ORANGE, Ca. – The UC Santa Cruz men's basketball team fell short in a 76-73 loss to Chapman University on Monday. The Banana Slugs led for much of the game, taking a 37-29 halftime lead behind efficient shooting and strong ball movement. However, Chapman rallied in the second half, and UCSC could not close the gap in the final moments.
 
How It Happened
The Banana Slugs set the tone early, shooting 47% from the field in the first half while controlling the pace. They forced several turnovers and capitalized on second-chance opportunities to build an eight-point lead at the break. In the second half, Chapman responded with a run of their own to tighten the game. UCSC stayed within striking distance, but Chapman prevailed in the end, handing the Slugs a 76-73 loss.
 
Joe Espy led the Slugs with 20 points while adding seven rebounds. Zino Okah contributed 12 points, six assists, and four rebounds, and Ryan Wilson finished with nine points, seven assists, and two steals. Caden Breznikar and Miles Burrows provided a spark off the bench, combining for 20 points to keep UCSC in the game.
 
As a team, UCSC shot 40.9% from the field, knocked down eight three-pointers, and converted 11 of 16 free-throws. Defensively, they forced 15 turnovers, scoring 13 points off those opportunities while showing their depth and resilience throughout the contest.
 
The Banana Slugs look to bounce back in their next matchup against Redlands University Wednesday, December 18th, at 3:00 PM in Redlands, California.