FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Looking for its first win over a ranked opponent in two decades, the Pacific men's basketball program will head to No. 18 Arkansas for a 5 p.m. (PT) game Monday at Bud Walton Arena.
 
The Tigers (3-2) are going for their first win over a ranked opponent since March 21, 2004 when they beat No. 21 Providence in the NCAA Tournament. Pacific was the No. 12 seed and beat the fifth-seeded Friars 66-58.
 
Senior Elias Ralph and sophomore Elijah Fisher have scored in double-figures in every game this season. Ralph averages 18.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while Fisher records 16.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per outing.
 
The two, both Canadians, have scored in double-figures in every game this season and were both named to the Outrigger Rainbow Classic All-Tournament Team in Hawaii. Ralph ranks third in the WCC in field goal percentage at .633 and has a pair of double-doubles.
 
The Tigers are ranked top-five in the nation in three-point percentage defense and lead the WCC with a .180 mark. Pacific has held the opposition to under 30 percent from long range in all five games this year. Pacific also leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game with 31.2.
 
Pacific will look to shake-off a hard fought 60-57 defeat to Northern Arizona on Thursday. Ralph tallied game-highs of 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as the Tigers trimmed a 15-point deficit down to three in the second half.
 
Arkansas (2-1) has wins over Lipscomb 76-60 and Troy 65-49. It fell to No. 8 Baylor 72-67. Adou Thiero leads the team with 17.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Johnell Davis, who also averages in double-figures, was named a Preseason All-American by CBS, Fox and Sports Illustrated.
 
Thursday's game can be watched live on SEC+ and can be heard on Fox Sports AM 1280 with Zack Bayrouty on the call.
 
NOTES
- Monday will be the first-ever meeting between Pacific and Arkansas. It will also be Pacific's first-ever game in the state of Arkansas.
 
- Pacific has seven wins all-time vs. ranked opponents, including three against the top-10. The highest ranked team the Tigers have ever beaten on the road is No. 24 New Mexico State on Jan. 28, 1995.
 
- Pacific posted an 80-67 win over San Jose State on a neutral court as both Ralph (14 pts/10 reb) and junior Lamar Washington (14 pts/10 asts) tallied double-doubles. It was the first time since Jan. 12, 2017 that two Tigers notched a double-double in the same game.
 
- The Tigers broke the school record for largest margin of victory with a 53-point win over Life Pacific. Pacific topped the previous school record of a 50-point margin in a 96-46 win over UC Irvine on Feb. 22, 1997. The Tigers were first credited with beating Bethesda by 58 points in an 88-30 decision on Jan. 16, 2016, but the win was later vacated.
 
- The Tigers opened the season with a 92-65 win over Jessup in front of 3,772 fans, the largest crowd for a home opener since Nov. 18, 2005 when it drew a crowd of 4,371 against Sonoma State. Washington broke the school record of 15 assists in a game.
 
- Widely regarded as the most successful Canadian college basketball coach of all time, Dave Smart enters his first season as the head coach. Smart arrived at Pacific after serving as Assistant Coach at Texas Tech last season. He previously amassed 656 victories as the head coach at Carleton University over 18 seasons.
 
Tigers Tickets
Tickets for upcoming events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474.  Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.
 
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