FRESNO, Calif. - Returning to the Special Events Center after a long roadtrip, the Fresno Pacific men's basketball team took Dominican into overtime in their first home game back. The Sunbirds managed to steal their first lead of the game in the final eight minutes, but a couple last-minute free throws by the Penguins tied it up 71-71, sending it all into overtime.

Fresno Pacific opened the game with Isaac Peralta scoring a layup at 19:33, setting the tempo early. Peralta contributed again with a jumper, assisted by Nick Davidson, to establish a 4–0 lead. The Sunbirds maintained a close contest throughout the half, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Seth Brown at 12:16, narrowing the gap to 16–13. With six minutes remaining, the 'Birds continued to tie the score, going point for point with Dominican, 23-24. The Penguins started building their momentum, taking advantage of three-point plays and Sunbird turnovers. Although Dominican capitalized on several free throw opportunities, Davidson and Peralta worked hard to score, bringing it down to a four-point deficit, 29-33. With a minute left, freshman Loukas Jones knocked down a deep shot beyond the arc to keep the 'Birds in the action, forcing a Penguin timeout. Trailing by three points, Gibson Jr. drew the foul and brought it to 33-35 before the clock ran out.

Coming out of the half, Seth Brown pulled the Sunbirds back within one point with an incredible three-pointer. Despite being held scoreless for two minutes, Logan Kilbert turned the tide and got the 'Birds back track with a shot from downtown, making it 39-42. Soon after, Seth Brown sank another three-pointer for FPU which Gibson followed with a line drive, shrinking the deficit to two-points. Right out of the timeout, the Penguins took advantage of their possession and scored a layup at the 13-minute mark.

Hugo Gonzalez Garcia responded with an incredible three-pointer to bring the 'Birds within one point yet again. For the first time in the second half, the Sunbirds took the lead with a score of 49-48. The Penguins didn't let that last long as they sank a three-pointer and stole a Sunbird pass to change possession. At 7:04, it was Brown who scored the driving layup thanks to an assist from Kilbert from down the court. Keeping the spark alive, Davidson shot a pass from under the net to Gibson who netted a shot from beyond to arc for FPU. After a penguin foul, Harrison Pennisi's free throw sparked the seventh tie of the match between the two teams.

With four minutes and thirty seconds on the clock, Gibson made a stellar spinning layup that surprised a Penguin defender to gain the lead, 62-58. For every point the 'Birds made, the Penguins responded in kind, not allowing them to push too far ahead. At the two-minute mark, Pennisi blocked a Penguin dunk attempt, forcing the Sunbirds to gain possession and get an opportunity at the free throw line, where Brown took care of business. With under two minutes of play left, the 'Birds led by five points, but a three-point play by Dominican kept them in the game, 66-64. Brown approached the free throw line and bumped the score to 70-66 then forced the Penguins to lose the ball, but DUC managed to come back and capture a deep shot from downtown at the 26 second mark.

Gibson's made free throw gave the 'Birds a fighting chance until a foul against the Penguins brought them back, 71-71. Dominican blocked a three-pointer attempt by the Sunbirds to take the game into overtime!

The start of overtime was a challenge for the 'Birds as the Penguins immediately added four points to their board along with two additional free throws to make it 77-71. The Blue and Orange were undeterred as Brown sent a great pass to Gonzalez Garcia who drained his second three-pointer of the day. A great pass by Davidson allowed Pennisi to make a smooth layup on the left side, but the Penguins continued to inch ahead. With only 36 seconds left, Pennisi led the rallying cry for the 'Birds with a dunk, bringing it to 78-81. However, Dominican continued to outscore Fresno Pacific on free throws as the clock wound down, ending the game 79-85.

"Just a really big gut punch of a result," mentioned head coach C.J. Haydock. "I thought we deserved a win for 39 minutes, and just didn't have the composure to get it across the finish line. We've got some internal growth and confidence we've got to find, and I'm sure our group can find it asap."  

Offensively Brown scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and added two assists. Gibson Jr. led the team with 16 points, converting 5 of 10 field goal attempts and securing eight rebounds. Harrison Pennisi posted 13 points, making six field goals and contributing seven rebounds. Nick Davidson dished out six assists and collected five rebounds.

Fresno Pacific has a record of 9-13 overall and 8-8 in PacWest play.

NEXT UP: The 'Birds fly over to Hawaii for the conference matchups against Chaminade, Hawaii Pacific, and Hawaii Hilo between February 12 -17. 

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