TACOMA, Washington – 'Tis the season for  a midweek matinee when the Puget Sound men's basketball team hosts UC Santa Cruz Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m.
 
Division up
Puget Sound's last game was a Northwest Conference contest at home against George Fox (Dec. 4). The Loggers won, 67-62. Since then, Puget Sound has been tested by a couple of NCAA D-II programs in exhibition games. The Loggers went up against St. Martin's (Dec. 8) and Seattle Pacific (Dec. 20). Mussie Teclemariam averaged seven rebounds between the two exhibition games, but the Saints and Falcons both beat the Loggers.
 
Haven't forgotten
Puget Sound and Santa Cruz last went head-to-head in Nov. 2019. The Banana Slugs slipped by with an 81-79 win. The Loggers were in a 42-27 hole at halftime, but they fought back to outscore UC Santa Cruz in the second half, 52-39.
 
Double-double threat
Cal Hansen is a threat to double-double in any given game. So far this season the two-time All-NWC selection is averaging 12.8 points and 9.9 rebounds.
 
Leading the way
Paul Johnson is Puget Sound's leading scorer, averaging 20.7 points per game. He is shooting 41.7-percent from 3-point range, and 45.5-percent from the floor.
 
Technically efficient
Mussie Teclemariam averages less than 20 minutes per game (18.6), but he averages 7.6 boards and 7.0 points while shooting 48.1-percent from the floor.
 
Scouting UC Santa Cruz (2-9)
The Banana Slugs take on Pacific Lutheran Tuesday afternoon before heading to Tacoma for Wednesday's game. Santa Cruz entered this week with a five-game losing streak. The team is shooting 40.2-percent from the floor, and committing 17.9 turnovers per game. With 12.4 points per game, Avri Finch is the team's leading scorer. He is also the Banana Slugs' leading rebounder (9.1).