HONOLULU-Despite a strong second-half surge and the nation's stingiest defense on full display, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (1-6 overall, 0-2 PacWest) fell 56-51 to the Hawai'i Pacific Sharks (5-2 overall, 2-0 PacWest) Monday night in the Shark Tank.

Fresno Pacific held their hosts well under HPU's average of 69.1 points per game but struggled to score late and hold on to a second half lead while the hosts shot seventeen free throws to FPU's zero for the entire game.

After scoring the first five points for a 5-0 Fresno Pacific lead, the hosts hit three straight threes to take a 9-5 lead at the first media timeout.

The Sharks would convert it into a 15-0 run before an Avery Lewis interrupted the stretch.

Harrison Pennisi and Ryas Vang each added layups as FPU cut the deficit back down to seven points.

Hawai'i Pacific wiggled out to a 21-13 lead before a Jonah Geron three brought the Sunbirds to within five.

The Sunbirds received scoring from eight different players in the first half and held a 19-15 advantage on the glass with the Sharks advantage from the outside leading to a 29-22 HPU lead at halftime.

Ryan Abbot nailed a three on the first possession of the second half.

A couple of possessions later, Abbott cleaned up the offensive glass with a putback to pull within two points.

Kyle Monk drilled a three to put FPU in front 30-29 just three and a half minutes in to the half.

After HPU regained the lead on free-throws, Avery Lewis made a slick post move and then Alvar Peltoniemi buried an elbow jumper to force an HPU timeout.

That four and a half minute stretch saw FPU shoot 50% from the field and 40% from deep while matching their first half output from beyond the arc.

The Sunbirds led for 9 and a half minutes in the game but HPU converted points off of FPU turnovers in the second half to put FPU down by seven again.

A steal and a layup by Kyle Monk brought the game to a five point difference with a minute and a half left.

But HPU maintained its advantage down the stretch and held on to the five point scoreline.

Ryan Abbott led the way with 14 points while Kyle Monk joined him in double-figures with ten.

The 'Birds gained the edge on the glass and the points in the paint and even ended with more threes than the Sharks.

But HPU was 13-17 at the free-throw line while FPU did not shoot a single free-throw all game.

The Sunbirds, still in search of its first win in conference play, will head to the big island for the final game of the road trip as they take on Hawai'I Hilo, who is ranked fourth in the D2CSC West Region Poll, Wednesday night.

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