SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Cal Lutheran senior Austin Cole recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but the Kingsmen fell to the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, 68-65, Friday night in West Field House.
The game was the regular season opener for the Kingsmen. UC Santa Cruz played its second game and is 1-1.
Cole recorded his career-high and it was the first time he pulled double-digit rebounds as he had 10. He added three assists and one steal.
Senior Kyle Ferreira led the Kingsmen in scoring and put up 19. He tallied seven rebounds, two assists and one block.
Junior Palmer Chaplin and senior Michael Wadsworth scored eight and seven points, respectively. Chaplin added five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Wadsworth tallied a team-high four assists and chipped in with five rebounds.
Freshman Tyler Brabant, freshman Charlie Lee, junior transfer Caleb Thomas and freshman Jared Wulbrun each saw their first action in Violet and Gold. Wulbrun and Brabant scored their first collegiate points in the game. Wulbrun scored six points, as he made two three-points. Brabant made both of his shots for four points.
Both team's statistics for the game were pretty even. UCSC made 44.3-percent of the shots and CLU made 41 percent. The Kingsmen were 38.5-percent behind the three-point line and the Banana Slugs had a 30.8-percentage.
Santa Cruz got out to the quick lead and led 14-7. The Banana Slugs pushed the lead to as much as 11 in the first half and were up 21-10. Cal Lutheran chipped into the lead as Wadsworth made a jump shot to cut the lead to 34-29 with 28 seconds left in the half. That score remained the same going into the second half.
The second half continued to be close and the Banana Slugs never led more than six points throughout the first seven minutes. With 5:43 left in the game, the Kingsmen tied up the score at 55. With UCSC up 64-59, Chaplin and Wadsworth hit back-to-back threes and CLU had its first lead of the second half. The Kingsmen were up 65-64 with 1:16 left in the game. Santa Cruz was able to take the lead back and were up 68-65. CLU had one final shot with two seconds left, but Ferreira's three-pointer was in and out.
Cal Lutheran continues the Slugs Tipoff Classic tomorrow. The Kingsmen take on Linfield Saturday at 5 p.m.
Box Score: UCSC 68, CLU 65
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Release byRyan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
