LA MIRADA --- Charlie Gehler matched his career high with 28 points as Biola men's basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a 77-61 win over Fresno Pacific at Chase Gymnasium. The victory marked the 1,096th of head coach
Dr. Dave Holmquist's career.
Gehler shot 11-of-19 from the floor and 6-of-11 from three-point range, adding five assists, five rebounds and two steals.
Grayson Sinek contributed 16 points including four three-pointers, while
Prince Oseya recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Oseya also blocked four shots.
Facundo Aranda dished out seven assists, and
Leyton Martin provided a spark off the bench with eight points, going 2-for-2 from three and 2-for-2 at the line.
As a team, the Eagles shot 44 percent from the floor and 48 percent from beyond the arc (13-of-27). Biola also controlled the glass, outrebounding the Sunbirds 44-36, and blocked five shots. Fresno Pacific shot 38 percent from the field and connected on just four of its 26 attempts from three.
Gehler accounted for 16 of Biola's 33 first-half points, helping the Eagles establish an early advantage. His second three-pointer gave Biola a 15-7 lead, and another from deep made it 27-18 midway through the period. Fresno Pacific responded late, however, trimming the deficit to 33-29 at halftime.
Biola pushed its lead to 41-29 early in the second half, but the Sunbirds battled back, eventually tying the game at 53, 55 and 57, with the final deadlock coming at the 7:32 mark. The Eagles responded with a decisive 15-0 run to take control. Sinek knocked down a three,
Walker Weir hit a mid range jumper and Gehler added another triple before setting up Oseya for a layup. The surge put Biola ahead 72-57 with 3:14 remaining.
The Eagles shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half and connected on eight of their 14 three-point attempts to close out the season-opening victory.
Biola begins the season 1-0 and will return to Chase Gymnasium on Friday, Nov. 13, hosting Cal State LA at 2 p.m.
