SANTA CRUZ, Calif.---  With 21 seconds left in overtime, UC Santa Cruz's Ryan Matsuoka drained a long distance three-pointer to give the Banana Slugs a 69-68 win over the visiting SF State Gators in an exhibition game in Santa Cruz.  Matsuoka finished with a game high 20 points while Phoenix O'Rourke (San Mateo, California, Junipero Serra)paced the Gators with 16 points.
    "That is a very good UC Santa Cruz team and the played well," said SF State Head Coach Bill Treseler.  "We played hard, but there is plenty to take from this game in terms of needed improvement," added Treseler.  "Phoenix O'Rourke, Ralph Nevarez (West Covina, California, East Los Angeles College), and Daniel Trammel (Oceanside, California, El Camino)were solid for us this evening."
    The first half went back and forth with as the Gators shot 60% in the first half while the home team shot 58% from the field.  Ted Monson's lay-up with 10 seconds left in the half tied the game at 35-35, which was the score heading into second stanza.  
    In the first 13 minutes of the second half, there were five ties with the biggest lead being a 47-43 lead by the Gators on a three by O'Rourke off a an assist from Marquel Hoskins (Beloit, Wisconsin, Reedley College) at the 10:10 mark.  SF State then outscored the Banana Slugs 10-4 from the 7:36 mark to the 1:51 mark of the stanza to give the Gators a 59-53 lead, when O'Rourke connected on another three off a pass from Tim Pratt (Eureka, California, College of the Redwoods).
    UC Santa Cruz scored the final six points of regulation capped by a Darren Lew three with just 8 seconds left off an assist from Matsuoka.  SF State's attempt to win the game fell short as time expired to send the game into overtime.  
    The overtime period saw three ties including the last one with 1:43 to go in the game on a tip-in by Hoskins to tie the game at 66-66.  The Banana Slugs then turned the ball over on their next possession and the Gators capitalized as Hoskins made a lay-up to give the Gators a 68-66 lead with just 37 seconds to go in overtime.  That is when Matsuoka came through drilling the long-distance three for the win.  SF State had two chances at the end and both shot attempts fell short as the Banana Slugs held on for the exhibition 69-68 win.
    Darren Lew added 16 points for the Banana Slugs.  O'Rourke finished with 16 points going 6 of 13 from the field including 4 of 10 from three-point land.  Hoskins and Aaron Trigg (Suisun City, California, Napa Valley Colelge) each finished with 9 points for SF State, who will travel to Fresno, Calif., for its final exhibition game this Friday, November 13th for a 7pm scheduled tip-off with the Fresno State Bulldogs.
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