The UCSC Banana Slugs couldn’t throw a ball in the ocean as they shot a dismal 29% (20-68) from the floor and 28% (6-21) from the three point line on their way to a 53-69 defeat at the hands of the Dominican University Penguins.

 “We just couldn’t get it to fall tonight”, stated Coach Johnson, as the Slugs got good looks at the basket all night.  Jimmy Herrera led all the Slugs with 24 points (10-20 field goals and 2-7 three pointers) however; he was the only Slug to break into double figures.

The Slugs jumped out to a quick 3 point lead after Herrera hit two buckets and Lorenzo Hutton streaked in for a lay-up off the steal from the Slugs press.  Unfortunately, they hit a cold spell that allowed the Penguins to run off 15 unanswered points and the Slugs never could recover.

The Slugs, who were bigger than the Penguins, could not take advantage of their size and only managed to get a total of 9 points from their post players.  “We should have attacked inside out instead of relying on our perimeter game.  These are things that we are still learning about ourselves, but that’s what happens with young teams”, stated Coach Johnson after the game.

Even though this was a tough lost for the Slugs because this was a game they felt they could win, they still feel upbeat as they get ready for their upcoming road trip to Colorado.  “We will get back in the gym to iron out some of our mistakes and work on getting our shooting eyes back and hopefully get back on the right track,” stated Coach Johnson

On the positive side, the Slugs pressure defense forced Dominican into18 turnovers.  The Slugs managed to play even in the second half after being out scored 24-39 in the first half and Michael Hicks was 3 for 6 from behind the three point line