TACOMA, Washington – CJ Geathers scored a career-high 22 points to help lead the Puget Sound men's basketball team to a 78-63 win over UC Santa Cruz in Memorial Fieldhouse Wednesday afternoon.
 
Geathers netted 14 points in the first half, but Puget Sound held a close 32-30 lead at the break. It was Geathers' defense, however, that set the tone in the second half.
 
The junior guard from Tumwater, Washington recorded all four of his steals in the second half, including two steals in the first two minutes of the final period. Puget Sound's tenacious defense led to easy looks on the other end of the floor.
 
Puget Sound claimed a 10-point lead, 40-30, when Taj Phillips hit a 3-pointer off a pass from Grant Erickson. The lead grew to 15 points, 71-56, when Cal Hansen hit a layup with five minutes left in regulation.
 
Hansen finished the game with 21 points – one shy from matching his season-high. Phillips added 14 points in the winning effort – a season-high for the freshman guard.
 
The Loggers shot 53.3-percent (8-for-15) from 3-point range – the team's best mark of the season.
 
Puget Sound's next game is at Portland Bible, Jan. 4.