Whitman Whitm 2-3,0-0 NWC

UC Santa Cruz UCSC 5-2,0-0 C2C

Whitman Whitm

2-3,0-0 NWC

Final

Nov. 24, 2024

UC Santa Cruz UCSC

5-2,0-0 C2C

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Whitman Whitm	39	40	79
UC Santa Cruz UCSC	46	37	83

Summary
Box Score

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 11/24/2024 11:00:00 PM

Alex Pape Scores Career High, Blues Fall At UCSC

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Alex Pape delivered a game and career-high 32 points, but it couldn't overcome a better shooting performance from the Banana Slugs as the Whitman College men's basketball team fell to UC Santa Cruz 83-79 in the final game of the UC Santa Cruz Classic.

Milos Sarenac added 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Blues (2-3) who erased a late double digit lead and nearly pulled off the win. Ali Efe Isik chipped in eight points and nine rebounds.

Joe Espy scored a team-high 23 points for the Slugs and Zino Okah posted a double double with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Whitman trailed by two points approaching the midpoint of the second half, but fell behind by 13 with 8:30 remaining in the game. Caden Breznikar's and-one three point play capped the run that left UCSC with a 65-52 lead.

Pape halted the run after converting his own and-one three point play but the Slugs continued to lead by double digits. Okah's layup put his team up by 12 but Pape then started Whitman's run to the finish line, hitting a pair of free throws then nailing a three pointer to cut the lead to 71-64 with 5:43 to play.

The Blues locked in defensively and held UCSC to without a field goal for a stretch of four minutes and 16 seconds. Meanwhile, the offense began clicking as Whitman made it all the way back when Aiden von Buchwaldt nailed a three pointer to tie the game at 73-73 with 2:42 to play. Espy responded with a bucket to put the Slugs back up, but Pape struck right back with another three pointer to give Whitman a one-point lead with just under two minutes remaining.

Pape's triple would be the last basket of the game for either team. Both would make their living at the free throw line down the stretch with UCSC converting just enough more than the Blues to close out the win.

Whitman returns to the court on Thursday, Dec. 5 to host Hardin-Simmons University. Tipoff at the Sherwood Center is set for 6:00 p.m.

#GoWhitman

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