Thursday, January 18
Kaiser Permanente Arena
7:00 PM
UC Santa Cruz Athletics
8-10,0-0C2C
59
vs
73
Colorado College
9-7,4-4SCAC
1
2
F
Colorado Col.
27
46
73
UC Santa Cruz
28
31
59
McCloskey led UCSC in scoring for the second consecutive game
Photo by: Miles Oei
Men's basketball falls to Colorado College
1/18/2024 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
A late Colorado College run broke open a close game and gave the visiting Tigers a 73-59 win over UC Santa Cruz Thursday at Kaiser Permanente Arena.
The Banana Slugs fell to 8-10 this season.
In front of a boisterous crowd celebrating Staff Appreciation Night, three ties were early before the Tigers took a 16-10 lead with 11:22 left in the first half. UC Santa Cruz answered with a 10-1 run and took a 20-17 lead on Ian McCloskey's three-pointer with 6:49 left. The Banana Slugs made their lead 26-22 when Nelson Etuk spun away from his defender and had a running slam dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
UC Santa Cruz led 28-27 at halftime and pushed the lead to 40-31 on a McCloskey layup and another Etuk dunk after Tyler Kessinger stole the ball and found Etuk on the break. McCloskey hit a three-pointer to give the hosts a 49-44 lead with under nine minutes to play. However, the Tigers outscored UC Santa Cruz 29-10 the rest of the way to clinch the comeback win.
McCloskey led the Banana Slugs with 15 points. McCloskey also had team-highs of three assists and four of the team's 11 steals. Zino Okah added 11 points. Colorado College's Scott Ruegg led all players with 25 points.
The Banana Slugs have a week off before they travel east to face defending national champion Christopher Newport on Thursday, the 25th.
The Banana Slugs fell to 8-10 this season.
In front of a boisterous crowd celebrating Staff Appreciation Night, three ties were early before the Tigers took a 16-10 lead with 11:22 left in the first half. UC Santa Cruz answered with a 10-1 run and took a 20-17 lead on Ian McCloskey's three-pointer with 6:49 left. The Banana Slugs made their lead 26-22 when Nelson Etuk spun away from his defender and had a running slam dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
UC Santa Cruz led 28-27 at halftime and pushed the lead to 40-31 on a McCloskey layup and another Etuk dunk after Tyler Kessinger stole the ball and found Etuk on the break. McCloskey hit a three-pointer to give the hosts a 49-44 lead with under nine minutes to play. However, the Tigers outscored UC Santa Cruz 29-10 the rest of the way to clinch the comeback win.
McCloskey led the Banana Slugs with 15 points. McCloskey also had team-highs of three assists and four of the team's 11 steals. Zino Okah added 11 points. Colorado College's Scott Ruegg led all players with 25 points.
The Banana Slugs have a week off before they travel east to face defending national champion Christopher Newport on Thursday, the 25th.
Team Stats
CC
UCSC
FG%
.446
.410
3FG%
.474
.250
FT%
.667
.625
RB
40
30
TO
18
17
STL
12
11
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
