FRESNO, Calif. – The FPU men's basketball team fell to Biola 81-65 Saturday afternoon in a PacWest conference clash at the Special Events Center.
 
The game began highly competitive with both teams trading blows by virtue of the three ball.  Nine of the game's first ten baskets came from behind the arc, including a pair from each of the Sunbirds' Seth Brown and Casey Cappo of the Eagles, and Biola led 17-16 at the quarter mark of the first half.  Biola kept firing from deep and opened up an eight-point lead with nine minutes to play in the half.  But another three from Brown, a jumper by Isaac Peralta, and an and-1 from Cooper Sheldon had the 'Birds tied up 28-28 with under eight minutes to play in the first.  As the half began to wind down, the pace of the game did anything but.  Both teams continued to fight for every basket, every board, and every loose ball.  Biola would go on a 12-1 run however, and suddenly were up by a dozen.  The Eagles cooled off on offense, but their defense locked down and FPU was unable to close the gap as the half ticked away.  Despite a spirited effort from the 'Birds, they went into the break trailing 46-31.  The Eagles made 10 of 18 three-pointers compared to FPU's five.  Leading scorers Peralta and Brown combined for 17 for FPU.
 
The second half started with both teams exchanging turnovers followed by more threes, with Jonah Geron on the mark for the Sunbirds.  Following a Biola miss and Harrison Pennisi rebound, Peralta converted a three-point play after being fouled on a fast break to the hoop.  After a couple Biola misses, FPU was within 12.  The Eagles were relentless though and made another three – their 13^th of the game.  To complicate matters for the Sunbirds, Brown got into foul trouble and went to the bench with 14 minutes left to play.  The Biola lead was up to 25 before a trio of threes – including two back-to-back by Hugo Gonzalez Garcia – cut the lead to 19.   The closest the 'Birds could make it was 15 before time expired, as Biola's quality was just too much.  The game ended 81-65 in favor of the visiting Eagles.    
 
"I thought there was some progress under the surface in tonight's game," said FPU Head Coach C.J. Haydock.  "Some good responses, we shot it well and have some improved stretches defensively."
 
Biola had four players in double-digits, with both leading scorers Cappo and Davian Brown chipping in 13.  But it was FPU's Seth Brown who led all scoring with 15.  The sophomore transfer from Adelphi University is evolving into an impact player for the 'Birds, having started every game this season and averaging 14 points over his last three games.  Gonzalez Garcia made an impact for the Sunbirds in the second half, scoring nine points in nine minutes.  Ten players scored for the Sunbirds, with 20 points coming from the bench. 
 
"Have to keep getting healthy, keep growing and learning with out young group," Haydock added.  "Our best basketball remains in front of us."
 
Biola improves to 8-1 on the year with their only loss coming to 11^th ranked CSU San Bernardino.  It doesn't get any easier for the 3-7 'Birds who travel to San Francisco to face reigning PacWest co-champs Academy of Art on Friday.  Tip off is scheduled for 7:30pm PT and will stream on the PacWest Network.
 
 
SUNBIRD SOCIAL 

Twitter - @fpusunbirds 
Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
Facebook - /FPUsunbirds