PASADENA, CA – UC Santa Cruz men's basketball secured a gritty 74-68 win over Caltech on Sunday at Braun Gymnasium. The Banana Slugs led wire-to-wire, weathering a second-half rally by the Beavers to secure the victory.

How It Happened
The Banana Slugs came out strong, building a 10-point halftime lead at 37-27. Zino Okah was pivotal in the first half, scoring 13 of his 15 points and hitting two three-pointers. UCSC shot an efficient 50% from the field in the first 20 minutes, establishing control early.

In the second half, UCSC faced increased pressure but maintained their composure with crucial buckets and solid free-throw shooting. Defensive stops and consistent playmaking proved key in holding Caltech's late-game push. 

Joseph Espy and Zino Okah each scored 15 points, with Espy adding eight rebounds and two blocks. Caden Breznikar provided a spark off the bench with 13 points, while Ian McCloskey contributed nine points, including clutch free throws down the stretch. Ryan Wilson orchestrated the offense and made big plays on defense with five assists and three steals.

The Banana Slugs excelled defensively, forcing 14 turnovers and converting them into 20 points. UCSC also dominated in the paint, scoring 32 points inside and outscoring Caltech 24-4 in bench production. 

UCSC will look to stay in the win column next game against Chapman University on Monday, December 16th, at 5:00 PM in Orange, California.