San Francisco Dons Dominate UC Santa Cruz 98-53
Monday, November 3, 2025, 10:00 PM ET · The Sobrato Center
San Francisco Dons 98, UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs 53, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs vs San Francisco Dons?
San Francisco Dons beat UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs 98-53 at The Sobrato Center on November 3, 2025.
The San Francisco Dons delivered a commanding performance against the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, winning 98-53 at The Sobrato Center. This victory marks a strong start for the Dons, who improve their record to 1-0 in the season. The Dons showcased their offensive prowess, scoring an impressive 98 points, while limiting the Banana Slugs to just 53.
In terms of recent form, the Dons had a mixed record leading into this game, with a 7-3 record over their last ten games. Despite this positive trend, they were on a one-game losing streak prior to this matchup. In their last five games, they averaged 76.4 points scored while allowing 77.0 points. At home, the Dons have been particularly strong, holding a 4-1 record, which includes a recent win against Washington State Cougars where they scored 86 points.
On the other hand, the Banana Slugs faced a tough challenge, and their recent form did not favor them. The Dons' scoring average of 75.5 points per game and their defensive average of 71.5 points allowed per game indicated a competitive edge. The Dons' ability to score heavily at home, combined with the Banana Slugs' struggles, set the stage for a lopsided contest.
The Dons' scoring was highlighted by multiple players contributing effectively throughout the game. The final score reflects their dominance, particularly in the second half, where they continued to build on their lead. Notable scoring plays included a three-point jumper by Legend Smiley and several successful free throws by Aidan Braccia and Darreson Naruse, which helped to extend the Dons' lead significantly in the latter stages of the game.
In terms of market expectations, the home win probability for the Dons was pegged at an impressive 0.999, underscoring the anticipation of a strong performance against the Banana Slugs. This high probability likely influenced betting lines, which favored the Dons heavily.
The conditions at The Sobrato Center appeared favorable for the Dons, contributing to their ability to execute their game plan effectively. The Dons capitalized on their home-court advantage, which is often a critical factor in college basketball.
As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a display of offensive efficiency from the Dons, with a focus on ball movement and creating open shots. The Banana Slugs struggled to keep pace, and their inability to contain the Dons' scoring led to the significant final margin. The Dons' performance serves as a statement of intent for the season ahead, while the Banana Slugs will need to regroup and address their defensive shortcomings moving forward.
Leaders
- PointsLegend Smiley18San Francisco Dons
- AssistsVukasin Masic9San Francisco Dons
- ReboundsMookie Cook9San Francisco Dons
- PointsLeo Wagner10UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs
- AssistsLeo Wagner3UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs
- ReboundsBen Lim4UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs
Recent form
San Francisco Dons
Last 10: 7-3Streak L175.5 scored · 71.5 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L76-85at Gonzaga BulldogsMar 11
- W86-75vs Washington State CougarsMar 10
- L75-95vs Gonzaga BulldogsMar 2
- W74-72at Oregon State BeaversFeb 27
- W71-58vs Pacific TigersFeb 21
- W84-61at San Diego TorerosFeb 16
- L77-88at Gonzaga BulldogsFeb 14
- W72-66at Loyola Marymount LionsFeb 9
- W65-64vs Saint Mary's GaelsFeb 7
- W75-51vs Washington State CougarsFeb 2
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 31-4 | - | 16-2 |
| Saint Mary's | 27-6 | - | 16-2 |
| Santa Clara | 26-9 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Oregon State | 17-16 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Seattle U | 21-14 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Pacific | 18-15 | 8 | 8-10 |
| San Francisco | 17-16 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Washington State | 12-20 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Portland | 15-19 | 10 | 6-12 |
| San Diego | 12-21 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Pepperdine | 9-23 | 12 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs | San Francisco Dons |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 19-56 | 37-69 |
| Field goal % | 34 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 5-17 | 11-28 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 39 |
| Free throws | 10-14 | 13-14 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 93 |
| Rebounds | 22 | 49 |
| Offensive rebounds | 4 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 35 |
| Assists | 10 | 25 |
| Steals | 7 | 14 |
| Blocks | 4 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 19 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 17 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 20 | 48 |
| Fouls | 15 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 49 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half21-60David Fuchs made Layup. Assisted by Vukasin Masic.
- 2nd Half21-61David Fuchs made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half22-61Leo Wagner made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half23-61Leo Wagner made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half23-64Legend Smiley made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Vukasin Masic.
- 2nd Half23-66Tyrone Riley IV made Dunk.
- 2nd Half25-66Thomas Conley made Layup.
- 2nd Half26-66Thomas Conley made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half28-66Ben Lim made Jumper. Assisted by Leo Wagner.
- 2nd Half28-68Legend Smiley made Jumper. Assisted by Veniamin Abosi.
- 2nd Half28-69Legend Smiley made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half30-69Ben Lim made Layup. Assisted by Leo Wagner.
- 2nd Half30-71Mookie Cook made Layup. Assisted by Saba Gigiberia.
- 2nd Half32-71Caden Breznikar made Layup.
- 2nd Half32-73Legend Smiley made Layup. Assisted by Vukasin Masic.
- 2nd Half35-73Jaden Gamez made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Joseph Espy.
- 2nd Half35-76Vukasin Masic made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Saba Gigiberia.
- 2nd Half35-79Aidan Braccia made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Vukasin Masic.
- 2nd Half35-81Saba Gigiberia made Jumper. Assisted by Vukasin Masic.
- 2nd Half35-82Saba Gigiberia made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half35-84Mookie Cook made Layup.
- 2nd Half37-84Aidan Carleson made Layup.
- 2nd Half39-84Andrew Ferrara-Jones made Jumper. Assisted by Miles Burrows.
- 2nd Half39-86Weilun Zhao made Layup.
- 2nd Half41-86Aidan Carleson made Layup.
- 2nd Half42-86Aidan Carleson made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half42-88Saba Gigiberia made Layup.
- 2nd Half42-89Saba Gigiberia made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half45-89Andrew Ferrara-Jones made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Caden Breznikar.
- 2nd Half45-90Weilun Zhao made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half45-91Weilun Zhao made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half48-91Leo Wagner made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Caden Breznikar.
- 2nd Half48-93Sean Blakely Drummond made Layup. Assisted by Legend Smiley.
- 2nd Half49-93Teni Salako made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half49-96Legend Smiley made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Weilun Zhao.
- 2nd Half50-96Darreson Naruse made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half51-96Darreson Naruse made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half51-97Aidan Braccia made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half51-98Aidan Braccia made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half53-98Darreson Naruse made Layup.
Win probability
Above the line favours San Francisco Dons, below favours UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs.
Venue
- The Sobrato CenterSan Francisco, CA
- Attendance848
- OfficialsDeron White, Horace Shields, Martin Cichocki
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond