the Pioneers responded with a 13-7 stretch to hold a 16-10 lead at the second media timeout.

Fresno Pacific responded by making three of its next four shots to keep pace over the next four minutes, but trailed 22-16 with 7:36 left in the half.

The 'Birds continued to hang tight with Kyle Monk's jumper pulling FPU to within four, with Monk adding a pair of free-throws in response to two from the Pioneers and keep it 26-22 with less than four minutes to play in the half.

The Sunbirds got as close as two points in the half after a Harrison Pennisi layup, but a three-pointer by the Pioneers spread the difference before Isaac Peralta hit a pair of free-throws to make it 32-29 at the half.

Monk lead the way for FPU, tied for a game-high 7 points. While FPU shot 42% from the field.

FPU held an advantage in most statistical categories in the half except for points in the paint where CSUEB outscored them 22-16.

The Sunbirds fell behind by as much as seven at the start of the second half, but layups by Ryan Abbott and Pennisi trimmed the difference back to three before the first media timeout of the half.

Fresno Pacific tied the game at 40 with 12:30 in the second on an Alvar Peltoniemi three pointer from the left wing.

The Pioneers stretched their lead over the next four minutes and regained a seven point advantage at 54-47.

East Bay stretched its lead to as much as 10 with less than seven minutes to play before FPU dug out of the whole.

Isaac Peralta's three-point play pulled it back to a five point game less than a minute later.

CSUEB walked the lead out back to seven before a Monk three pulled it back to four.

Minutes later, Peralta's layup made it a two point game with 2:17 to play.

That would be as close as FPU would get it despite a few chances to tie, the Pioneers salted the game away at the free-throw line.

"Isaac Peralta handled the level of pressure and physicality in a way we know he can," Haydock added. "Ultimately, against a well prepared, physical East Bay team, just a few too many turnovers and conceded a few too many offensive rebounds."

Overall, the Sunbirds only turned the ball over 12 times. But CSUEB made just six turnovers and cashed in for 17 points on the Sunbirds mistakes to just 4 points off of turnovers for FPU, more than the difference in the scoreline.

"Not the result we wanted and we've got to be relentless with this young crew about getting better and tougher every single days," Haydock concluded. "I think we have some very bright days in front of us with this group. We will reset, attack the film and preparation for Stan State."

The Sunbirds wrap up the PacWest/CCAA Crossover on Saturday by taking on Stanislaus State at 5:00 p.m. inside Golden Gymnasium in San Diego.

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