SANTA CRUZ, CA -- James Townsend hit a three pointer with 0.7 seconds left in the game to help UC Santa Cruz defeat NAIA Division II opponent Menlo College 62-59 Thursday night at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The game had fifteen ties and sixteen lead changes.

Both schools were coming off wins in their last contest. UC Santa Cruz was coming off a 64-48 victory over Bethesda University of California in Santa Cruz last Saturday and Menlo was coming off a 74-66 win over UC Merced in Merced last Saturday.

The Banana Slugs would start the game quickly with a 7-2 run capped by a Kyle Creighton layup with 15:27 left in the half. The Oaks would then crawl back into the game with a 10-2 run, capped by a Tyler Evans three pointer with 13:17 left, to make the score 12-9. The two teams would the lead back and forth through the remainder of the half as neither team gained a larger lead than three. Marshal Arnwine Jr. would score a layup with 2:06 remaining in the half to tie the game at 31-31. The game was tied at 31-31 going into the halftime break. 

In the second half, the teams would trade the lead back and forth for the first four minutes of the half. Jordan Collier would score on a tip in with 15:51 left to give Menlo their largest lead of the ballgame at 42-38. The Oaks would hold the Banana Slugs at arms' length for the majority of the half. Arnwine Jr. would hit a three pointer with 4:06 left to give the Banana Slugs a one point lead at 51-50. The two teams would once again trade baskets down the stretch. Mikey Eggleton made a jumper for the Oaks with forty five seconds left to give the Oaks a 59-57 lead. Twenty five seconds later, Townsend would make a layup to tie the game at 59-59. A swarming Banana Slugs' defense would force Eggleton into a turnover. The Banana Slugs did not call a timeout and Matthew Ponce found Townsend wide open just left of the top of the three point circle and Townsend hit the basket with 0.7 seconds left to give the Banana Slugs a 62-59 lead. Menlo's ensuing inbound pass was tipped by Jared Ponce and the Banana Slugs won 62-59. The win marked the first time since the 2011-2012 season that the Banana Slugs have won more than ten contests in a season. 

Townsend had a game high seventeen points for the Banana Slugs. Brad Sawin had thirteen points for the Oaks. Tyler Berkness had fourteen points, off the bench, in the win. Eggleton had eleven points and Ben Graham had ten points for the Oaks. 

The Banana Slugs shot 40% (24-60) from the field, 42.9% (9-21) from the three point line and was 62.5% (5-8) from the free throw line. The Oaks shot 39.3% (22-56) from the field, 25% (5-20) from the three point line and 90.9% (10-11) from the foul line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced nine Oak turnovers scoring nine points off the turnovers while the Oaks' defense forced eight turnovers by UC Santa Cruz scoring seven points off the turnovers. UC Santa Cruz outrebounded Menlo 37-36 and the Banana Slugs had nine more bench points (22-13) than did the Oaks. 

The Banana Slugs will have nineteen days to get ready for their next game. The next game for the Banana Slugs is February 10^th as they will take on NAIA Division II member UC Merced at Kaiser Permanente Arena. Tipoff is set for 4 pm. The game will serve as Senior Night.