FRESNO, Calif.- An explosion off the bench for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds helped lift them to victory over the Corcordia University Golden Eagles Saturday afternoon on Cen-Cal Sports night at the Special Events Center.
"A really comprehensive effort against what I think is a Concordia team that is a legit title contender and the most physical team in the league," said head coach
C.J. Haydock. "It's a testament to the character of our locker room, with just belief and focus on our own internal growth over the last several weeks."
The first half was a battle of adjustments, with the 'Birds struggling to find consistency early against the Golden Eagle's aggressive offensive approach. CUI capitalized on early opportunities in the paint, with points inside and from mid-range. Fresno Pacific's defensive rotations were initially out of sync, leading to easy scoring opportunities for the Golden Eagles. Meanwhile, the 'Birds' offense had difficulty getting into rhythm, as turnovers and missed shots plagued the early minutes.
Isaac Peralta got things rolling for the Sunbirds, attacking the basket relentlessly to draw fouls and convert free throws, keeping them within striking distance. His drives created space for teammates, but many of Fresno's early jump shots failed to fall. Seth Brown provided a spark with a mid-range jumper and some gritty defensive stops, while Liam Switzer came off the bench and added a much-needed energy boost.
The Sunbirds bench began to make a significant impact midway through the half. Hugo Gonzalez-Garcia nailed a momentum-shifting three-pointer, while Ryan Abbott contributed with a key layup off a fast break. The Sunbirds improved defensively in the latter part of the half, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them with quick transition plays, scoring seven points off turnovers. However, the Golden Eagles responded with a clutch three-pointer to extend their lead before halftime.
Despite the slow start, the Sunbirds stayed within striking distance by dominating the paint, scoring 24 points inside during the first half. They also started to limit CUI's second-chance opportunities with better rebounding from Brown and Brandon Gibson. At the half, the Sunbirds trailed 34-30, but momentum seemed to shift in their favor as they made key adjustments.
The Sunbirds returned from halftime with a renewed sense of urgency and executed their adjustments flawlessly, dominating the second half, outscoring CUI 47-38. Fresno Pacific opened the half with a commanding 12-2 run, led by Peralta and Switzer, who consistently broke down the Golden Eagle's defense with aggressive drives and well-timed jumpers. Peralta, in particular, shone with his ability to finish through contact and convert at the free-throw line, finishing the game 8-10 from the stripe.
Fresno Pacific's defense also tightened significantly, particularly in their coverage of the Golden Eagle's shooters. Brown and Abbott were pivotal in securing defensive rebounds and limiting second-chance points. The Sunbirds forced eight second-half turnovers and converted them into eight critical points, disrupting CUI's offensive rhythm. Meanwhile, Gonzalez-Garcia's sharp three-point shooting stretched the defense and opened up driving lanes for his teammates. Gonzalez-Garcia hit two clutch three-pointers in the second half, with one coming during a critical stretch to maintain the 'Birds lead.
Transition scoring became a focal point for the Sunbirds, who added 12 fast-break points in the second half. Switzer's hustle and scoring touch were on full display, as he finished with 17 points and six rebounds, including an and-one layup that sent the crowd into a frenzy. On defense, Seth Brown's rebounding and shot-altering presence played a key role in stifling the Golden Eagles' attempts to regain control.
The Sunbirds scored 44 points in the paint overall, with critical contributions from Peralta and Switzer down the stretch. In the final moments, Fresno sealed the game with clutch free throws, with Peralta and Switzer combining to go 6-6 from the line in the last minute.
"Isaac Peralta shoulders such a big responsibility for us offensively, and he was elite tonight at the rim, drawing fouls and getting some juice into our offense," reflected Haydock. "I am so proud of the standard he holds himself to, his continued growth and maturation."
The Sunbirds' bench proved to be the difference-maker, contributing 45 of the team's 77 points. The depth and determination helped the 'Birds turn a four-point halftime deficit into a thrilling 77-72 victory, improving their record to 4-9 overall and 1-4 in PacWest play.
"I am really proud of Hugo and Liam tonight, as they made play after play for our team, their best basketball is still to come, and we've known they would make this kind of contribution this year." remarked Haydock. "Their willingness to be coaches and fearlessness as freshman was on display tonight."
The Sunbirds will be back in the new year with a road trip to San Diego for a matchup with the Point Loma Sea Lions, Thursday January 2nd with the women tipping off at 2pm, with the men following at 4pm.
SUNBIRD SOCIAL
Twitter - @fpusunbirds
Instagram - @fpusunbirds
Facebook - /FPUsunbirds
#TeamFPU
