Oceanside, Calif. - Arizona Christian University (2-11) trailed 30-18 at halftime and fell behind by 16 points in the second half of its 67-54 loss to Pacific Union College (2-9), Tuesday, Dec. 20 collegiate men's basketball action in the CSU-San Marcos Holiday Classic at Mira Costa College in Oceanside, California. After a 10-day holiday break, ACU returns to action with a 6 p.m. game at Grand Canyon University, Friday, Dec. 30. 

Unlike Monday night's result when ACU was able to come back from 23 points down to beat CSU-San Marcos, 94-89, in overtime, the Firestorm was doomed in the first half by its low 28.6 shooting percentage (6-21), ineffective rebounding and nine turnovers which resulted in six PUC points, and continued poor shooting (35.5 percent, 11-31) and six more turnovers in the second half. Pacific Union shot 42.9 percent in the first half (12-28) and committed just four turnovers and after a 7-7 tie with 13:53 left, the Pioneers led the rest of the contest, including 30-18 at halftime, and built the lead to 16 points, 58-42, with 3:09 remaining in the game. ACU sliced the lead to 10 points, 58-48, with 1:29 left. 

ACU's sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.) totaled 14 points, one three-pointer, a season-high nine rebounds, two assists and three steals, and made four of his five free throws. Senior guard Joshua Cole (Phoenix, Ariz./Westview H.S.) finished with nine points, one three-pointer, two rebounds, one assist and two steals, and freshman forward Jared Culbert (Henderson, Nev./Coronado H.S.) added nine points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well H.S.) scored seven points and one three-pointer, and contributed two rebounds, three assists and one steal. 

Senior guard Houston Friend (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) and freshman reserve guard Judah St. Amand (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy both scored five points with one three-pointer, and reserve guard Derek James (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma H.S.) scored four points and grabbed three rebounds. 

Four Pacific Union starters scored double figures, led by 6-foot-8 senior Josh Jewett and sophomore guard Kalle Pascal with 17 points apiece. Jewett also gathered 13 rebounds, and Pascal contributed three rebounds and three steals. Junior forward Marcus Carter and junior guard Will Bell scored 14 points each. Carter also grabbed 10 rebounds and has 2 assists and 2 steals, and Bell made all eight of his free throw attempts and had two rebounds and one steal.