CLAREMONT, Calif. — Despite a game-high 21 points from Cooper Bladow, Pomona-Pitzer men's basketball fell 66-62 to UC Santa Cruz Saturday afternoon at Voelkel Gymnasium. 
 
Season Impact: The result puts the Sagehens at 5-7 on the season, including 1-3 in SCIAC play. 
 
Bladow reached 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-8 from three, to go with a career-high eight rebounds and three assists. Matthew Diekmann and Sam Lind added 10 points apiece while Charlie Hutchison and Kyle Jasper each contributed seven. 
 
The Sagehens got out to a strong start in the first half, with a pair of Jasper jumpers giving the team an 18-11 lead with 7:55 to go in the first. Diekmann scored in the paint and Bladow knocked down a three as Pomona-Pitzer maintained a 30-20 advantage into halftime. 
 
The Banana Slugs responded in the second, taking a 35-34 lead five minutes in. They pushed their lead to 12, 55-43, with 9:05 remaining. Pomona-Pitzer fought back, though, cutting its deficit to two with 2:20 left following a Bladow triple. UCSC scored in the paint with under a minute left, eventually holding on for the 66-62 win. 
 
Up Next: The Sagehens will travel to take on Occidental College next Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7:00 p.m. PT.