FRESNO, Calif.- The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds claimed their second conference win of the season as the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds defeated the Dominican University of California Penguins 89-86 Wednesday afternoon at the Special Events Center.
The Sunbirds opened the game with energy and a sharp offensive focus, quickly establishing their rhythm with perimeter shooting and active playmaking. Seth Brown got the Sunbirds on the scoreboard with a deep three-pointer off a crisp pass from Gabriel Quiette, setting the tone for a game where outside shooting would prove critical. Ryan Abbott followed up with a contested layup in transition, showcasing the 'Birds' early commitment to pushing the tempo.
Isaac Peralta emerged as the engine of Fresno's offense, driving into the paint with precision and drawing multiple fouls. His ability to finish through contact allowed the Sunbirds to keep the Penguins on their heels defensively. Peralta also contributed on the glass, pulling down five rebounds in the half to limit Dominican's second-chance opportunities. Bench contributions played a significant role in the first half, with Jonah Geron making an instant impact. Geron hit two timely three-pointers, breaking up the Penguins' attempts to shift the momentum and adding six points to the Sunbird's tally by halftime.
Despite Fresno Pacific's efficiency from beyond the arc (8-of-17, 47%), turnovers became a challenge as the Sunbirds committed six miscues, allowing Dominican to stay in the game. The Penguins capitalized on these mistakes with transition buckets, led by Darius Best, who slashed through Fresno's defense for 12 first-half points. Jaayden Bush also contributed with strong drives to the basket, combining with Best to score 18 of Dominican's 32 first-half points.
Rebounding was a strong point for the Sunbirds, who grabbed 15 boards (8 offensive) to generate 7 second-chance points. Liam Switzer's hustle on the glass, combined with Peralta's ability to secure defensive rebounds, allowed Fresno to control the pace for much of the half. However, Dominican's balanced scoring and aggressive transition game kept the contest close. At halftime, Fresno held a narrow 37-32 lead, relying on their three-point shooting and strong contributions from their bench.
The second half began with both teams ramping up their intensity, trading baskets in a highly competitive back-and-forth period. Fresno Pacific looked to extend their lead, with Peralta continuing to drive the offense. His penetration into the paint created opportunities not only for himself but also for his teammates, as he dished out six assists in the game. Peralta finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, securing a double-double while orchestrating the Sunbirds' offense.
Dominican quickly responded, attacking the rim relentlessly, scoring on a series of acrobatic layups and mid-range jumpers that kept them within striking distance. The Sunbirds leaned heavily on their three-point shooting to maintain their edge. Geron, who had already made his presence felt in the first half, caught fire from beyond the arc, draining four additional threes to finish with 18 points—all from long range. Ryan Abbott delivered in the clutch as well, sinking three three-pointers and converting 6-of-7 free throws to tally 17 points. Abbott's calm demeanor at the line proved crucial as Dominican ramped up their defensive pressure in the closing minutes.
The Penguin's inside presence grew stronger in the second half, scoring 22 points in the paint and challenging the Sunbird's defense. The Penguins ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities highlighted their persistence. However, the Sunbirds countered with Switzer's defensive effort and rebounding prowess. Switzer grabbed six boards and contributed 14 points, including crucial putbacks that helped Fresno Pacific maintain control.
The final minutes proved to be a nail-biter as Dominican cut Fresno Pacific's lead to just three points. Peralta stepped up in the clutch, sinking two free throws to extend the lead to five with under a minute remaining. Despite Dominican's late-game pressure, the Sunbirds held firm, with Abbott sealing the win with another free throw to secure the 89-86 victory.
The victory for the Sunbirds marks the 87th career win for head coach C.J Haydock as he ties the record held by Jim Sargent (1993-98) for the All-Time Win's leader in Fresno Pacific Men's Basketball history.
"A lot of guys contribute in a hot shooting night for us, but that's a direct result of improved ball movement and playmaking, led by Cooper Sheldon and Isaac Peralta," said head coach C.J Haydock. "Jonah Geron and Ryan Abbott really carried the way from three, and IP just impacts the game in so many ways. We've known this has been building for several weeks, and internally we've had a good growth mindset and resilience to us, we've got much more in us, and will attack more growth tomorrow."
The Sunbirds will be back on the court Saturday as they head north to Atherton for a matchup with the Menlo Oaks at 3pm following the women's game at 1pm. Both games will be streamed on the PacWest Network.
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