Fresno, CA (January 26, 2013) – The Hawai'i Pacific men's basketball team (6-10, 3-6) made a valiant comeback against a good Fresno Pacific (12-6, 7-3) team on the road at the end of a four-game road trip. Once down 22, HPU came back to take the lead late in regulation and force overtime but ultimately fell 94-87.
It was Jelany White who nailed a three-pointer to give HPU an 81-79 lead with just 21 seconds to play. FPU's Malcolm Griffin hit a layup to tie the game with 12 second left, and with HPU unable to convert in the final ticks, the game headed to overtime.
In the extra session, Farbod Farman would hit a jumper with 3:20 to play tying the game at 83. However, FPU would regain the lead in the coming minutes and would hold on for the win. The Sea Warriors would keep it a one possession game until the :36 second mark when Fresno Pacific iced the game at the foul line.
The game started horrifically for the Sea Warriors, HPU scored just four points in the first seven and a half minutes of the game. The lead for the Sunbirds would reach 22 points at the 5:58 mark of the first half with the score standing at 36-14. However, HPU would close the half strong. A layup from Malte Ziegenhagen would cut the lead to 44-34 as the teams headed to halftime.
The teams went back and forth to start the second half, by the 6:50 mark the FPU lead was 11 at 69-58. HPU would then makes its move, going on a 13-2 run to tie the game at 71 with 3:47 left to play.
HPU outplayed FPU in many facets of the game including field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage, rebounding and assists. However, HPU's 25 turnovers to FPU's 13 may have sealed HPU's fate. The Sunbirds also enjoyed a huge advantage at the foul line connecting on 33-40 (82.5%) as HPU just attempted 24, hitting 18 (75%).
Four Sea Warriors reached double figures in points, led by Marko Cukic's 19. Fellow post player Farman scored 17 while grabbing eight rebounds. Ziegenhagen also had eight rebounds to go with his 18 points. Jason Jordan led the club with 12 rebounds, he also added eight points. Point guard Jelany White had a game-high five assists as he scored 15 points, including two huge three-pointers.
After four road games in eight days, the HPU men will return to Oahu to take on University of Hawaii at Hilo on February 2nd at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
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