THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran's Austin Cole scored a career- and game-high 36 points and Kyle Ferreira added a career-high 28 more as the Kingsmen opened the season and the Tim Fusina era with a 91-85 overtime win against UC Santa Cruz Wednesday night in Gilbert Arena.
It was opening night for both teams and the Kingsmen won its first game of the season for the second straight year.
Cole was efficient as he scored his 36 points on 17 attempts. His previous career-high was 27 points, which he set last season. He got the free-throw line at will and was 16-for-19. He added four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal.
Ferreria made 9-of-19 shots and 8-of-11 free-throws as he out up his new career-high of 28 points. He recorded five rebounds and four assists.
KJ Moffett made it three Kingsmen in double-figures as he scored 10. He added five rebounds and five assists. Connor Cole and Cole Thomas both scored their first collegiate points as each freshmen chipped-in four.
CLU started off strong and scored the first five points. The Kingsmen continued to add to its lead and eventually were up by 10, 14-4. They controlled the pace and kept the margin as the score climbed to 20-10. The biggest lead was with five minutes left as the Violet and Gold were up 34-20 and then 36-22. The Banana Slugs were able to cut into the lead a little bit and were down 42-32 at the half.
In the second half, it was UC Santa Cruz that came out fired up and went on a 13-3 run and tied up the game at 45 with 15 minutes left. The score went back in forth over the next minutes with each team leading no more than four points. UCSC eventually went on a run and were up 65-5t, its biggest lead, with 7:30 left in regulation. A little bit later, a three-pointer by Ferreira and a layup by Blake Miles made it a one-point game at 70-69. The score remained close the rest of the way and was tied at 74 at the end of regulation.
In overtime, it came down to free-throws and defense. The Kingsmen made four-of-six shots from the field and made 9-of-13 free throws. The defense held UCSC to four-of-11 from the firld and the Banana Slugs on shot two free throws. Cal Lutheran outscored UCSC 17-11 in overtime and walked away with the win 91-85.
Sam Gabbard led UCSC in points and rebounds as he finished with a double-double with 28 and 13, respectively. Adam Marlow had a game-high eight assists and Tre Weston added three steals.
The Kingsmen are on the road for the next game and travel to Vanguard Monday for a game at 7:30 p.m.
Box Score CLU 91, UCSC 85 (OT)
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
