SANTA CRUZ, CA – UC Santa Cruz men's basketball capped off Senior Night in style, delivering a dominant 83-66 win over Simpson University at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The night was especially meaningful as the Banana Slugs honored seniors Zino Okah, Zach Granberry, Ryan Wilson, and Ian McCloskey, who all played pivotal roles in the victory.
 
How It Happened
The seniors made their presence felt from the start. Joe Espy led UCSC with 21 points and an impressive 17 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends. Zino Okah contributed 12 points, two steals, and two blocks in his final home game. Ian McCloskey added 10 points, and Ryan Wilson orchestrated the offense with nine points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Zach Granberry had six points, two rebounds, and two assists. Andrew Ferrara-Jones followed with 17 points, hitting four three-pointers.
 
UCSC dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Simpson 52-35 while also dishing out 19 assists. Their defensive pressure led to 14 steals, and key stops throughout the game. The Banana Slugs controlled the pace, shooting efficiently from the field and converting their free throws when needed.
 
With the energy from Senior Night fueling them, UCSC never let up, maintaining control throughout the game and sending their graduating players off in the best way possible with a big home win.
 
The Banana Slugs will now shift their focus to the Coast to Coast tournament in Salisbury, Maryland, looking to use their momentum to fight for a spot in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.