FRESNO, Calif.- The PacWest's best defense was as stingy as ever in a non-conference showcase, as the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (6-13 overall) knocked down the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs (10-12 overall) 67-47 Wednesday night in the Special Events Center.

Harrison Pennisi hit his four shots on his way to a career-high and sparked an early 9-0 run that gave FPU a lead it would never relinquish.

When Penisi got a breather, it was Alvar Peltoniemi who picked up the scoring, starting with a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line before mixing in a three-pointer.

Pennisi had 13 points in the first half, with his last bucket of the period extending the Sunbirds lead to its largest advantage of the half at 20.

UC Santa Cruz trimmed the difference before the break but the Sunbirds still led 37-23 at half.

Neither team could find a basket to start the second half with the teams combining for just five points, but six fouls, over the first four minutes.

Peltoniemi changed that with 12:30 remaining in the game by burying his second three of the game, this time on an assist from Pennisi.

Peltoniemi added a layup and Pennisi tacked on a three point play sparking an 11-2 FPU run in which the duo scored all but one point, pushing the lead to 27 points.

UC Santa Cruz used a 9-0 run, its largest of the game to get as close as they would, but Fresno Pacific sealed the win by a 20 point margin.

Pennisi finished with a career-high 21 points as well as 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Peltoniemi added 14 off the bench, the most in his 18 games as a Sunbird.

Fresno Pacific will turn its attention back to conference play hosting Hawai'i Pacific at 4:30 p.m. in the Special Events Center.

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