FRESNO, Calif. — Less than a week after recording its largest margin of victory against Fresno Pacific, the Dominican University of California men's basketball team fell to the same opponent on Wednesday, 87-77.

The Sunbirds shot the lights out on Wednesday night, going 53.8 percent (28-of-52) on the night and 47 percent (7-of-15) from three-point range. Dominican was without center Mathew Lipski, who led the Penguins on the boards in the two teams' last meeting, and was was outrebounded 19-8 in the first half, though Dominican cleaned the glass in the second half to match FPU 29-29 by the end of the night. However, the first half helped FPU to build a 33-26 lead, one that it would not relinquish. FPU led by as many as 16 points in the second half, thanks in part of an even hotter second half of shooting (57 percent, 15-of-26). The Penguins pulled within five multiple times in the final minutes but were unable to get any closer. The Penguins were whistled for 28 fouls, which sent the Sunbirds to the free throw line 35 times. FPU made 24 of those freebies while Dominican made it to the line just 18 times.

Matt Hayes led the Penguins with 23 points. Dominique Taplin, the Penguins' scoring leading this season, matched his average with 16 points in the loss. Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten added 13 points and a team-high five rebounds. Jonny Bates scored nine points on three three-pointers.

Roger Paul led the way with a season-high 28 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field, 3-for-3 from long-range, and 9-for-10 from the line. Bobby Barnes and Madison Higgins added 18 points apiece for FPU and Trevon Clayton pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.

Dominican has six games remaining in the regular season. The only opponent the Penguins have yet to face this season is sixth-place Hawai'i Pacific, who they'll face on Tuesday, Feb. 24 in Hawaii. Dominican is back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Notre Dame de Namur. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Belmont, California.