SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- It was a tough Wednesday afternoon on the road for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds as they dropped their sixth consecutive game to the Westmont Warriors 69-62.
The Sunbirds opened the game with energy but faced early challenges against a disciplined and aggressive Westmont team. Fresno Pacific found their first points through Isaac Peralta, who showcased his ability to drive into the paint and finish contested layups. Seth Brown quickly added to the 'Birds' tally with a long-range three-pointer, energizing the offense and keeping the score competitive in the early minutes. However, turnovers and defensive lapses allowed Westmont to capitalize in transition.
Westmont dominated the interior, outscoring Fresno Pacific 24-6 in points in the paint during the first half, converting second-chance opportunities. The Sunbirds also faced rebounding challenges, securing only 14 boards to Westmont's 17 in the opening half. Despite the uphill battle, Hugo Gonzalez-Garcia provided a spark, knocking down a trio of three-pointers to prevent the deficit from growing further. By halftime, the Sunbirds trailed 37-21, needing adjustments to turn the tide.
Fresno Pacific returned from the locker room with improved focus and defensive adjustments. They began to close out more effectively on Westmont's shooters and forced several turnovers early in the half. Liam Switzer, coming off the bench, provided much-needed energy, grabbing key rebounds and blocking two crucial shots to ignite his team's defensive effort. On the offensive end, Peralta continued to drive into the paint, drawing fouls and converting free throws to chip away at the deficit.
Brown also found his rhythm in the second half, hitting two consecutive three-pointers that brought the Sunbirds within striking distance. Ball movement also improved for the 'Birds, with Peralta and Gonzalez-Garcia facilitating better looks for their teammates. Gonzalez-Garcia, in particular, knocked down two more three-pointers to finish with nine points on perfect shooting from beyond the arc. Despite these improvements, the Sunbirds struggled to contain Wesmont's duo of McIntyre and Bryant, who combined for 43 points and consistently thwarted Fresno's comeback attempts with timely scoring and clutch free-throw shooting.
Turnovers again became a stumbling block for the 'Birds, with 13 giveaways leading directly to 11 points for Westmont. Additionally, the Sunbirds were out-rebounded 33-27 overall, which limited their ability to generate second-chance opportunities. Despite a late surge led by Switzer's hustle plays and Peralta's aggressive scoring, Fresno Pacific couldn't close the gap. The Sunbirds ultimately fell 69-62, showcasing moments of brilliance but unable to overcome their early struggles.
Fresno Pacific will regroup and head home for a Saturday afternoon matchup with the Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles with the women's game tipping off at 2pm with the men's game to follow at 4:30pm. The game will be simulcasted on ESPN 790 AM and the PacWest Network with Scott Bemis, on the call.
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