Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- It took every last second and every last one of Biola's 26 made free throws to earn a 73-69 overtime win over Fresno Pacific in a thriller of a season-opener.
 
After a tooth-and-nail game throughout a huge putback jam from Steve Herve and two made free throws by Mike Kurtz was all the difference in a game that was not decided until there were just three ticks left on the game clock.
 
"The first one is always the toughest one for any coach," said Head Coach Dr. Dave Holmquist. "You want to win that first game. A close win like that feels so good. Conversely, a close loss like that would feel so bad so this was really a nice win for us."
 
Dakari Archer stole the show throughout the match, drawing fouls and draining free throws all night long. The sophomore guard led all players with 26 points, shooting 18-for-22 from the free throw line. His solid free-throw shooting made up for some misses from the floor, as he shot just under 33 percent from the floor.
 
"Dakari was great," said Holmquist. "Down the stretch her was making all those free throws, and we needed every one of them."
 
Both teams split the first two halves, with Biola leading 31-24 at halftime before the Sunbirds posted 40 points in the second half to tie the score at 64 at the end of regulation and force the game into a five-minute period of free basketball.
 
The first half of the overtime went much like the rest of the contest with the two teams splitting buckets and missing a combined six shots from the floor. The first foul of the overtime period sent Archer to the line and her drained his two opportunities with just over two minutes left in the first overtime.

Then, as they had all night long, Fresno Pacific attempted a three-point shot. Babby Barnes nailed the shot at just the right time and put the Sunbirds up by one. That trey was just the fourth successful three-point attempt FPU's shooters had all night. Twenty-one of its 58 attempts from the floor came from deep.
 
After that came three consecutive points from Biola's freshman big-man, Steve Herve. Included in those three points was the moment of the night as the 6-foot-6-inch post player grabbed a rebound off a missed layup from Archer and put it back with a huge dunk to put Biola in front 71-69 with just :03.6 left on the clock.
 
A turnover by Fresno Pacific, one of its 14 on the night, and two made free throws by Kurtz sealed the deal and moved Biola to 1-0 on the season.
 
"We have a young team. I think this win will give our guys some confidence and added motivation for the season," said Holmquist.
 
Herve added 13 points and 13 rebounds to cement a double-double in his first ever game with Biola. He also played more minutes than anyone else in the game, with 44 minutes on the hardwood. Two blocks and just one turnover solidified a fantastic first performance.
 
"Steve is going to be very good. He can block shots and her really works at playing post defense," said Holmquist. "There are things he has to improve, but he is physical and he wants to play the post defense. He is a good offensive player, but he is eventually going to be an excellent offensive player."
 
Biola will enjoy this win as it moves the team to 1-0 on the season, but it still has much to work on headed deeper into the preseason. The Eagles shot 39 percent from the floor and 16 percent from behind the arc, both numbers this shooting-focused team will look to move up.
 
Its next chance on the floor is a road match at La Sierra on Thursday Nov. 6.