SALISBURY, Md. – UC Santa Cruz men's basketball fought hard in a tightly contested game but fell 70-63 to Salisbury on Thursday at Maggs Center. The Banana Slugs showed resilience, cutting into the lead multiple times and staying within striking distance until the final moments.
 
How It Happened
UCSC had an even scoring attack, with Joseph Espy leading the way with 17 points and seven rebounds. Ian McCloskey added 12 points and three steals, while Zino Okah chipped in 11 points with three three-pointers. Andrew Ferrara-Jones contributed nine points, hitting three shots from beyond the arc.
 
The Banana Slugs shot 43.4% from the field and made eight three-pointers. They also collected 28 rebounds and forced seven steals, keeping pressure on Salisbury throughout the game. UCSC tied the game five times and took the lead on multiple occasions, but Salisbury managed to hold on down the stretch.
 
The Slugs fought to a late three point lead at 62-59 with 6:31 on the clock thanks to a shot from beyond the arc from Zino Okah. From there, the two teams went back and forth briefly, working to a 63-63 tie with 3:49 left to play. Unfortunately, the Slugs were held scoreless for the rest of the contest as Salisbury held on for the 70-63 win.
 
UC Santa Cruz will look to bounce back in its next matchup against Christopher Newport, which will be held on Saturday, February 1st, in Newport News, Virginia.