SANTA CRUZ (12-18) – The College of Wooster outscored UC Santa Cruz by fifteen in the second half en route to a 80-71 victory at Kaiser Permanente Arena.

The Banana Slugs dropped their fourth in a row and fell to 2-9 on the season.

In the first half, the Banana Slugs started the game on an 20-11 run, capped by a Tyler Kessinger jumper with 12:07 left in the half. The Fighting Scots would come as close as four, at 22-18 before the Banana Slugs would go on a 15-4 run, capped by a Kessinger jumper with 6:01 left in the half, to gain their largest lead of the game at 37-22. From that point, the Fighting Scots would go on a 13-4 half-ending run, capped by a Brandon Styers layup with no time remaining, to trim the Banana Slugs lead at halftime to 41-35.

In the second half, the two teams would trade baskets, and the lead, for the majority of the half. The Banana Slugs gained their largest lead of the half at eight, at 45-37, on an Avri Finch jumper with 17:56 left. Wooster would then go on a 20-12 run, capped by a Jamir Billings layup with 11:12 left, to tie the game at 57-57. The Fighting Scots would take the lead for good, at 66-65, on a Billings free throw with 6:15 left. The Fighting Scots would gain their largest lead of the game at nine on two occasions; the second occasion, at 80-71, after a pair of Najee Hardaway free throws with ten seconds left.

Finch had 17 points to lead the Banana Slugs. Kessinger and Ian McCloskey each had 15. Kessinger also had a season-high six assists. The Banana Slugs shot 46.9% (30-64) from the field, 23.8% (5-21) from the three-point line and were 75% (6-8) from the free throw line.

Kurt had a game-high 31 for the Fighting Scots (7-1). Billings added 21 points, with 10 assists and 9 rebounds. The College of Wooster outrebounded UC Santa Cruz 40-33 and were 22-31 (71%) from the line.

The Banana Slugs will start a four-game road trip on Monday as they take on Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. Tipoff is set for 2 pm.