CLAREMONT - UC Santa Cruz fell at defending SCIAC champ Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 73-58 on Sunday to close a weekend road trip.

The Banana Slugs fell to 5-4 while CMS improved to 4-3.

UCSC could do no wrong in the first half, shooting 55.6% (15-27) from the field in the opening 20 minutes and racing to a 35-21 lead.

However, they opened the second half missing their first six shots and the hot-shooting Stags responded with a 25-5 run to take a 46-40 lead with 10:24 to go. Rashard Thornhill hit a three to stop the bleeding and make it 46-43. However, the Stags finished the game on a 27-15 run to earn the win. UCSC hit just five shots in the last ten minutes and shot 29.6% (8-27) in the second half. 

Free-throws didn't fall for the Slugs either as UCSC hit 26.7% (4-15) from the line for the game.

Sam Gabbard lead UCSC with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Patrick Ramos and Russell Taylor each scored 11.

Nicolas Segura Dobjanschi hit 19 of his 21 points in the second half to lead CMS. Mark Sui added 14 points.

The Banana Slugs continue their month-long roadtrip when they return to southern California next weekend, starting with a trip to Caltech on Saturday the 15th.