WHITTIER (11-10) – The Banana Slugs opened their 2023-24 campaign as they traveled to Southern California to take on Whittier College. The Banana Slugs defeated the Poets 90-79
 
In the first half, the Banana Slugs would start the game on a 8-0 run capped by a Zino Okah three-pointer with 18:31 left. The Banana Slugs gained their largest lead of the half at 36-22 on Caden Breznikar's layup with 7:07 left in the half. The Poets would come as close as eight on two occasions; the second occasion at 48-40 on a Jake Estep three pointer with 37 seconds left.
 
In the second half, the Banana Slugs would hold the Poets at arms' length. The Poets would come as close as five, at 50-45, on a Kevin Dobson three-pointer with 19:22 left. The Banana Slugs would expand their lead to double digits, at 73-62, on a fast break layup by Nelson Etuk with 7:25 left and would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at fifteen at 86-71 on a Tyler Kessinger free throw with 2:16 left.
 
Joseph Espy had a career-high seventeen points off the bench to lead the Banana Slugs. Kessinger had thirteen points and three players – Treyson Keating, Ian McCloskey and Okah – had eleven points apiece in the victory with Keating adding eleven rebounds for a double-double.
Aamari Smith had a game-high twenty-two for the Poets.
 
The Banana Slugs shot 53.7% (29-54) from the field, 28.6% (6-21) from the three-point line and were 70.3% (26-37) from the free throw line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced eleven turnovers by the Poets scoring fifteen points off the turnovers while the Poets' defense forced fifteen turnovers by UC Santa Cruz scoring fourteen points off the turnovers. UC Santa Cruz outrebounded Whittier 46-33 and the Banana Slugs had twenty-two more points off the bench (41-19) than did the Poets.
 
The Banana Slugs will take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps tomorrow in Claremont at 1 pm.