Box Score SANTA CRUZ (12-19) – UC Santa Cruz men's basketball played their second game in as many nights as they took on Nebraska Wesleyan University at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The ballgame was tight throughout but, in the end, the Prairie Wolves defeated the Banana Slugs 65-63.

In the first half, the Prairie Wolves would start the game on an 18-10 run, but the Banana Slugs would come as close as one on three occasions; the third occasion at 26-25 on a Joseph Espy free throw with 2:16 left.
The Prairie Wolves led 28-25 at halftime, but in the second half, the two teams would trade baskets and the lead back and forth. The Banana Slugs would gain their first lead of the ballgame at 38-37 on a Zino Okah layup with 16:18 left and would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at 54-51 on a three-pointer by Ryan Wilson with 9:33 left. The Prairie Wolves would answer with an 11-3 run to take a five point lead, at 62-57, with 3:59 left. The Banana Slugs would trim the Prairie Wolves lead to one, at 64-63 and had a chance to win in the last 20 seconds, but could not get a final shot.
Caden Breznikar and Treyson Keating led the Banana Slugs in scoring and rebounds, both with 11 points and nine boards apiece. Ian McCloskey and Okah both scored 10 points, with Okah adding a team-high five assists.
The Banana Slugs shot 42.1% (24-57) from the field, 41.2% (7-17) from three-point range and 42.1% (8-19) from the free throw line.
UC Santa Cruz finishes the Holiday Classic Wednesday afternoon with a rematch against Puget Sound at 3:30pm.