SANTA CRUZ (12-18) – After nearly a month away from home, the Banana Slugs returned to the friendly confines of Kaiser Permanente Arena and never trailed in defeating the University of Puget Sound 77-54 on Monday afternoon.

In the first half, the Banana Slugs started the game on a 25-12 run, capped by a pair of free throws by Treyson Keating with 7:40 left in the half. The Loggers would trim the lead to five on two occasions; the second occasion at 29-24 with 3:50 left in the half. The Banana Slugs would end the half on a 7-2 run to take a 36-26 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the closest the Loggers would come would be 12 at 42-30 on a Joel Kelly jumper with 16:52 left. The Banana Slugs would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at 26, at 75-49, on a Zach Granberry jumper with 4:23 left.

Joseph Espy had a game-high 15 points. Keating and Zino Okah each scored 10 points, with Keating adding 13 rebounds. The Banana Slugs made 45.8% (27-59) from the field, 40% (6-15) from three-point range and 70.8% (17-24) from the free throw line along with a 46-39 rebound advantage.

The 23-point win was not only the widest margin ever against the Loggers, it was the largest Banana Slug victory ever over a Northwest Conference opponent. The win was also UC Santa Cruz's biggest-ever Division III win in their ten years playing at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The Banana Slugs will continue the Holiday Classic against Nebraska Wesleyan at 7 pm Tuesday.