SUNBIRDS SET LANCERS
1/3/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FRESNO, Calif. --- Unranked Fresno Pacific used the first seven minutes of the second half to assume control before holding off a frantic rally from the NAIA's No. 15-ranked California Baptist University for a 76-67 upset win Saturday night.
The loss snaps the Lancers' nine-game winning streak over the Sunbirds, which included four straight in Fresno. The Lancers fall to 10-2 overall, 1-2 GSAC.
FPU improves to 10-3, 3-0, maintaining at least a tie atop the conference.
James Lewis led all players with 20 points, going 4-for-8 from downtown. Marcus West added 16 points.
Four Lancers scored in double-figures. Omar Krayem had a team-high 13 points.
The Sunbirds used a 20-5 run to start the second half, turning a seven-point (40-33) halftime lead into a 22-point advantage with 13:09 remaining. They led 62-41 with 11:22 left when the Lancers quickly got back into the game, scoring 18 of the next 20 points, capped by a 3-pointer by Dave Cernin to get within 64-59 with 6:22 to play.
Cernin finished with 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
The Lancers trailed 70-66 with 1:03 to play, but West buried a jumper with 30 seconds left to put the game on ice. The Sunbirds, who lead the GSAC in free throw percentage, helped their cause by making 15-of-16 second half free throws, including each of their final 14 attempts. They also sank eight 3-pointers and shot .556 (25-for-45) from the field.
Conversely, the Lancers, who are the GSAC's second-best free throw shooting team, made just 18-of-28 from the line, missing two clutch ones in the final minute.
CBU scored 11 of the first 15 points, taking an 11-4 lead just 2:40 into the game. A Brandon Robinson lay-up gave the Lancers a 28-25 lead with 6:35 to play in the half when Adam Kado drilled a trey to start a 10-0 Sunbird flurry that Kado capped with a lay-up to give the Sunbirds a 35-28 advantage. They never trailed again.
Robinson finished with 12 points and five rebounds. All-American Mark Roussin chipped in with 10 points.
