By: Ryan Lackey

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. --- The George Fox University men's basketball team narrowly lost a close, embittered game to the hosting UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs on Sunday night, 62-65.  With the loss, the Bruins fall to 0-2 in the Hotel Paradox Winter Classic.

Though Santa Cruz held the Bruins to an uncharacteristically low score, the Bruin defense was equally staunch. The Bruins went into halftime guarding a 32-28 lead, but the Banana Slugs ground out a comeback in the slow, defensive second half. From the field, the teams were remarkably similar, both shooting 43% overall. The Bruins had the slightest of advantages from beyond the arc, shooting 27% to the Banana Slugs 26%, and out-rebounded the Banana Slugs, 35-31. As usual, the Bruin offense worked quickly, totaling 16 fast-break points. Santa Cruz managed seven.

Stalwart guard Jonny Howard was the Bruin's pacesetter on offense, collecting 12 points and a pair of threes. He added four rebounds and dished four assists, good for the team lead. The energetic Eli Graham also surpassed double-digits, chipping in a season-high 11 points on a team-high 5-12 shooting. He tied Howard with four assists of his own, grabbed three rebounds, snatched a pair of steals and played resolute defense in an all-around performance.

Though the Bruins shooting kept pace with the Banana Slugs, turnovers again blunted the Bruin offense, as George Fox coughed up 13 giveaways while stealing only eight.

James Townsend led the Santa Cruz attack with 17 points and seven rebounds. Jared Ponce added 13 points, and Tre Weston fired in 12 of his own. Santa Cruz now stands at 5-9 after the victory.

With the loss, George Fox enters the Christmas holiday at 2-7. The Bruins restart their season on Jan. 2 at Linfield as they begin league play.