Box score
Riverside - The Sunbirds, on the strength of seniors Rudy Lopez and Lesego Molebatsi, gave the host California Baptist University Lancers all they could handle tonight in Van Dyne Gymnasium.
Fortunately for the hosts, it wasn't quite enough as the Lancers held on for a 59-56 Golden State Athletic Conference win.
FPU trailed by two points at the break (22-20,) but thanks to Molebatsi, built a 5-point lead (47-52) with just under eight minutes to play.
The Lancers regained the lead for good (53-52) with 4:01 left on a layup by Junior Denson.
Lopez led FPU with 20 points and five rebounds. Molebatsi notched a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Jemell Swafford led the Lancers with 15 points and six rebounds. Denson finished with seven points.
The Sunbirds return to the Special Events Center on Tuesday evening when they host Concordia. Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m.
Updated Records
Sunbirds: 4-2, 0-1
California Baptist: 3-2, 1-1
Updated Series Record
Tonight's contest was the 60th in a series that dates back to February 12, 1965. The series is very evenly matched as evidenced by the dead-even 30 wins by each team. The Lancers have now won the last four consecutive games, and 10 of the last 13.
Next Game
Tuesday, December 6 (7:30) - The Sunbirds will host Concordia.
Next Home Game
Tuesday, December 6 (7:30) - The Sunbirds will host Concordia.
Fresno Pacific University offers undergraduate and graduate programs that stress solid academic preparation and a strong ethical foundation. Each year more than 2,000 traditional and adult students attend classes on the 42-acre main campus in southeast Fresno or centers in Visalia and Bakersfield. The university also reaches 12,000 students across the nation and around the world through professional development studies programs. The only four-year Christian university in the Central Valley, FPU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and ranked in the top quarter among Western universities master's category by U.S. News & World Report.
