CLAREMONT, Ca. – The UC Santa Cruz men's basketball team defeated the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens for the second time this season, earning a 66-62 comeback victory behind a 21 point night from
Joseph Espy. The season sweep is the first time the Banana Slugs have defeated the Sagehens twice in a year since the 2009-10 season. Pomona-Pitzer had the upper hand in the first half with a 30-20 advantage, but UCSC stormed back in the second half, dropping 46 points after the break while holding the Sagehens to 32 to secure the victory. The Banana Slugs are now 9-7 on the year and will travel to Vallejo, Ca. to take on Cal Maritime on Jan. 12 at 7:00 p.m.
How It Happened
The Banana Slugs struck first as
Joseph Espy tallied the team's first six points to put UCSC out in front 6-2. The Sagehens responded with a short 5-0 to take the lead at 7-6 but an Espy free throw and
Miles Burrows jumper put the Slugs back on top 9-7 with 14:51 left in the first half. From there, Pomona-Pitzer began to take control as they used an 11-2 run to take an 18-11 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the half.
Jaden Gamez nailed a three to bring the run to an end, but the Hens managed to close out the half on a 12-6 run to take a 30-20 advantage into the halftime break.
Out of the break, it was all
Ben Lim as he put the Slugs on a 7-2 run, hitting one three and two baskets in the paint to cut the Hens lead to 32-27. The run continued as UCSC outscored Pomona-Pitzer 19-7 over the course of five minutes and 43 seconds with eight points from
Hunter Kennedy, three from Espy, Gamez, and
Aidan Carleson, and two from
Leo Wagner, putting the Banana Slugs on top 46-39. The Banana Slugs continued to charge forward as Gamez,
Ollie Miller, and Wagner all hit shots from downtown to increase UCSC's lead to 55-43 with 9:05 remaining. Pomona-Pitzer used a 14-7 run to close the gap to 62-57 with 3:39 on the clock and later pulled within two points at 64-62 with two free throws and a three pointer.
Joseph Espy scored a hook shot with 58 seconds left for some added insurance with the team playing solid defense down the stretch to earn the comeback 66-62 victory.
