Box Score PARKLAND (12-21) –The Banana Slugs started a whirlwind trip to the state of Washington as they took on Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland. The Lutes outscored the Banana Slugs by three in each half for a 68-62 victory.
 
In the first half, the two teams would trade baskets for the first 3:30 of clock time. The Banana Slugs would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at 11-9 on an Avri Finch layup with 15:59 left in the half. From that point, the Lutes would go on a 12-5 run, capped by a Brandin Riedel jumper with 9:29 left in the half, to gain their largest lead of the half at 21-16. The Lutes would lead 35-32 at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Lutes gained their largest lead of the ballgame at 50-36 with 14:05 left. The Banana Slugs would answer with a 21-12 run, capped by a Finch free throw with 3:02 left, to trim the Lutes' lead to 62-57. The Banana Slugs would get no closer however.
 
Finch had 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Banana Slugs. Calvin Keyes had 11 and Ian McCloskey and Zino Okah had ten apiece.
Seth Hall had a game-high twenty-two for the Lutes (7-2).
 
The Banana Slugs shot 30.4% (21-69) from the field, 26.1% (6-23) from the three-point line and were 82.4% (14-17) from the free throw line. The Lutes shot 49% (25-51) from the field, 18.8% (3-16) from the three-point line and were 57.7% (15-26) from the free throw line.
UC Santa Cruz outrebounded Pacific Lutheran 47-34.

The Banana Slugs will complete their trip to Washington tomorrow as they take on Puget Sound in Tacoma at 2 pm.