TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team erased a 17-point deficit over the final 10 minutes to force overtime but was unable to collect the victory in the non-conference finale on Sunday afternoon, coming up short 77-70 to the University of California Santa Cruz inside Olson Gymnasium.

The visiting Banana Slugs (8-7) enjoyed a 55-38 advantage after a pair of free throws from Ben Lim with 10:33 left in regulation. Henry Smith scored a bucket just 17 seconds later, touching off a 23-6 Lute run to end the second half. A Smith trey followed by a Jeremiah Sibley layup whittled the gap to single digits with 9:01 remaining. UCSC's lead was eight with 5:36 left before consecutive threes from Charlie Kapranos and Sibley made it a one possession game. Kapranos would tie the game with 54 ticks left, sending the game to overtime with the score knotted at 61.

Overtime was tied at 66 off a Ben Tellez three and again at 68 on a pair of Cam Rice free throws but the Banana Slugs would mount a 7-0 run down the stretch and keep the Lutes (6-3) without a field goal for the final 3:26 to salt away the win. 

The first half was a back and forth affair until the Banana Slugs started pulling away over the final six minutes, turning a six-point advantage into a 17-point buffer while enjoying a 38-24 lead at the break.

"We didn't' approach the first half with any type of urgency and didn't meet their physicality at all," said Head Coach Chad Murray.

"Things changed when we went smaller and we were able to put some pressure on them and sort of speed up the game. That group had good energy and did a great job giving us a chance. We had more than enough opportunities to steal this one but it just didn't work out. This was another opportunity for us to learn more about who we are heading into conference play. Everyone is 0-0 and everyone has a chance to make some noise in the conference, including us, so we're on to the next challenge."

Kapranos led all scorers with 23 points while also adding seven rebounds and three steals while Tellez had 11 points. Smith and Rice both added nine while Mack Hepper had six rebounds. 

PLU shot 46.9 percent from the field in the second half (15-for-32) but was unable to carry that into overtime, going just two-for-seven from the floor in the five minute extra session while the Slugs shot at a 66.7 percent clip (four-for-six) in overtime. 

The setback snapped PLU's six game win streak. The Lutes will look to rebound on Friday night, opening Northwest Conference play by hosting George Fox University. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.