HAYWARD, Calif.---  Stan State used a total team effort to defeat Fresno Pacific 74-62 in its regular season opener at the CCAA/PacWest Challenge at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward, Calif.  The Warriors were led by the trio of Jason Zimmer (16 points), Jeremiah Jones (15 points), and Daniel Ameyaw (12 points).  They held the Sunbirds to just 22% shooting from three-point land and forced 14 turnovers by their opponents.

FIRST HALF:  Fresno Pacific jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game capped by a Ryan Abbott lay-up.  William Chavarin's tip-in capped an 8-2 run by the Warriors as they tied the game at 12-12 with 12:35 left in the half.  Back-to-back three-pointers by Jason Zimmer gave Stan State a 25-16 lead with just six minutes to go in the first stanza.  The Warriors increased their lead to 35-24 on back-to-back baskets by Jeremiah Jones to end the half. 

SECOND HALF:  The Warriors kept their run going to start the second half as they took a 46-27 lead just four minutes into the half on a Daniel Ameyaw lay-up off an assist from Jeremiah Jones.  Fresno Pacific (0-1) didn't go away as the Sunbirds cut the Warrior lead to 61-53 at the 4:42 mark of the half.  A Jones lay-up and two free throws by Ameyaw increased Stan State's lead to 65-53.  Once again, FPU cut the Warrior lead to single digits this time, 67-60, with a little over 90 seconds left in the game.  Stan State finished the game going seven-for-eight from the line including a perfect six-for-six from the trio of Cameron Walker, Mahda Fallay, and Jason Cibull as the Warriors took the regular season opener 74-62.

BOMBS AWAY:  In his first game as a Warrior, Jason Zimmer scored a game high 16 points off the bench in 21 minutes.  Zimmer went five-for-six from the field including connecting on four of his five attempts from beyond the arc.  He also went two-for-three from the line. 

TRIO IN DOUBLE FIGURES:  Stan State had three players score in double digits this evening in its season opener.  Jason Zimmer had a game high 16 points while Jeremiah Jones chipped in 15 points and Daniel Ameyaw added 12 points for the Warriors. 

33-17:  The Warriors' bench outscored FPU's 33-17 led by Jason Zimmer's 16 points.  William Chavarin added five points for the victors.  The trio of Lloyd French, Fabian Reichstadt, and Jason Cibull each scored four points.

22%:  Stan State's defense held the Sunbirds to just 22% shooting from three-point land.  The Warriors also forced 14 turnovers and scored 21 points on those turnovers.  Of those turnovers, seven came from steals.  Cameron Walker had three steals with Jordan Smith recording two.  Daniel Ameyaw and Jason Cibull each had one steal.

JUST 7:  The Warriors had just seven turnovers including none in the second half.  They had 13 assists including three each by Cameron Walker and Jeremiah Jones.  Jonathan Tchengang had two assists, and five Warriors had one assist apiece in Daniel Ameyaw, Lloyd French, William Chavarin, Jason Cibull, and Jason Zimmer. 

UP NEXT: Stan State will return to the court tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., when the Warriors face Point Loma in their second game of the CCAA/PacWest Challenge in Hayward, Calif.  Point Loma defeated Cal State East Bay 83-66 this evening to improve to 3-0.