SANTA CRUZ, CA -- UC Santa Cruz played their second game in as many nights Thursday as they took on NAIA Division I member Westmont College at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The Banana Slugs were held to just two baskets from the team's starting five as the Warriors won 66-50. 

Both teams were coming off victories in their last contest. UC Santa Cruz was coming off a 65-60 win over Pacific Union College in Santa Cruz on Wednesday while Westmont was coming off a 66-50 victory over William Jessup University in Rocklin on Tuesday.

The Warriors would lead wire-to-wire as they would jump out to an early 9-2 lead after Cory Blau made a layup with 15:04 left in the half. The Banana Slugs would trim the Warriors' lead to four, at 12-8, after a James Townsend three pointer with 13:13 left in the half. The Warriors would then go on a 15-1 run, capped by a David Gunn layup with 4:11 left, to make the score 27-9. The Warriors would outscore the Banana Slugs 9-7 over the remaining time in the half to take a 36-16 lead into the halftime intermission. 

In the second half, the Warriors started the half with a 7-0 run, capped a Daniel Carlin free throw, to make the score 43-16 with 16:34 left. The Warriors would gain their largest lead of the game at thirty three, at 57-24, on a Kyle Gordon three pointer with 10:59 left. The Banana Slugs would trim into the Warriors lead coming as close as fifteen, with 1:04 left, at 65-50 after a Matt Nerland layup. Samuel Bentz would add a free throw and the Warriors would win 66-50. 

Corey Cilia had a game high twelve points, off the bench, for the Banana Slugs. Carlin had a game high twelve points for the Warriors. Ilan Zur had seven points off the bench in the loss. Blau had eleven points and Gordon had ten points for the Warriors.

The Banana Slugs shot 31.2% (15-48) from the field, 33.3% (7-21) from the three point line and was 65% (13-20) from the free throw line. The Warriors shot 48% (24-50) from the field, 30% (6-20) from the three point line and 48% (12-25) from the foul line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced fifteen Warrior turnovers scoring sixteen points off the turnovers while the Warriors' defense forced fourteen turnovers by UC Santa Cruz scoring fifteen points off the turnovers. Westmont outrebounded UC Santa Cruz 40-28 but the Banana Slugs had one more point (16-15) off the bench than did the Warriors. 

The Banana Slugs will play their next game on the road. The Banana Slugs will take on NAIA Division II member CSU Maritime Academy on Saturday in Vallejo. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm.