FRESNO, Calif.- The Dominguez Hills Toros proved too much to handle for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds Tuesday afternoon as they fell 79-54 at the Special Events Center. 

The game began with high energy as both teams looked to establish dominance. Cal State Dominguez Hills struck first with a quick three-pointer, setting the tone for what would become a dominant half for the Toros. On their first offensive possession, the 'Birds responded with a well-executed layup by Cooper Sheldon, assisted by Isaac Peralta, to bring the score to 3-2. However, this early exchange of points quickly gave way to the Toros building a commanding lead.

The Toros capitalized on sharp perimeter shooting, hitting back-to-back three-pointers within the first two minutes of play. By the 18-minute mark, Cal State Dominguez Hills had extended their lead to 9-2, as they began to impose their presence in the paint, collecting offensive rebounds and converting second-chance opportunities. 

Meanwhile, Fresno Pacific struggled with turnovers and poor shot selection. However, the 'Birds inability to hit from beyond the arc (1-of-11 on three-pointers in the first half) limited their scoring opportunities. 

Midway through the half, the Sunbirds found a spark from their bench. Hugo Gonzalez Garcia and Brandon Gibson Jr. provided much-needed energy, combining for eight points. A quick sequence saw the Sunbirds force two turnovers, leading to fast-break opportunities and cutting the deficit to single digits. However, the Toros quickly regained control with disciplined play and precision passing, resulting in open looks for their shooters.

The Toros closed the half on a dominant note, executing a 6-0 run in the final two minutes, knocking down a deep three-pointer, followed by a layup just before the buzzer. Fresno Pacific entered the locker room trailing 37-29, struggling to keep up with Dominguez Hills' balanced attack.

Coming out of halftime, Fresno Pacific looked determined to close the gap. Peralta and Gibson Jr. responded, scoring six quick points between them in the opening three minutes. However, Cal State Dominguez Hills' defense remained steadfast, forcing Fresno Pacific into tough shots and turnovers. 

The Sunbirds found brief success with contributions from Ryan Abbott and Gonzalez Garcia off the bench. Abbott's mid-range jumper and a layup by Gonzalez-Garcia cut the deficit to ten points with 8 minutes remaining in the half. However, the Sunbirds continued to struggle from beyond the arc, missing all three-point attempts in the first ten minutes of the second half. This allowed Dominguez Hills to maintain a comfortable lead.

In the last ten minutes, the 'Birds attempted one last push. Peralta drove aggressively to the basket, drawing fouls and converting free throws to keep the Sunbirds within striking distance. However, their defensive lapses and inability to secure rebounds allowed the Toros to extend their lead further.

An and-one layup with four minutes remaining effectively ended any hope of a comeback for Fresno Pacific. The Toros also added a dagger three-pointer from the corner, pushing the lead to 20 points.

Despite valiant efforts, the Sunbirds were unable to recover. Their offensive struggles persisted, particularly from beyond the arc, where they finished the game shooting just 2-of-17. Turnovers in critical moments also stifled any momentum they tried to build as the 'Birds fell 79-54.

The Sunbirds will look to regroup and rest as they gear up for a match up Saturday against the UC Merced Bobcats at 4pm in the Special Events Center. 

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