FRESNO, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University fell in its final road game of the season as Fresno Pacific rolled in the second half for an 86-45 PacWest Conference win on Tuesday at the FPU Special Events Center.
 
The Sharks (5-21, 2-17) were tied with the Sunbirds (17-8, 11-7) at 25-25 with 3:00 to play in the first half, when the Sunbirds went on a 10-1 run to end the half and a 15-3 run to start the second half.
 
Junior Elijah Martinez of Denver, Colo./Regis Jesuit and sophomore Jakob Kimura of Honolulu/Punahou led the Sharks with nine points each. Junior Trey Miller of Mukilteo, Wash./Archbishop Murphy added seven points with 11 rebounds.
 
Jelani Watson-Gayle hit eight 3-pointers on the way a game-high 28 points for HNU. Nate Kendricks scored 13 points and Darrin Person 10 points. Ryan Abbott led the Sunbirds with six rebounds.
 
The Sharks shot 27 percent (15-of-55) from the field, including 7-of-26 (27 percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU made 8-of-13 (62 percent) from the foul line. FPU connected on 59 percent (33-of-56) of its shots from the floor, including 16-of-28 (57 percent) from behind the arc. The Sunbirds made 4-of-8 (50 percent) from the charity stripe. FPU outrebounded HPU 44-26, but had eight turnovers to the Sharks seven.
 
HPU got out to an early lead, as redshirt freshman Jackson Young of Kerrville, Texas/Tivy hit a 3-pointer with the first shot of the game. The teams traded scores, leading to three ties and five lead changes. The final tie came when the Sharks knotted the game at 25-25 after a 5-0 run with 3:00 left on a layup from freshman Bodi Nageli of Herriman, Utah/Herriman. He was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw.
 
FPU got the rebound, and got the ball to A.J. Kirby for a 3-pointer to start a 10-0 run. A free throw by Kimura sent the game to the half with the Sunbirds up 35-26.
 
FPU exploded in the second half, opening the frame with a Watson-Gayle jumper and a Kendricks trey to start a 15-3 run to go up 21 on another Watson-Gayle triple at 50-29 with 12:38 remaining. HPU chipped back, including back-to-back 3's from Kimura and Martinez, only to see the Sunbirds go on an 11-0 run and put the game out of reach. The Sunbirds continued the push to the 86-45 triumph.
 
The Sharks close the season on Sunday afternoon when they host Chaminade for Senior Day and Homecoming. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at The Shark Tank.