SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — On the first day of the 2023 Holiday Classic hosted by the University of California, Santa Cruz, the Loggers took a devastating 77-54 loss to UCSC in Kaiser Permanente Arena on Monday afternoon.

12 Loggers scored in the loss but none in double digits and finishing with a 30% shooting percentage. Two freshman Hugo Rutherfurd and Cameron Wood led the scoring with nine and eight respectively. Jack Bailey Followed with seven. 

The Loggers men's basketball team didn't start the game off well, receiving three consecutive foul calls that lead to a 5-0 lead for the UCSC Banana Slugs. The Loggers struggled to find an open lane or an outside shot as the Banana Slugs held a strong defense that took away opportunities from the Loggers leading scorers. 

The Loggers fought back but couldn't catch the Banana Slugs as they chipped away at the lead. The Banana Slugs managed a 9-point stretch with two minutes of no scoring in between. The Loggers finished the first half down by 10.

The second half was just as tough, the Loggers couldn't break a lead and the Banana Slugs reached their biggest lead with 4:23 left on the clock and up 75-49. 

The Loggers play again tomorrow, Dec. 19 at 4:30 p.m. against Chapman University.