UC Santa Cruz men’s basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with an 83-96 defeat on November 6 at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. The Banana Slugs faced difficulties overcoming Redlands’ full-court press defense, falling behind early and unable to close the gap in the second half.
Forward Leo Wagner led UC Santa Cruz with 20 points, shooting 7-of-17 from the field including two three-pointers and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Off the bench, Hunter Kennedy contributed 17 points with an impressive 3-for-4 from three-point range and perfect free throw shooting, while Jack Rivera added 10 points and pulled down five rebounds.
The Banana Slugs shot 45 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc. Redlands applied a full-court press that disrupted UC Santa Cruz’s offensive flow, forced turnovers, and expanded the Redlands lead to nine points by halftime. Although UC Santa Cruz narrowed the deficit to one point briefly late in the first half, they were unable to find a consistent way to counter the press in the second half.
Thomas Conley, Miles Burrows, and Aidan Carleson all contributed scoring in the first half, with Carleson opening the scoring for UC Santa Cruz in the second half. Ollie Miller scored late in the game, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. UC Santa Cruz will look to rebound in their next game at home against UC Merced on November 12.
CSB Take
UC Santa Cruz men’s basketball showed resolve in their season opener despite challenges posed by Redlands’ defensive pressure. Leo Wagner and key bench players delivered strong individual performances that indicate promise for the team. Addressing turnover issues and improving effectiveness against full-court pressing defense will be vital as UC Santa Cruz prepares for upcoming games to build positive momentum.
Source: Original report
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