CHICAGO, Ill. – The UC Santa Cruz men's basketball team fell 96-78 to No. 3 Emory University on Sunday morning at the Gerald Ratner Athletics Center. The Banana Slugs were led by Leo Wagner's 21 points and eight rebounds while Andrew Ferrara-Jones added 17 points with Joe Espy scoring 19 on 6-of-10 shooting. UCSC shot 80.6% from the free-throw line and scored 26 points off the bench in the effort. The Slugs will return to action on Friday, November 21st, when they travel to Claremont to take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

How It Happened
UCSC faced early pressure but settled into their offense with steady play from the starters. After trailing 11-2, the Slugs answered with back-to-back three pointers from Joe Espy and Leo Wagner, cutting the score to 13-8. Wagner kept the offense going by driving to the basket and getting to the free-throw line, helping UCSC stay close.

UCSC played strong half-court defense and moved the ball better, but turnovers kept them from building long runs in the first half. Wagner scored 14 points before halftime, and inside baskets from Espy and help from the bench kept the Slugs in the game but they trailed 46-33 at the half.

The Slugs started the second half with more energy, playing faster and making more shots. Ferrara-Jones drove to the basket and later hit a three-pointer while Wagner added another three to cut the lead to single digits. Soon after, Ferrara-Jones made two straight threes, bringing UCSC as close as 63-60, their smallest deficit of the game.

Wagner and Espy kept scoring late in the game with Espy making shots inside and Wagner hitting important free throws. Caden Breznikar scored six points and grabbed five rebounds, and Thomas Conley and Miles Burrows each added key baskets off the bench. In the end, UCSC's comeback fell short as Emory pulled away in the final minutes to take the 96-78 win.