CLAREMONT, Calif. — Pomona-Pitzer men's basketball fell 67-58 to UC Santa Cruz Wednesday afternoon at Voelkel Gymnasium. 
 
Season Impact: The result puts the Sagehens at 5-4 on the season, including 1-1 in SCIAC play. 
 
Kyle Jasper led Pomona-Pitzer offensively with 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, while Cooper Bladow followed with 10 points. Charlie Hutchison had eight points and seven boards while Matthew Diekmann pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds to go with six points. 
 
The Banana Slugs got out to a quick start, leading 16-3 with 13:05 left in the first half. Diekmann scored a layup, but UCSC still led 22-12 with 7:54 left in the half. The Sagehens fought their way back to within five at the break, 29-24, after Jasper knocked down a triple and Hutchison scored in the paint. 
 
UCSC got out to another quick start in the second half, taking a 52-38 advantage midway through despite baskets from Charlie Treene, Huchison and Bladow. The Banana Slugs pushed their lead to 19, 63-44, with 5:07 remaining before Jasper hit another three. 
 
The Sagehens refused to go down easy, as Bladown hit a pair of threes and Jasper added another to bring the team within seven, 65-58, with 54 seconds left. But UCSC eventually held on for the 67-58 win. 
 
Up Next: Pomona-Pitzer will host the University of Alberta on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 4:00 p.m. PT.