Box Score SANTA CRUZ, CA -- UC Santa Cruz played their first game on campus of the season tonight against Bethesda University of California. The Banana Slugs used a strong second half defensive effort and won 64-48 over the Flames.
UC Santa Cruz was coming off a 75-57 victory over California Maritime Academy in Vallejo last Saturday. Bethesda was coming off a 75-65 loss to St. Katherine College in San Marcos on January 7th.
The Flames gained their largest lead of the ballgame on the first basket of the game on a Mark Ware jumper to make the score 2-0 with 19:28 left in the half. The Banana Slugs would take the lead for good, at 8-6, on a Jared Ponce three pointer with 15:47 left in the half. The Banana Slugs would expand their lead to double digits, at 27-17, on a Tyler Berkness three pointer with 6:35 left in the half. The Flames would cut the Banana Slugs' lead to two on two occasions; the second occasion coming at 29-27 on a Daniel Chavez with 2:55 remaining in the half. The Banana Slugs would lead 33-29 at the halftime intermission.
In the second half, the Banana Slugs would quickly expand their lead to double digits with a 12-4 run. The run was capped by a Jared Ponce three point play with 16:06 left to make the score 45-31. The Flames cut the Banana Slugs' lead to three at 49-46 after two Jamelle Holiway Jr. free throws with 7:03 left. The Banana Slugs would then go on a 15-2 game-ending run. The Banana Slugs would take on their largest lead of the game at sixteen at 64-48 with fifty six seconds left on a Marshal Arnwine Jr. layup. The Banana Slugs won 64-48 for their second consecutive win and their fourth win in five games.
James Townsend had a game high nineteen points for the Banana Slugs. Chavez had sixteen points for the Flames. Jared Ponce had fourteen points in the win. Holiway Jr. had fourteen points and Ware had eleven points for the Flames.
The Banana Slugs shot 40.3% (25-62) from the field, 26.1% (6-23) from the three point line and was 61.5% (8-13) from the free throw line. The Flames shot 41.3% (19-46) from the field, 14.3% (2-14) from the three point line and 61.5% (8-13) from the foul line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced fifteen Flame turnovers scoring twelve points off the turnovers while the Flames' defense forced twelve turnovers by UC Santa Cruz scoring eleven points off the turnovers. UC Santa Cruz outrebounded Bethesda 40-28 and the Banana Slugs had thirteen more second chance points (18-5) than did the Flames.
The Banana Slugs will have five days to prepare for their next opponent. The next game for the Banana Slugs is Thursday as they will take on NAIA Division II member Menlo College at Kaiser Permanente Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 pm.
