ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's basketball team fell 71-65 in its home-opener against UC Santa Cruz. The Panthers suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 2-1, while UCSC improved to 2-1.

Adam Damian led four Panthers in double figures with 18 points. McKelary Robertson added 16 points off the bench with Blakely Stoughton contributing 12 in a bench role. Jake Herberle scored 10.

In a tight game throughout the first half, the Panthers started to pull away before halftime. Chapman had trailed by five with 7:23 remaining in the half but built a 35-30 lead with just over one minute to go after a three-pointer from Damian. Chapman went into the locker room up 36-32.

An early three from Cruz Billings gave Chapman its biggest lead of the night at 39-32 but UCSC followed with a 10-2 run over the next five minutes to reclaim the lead. With 9:15 to go, the Slugs had built a 56-48 lead and led the rest of the way.

Chapman closed the lead down to one when Cruz Billings drained a three-pointer but Ian McCloskey responded with a three for the Slugs on their next trip down as UCSC held off Chapman for the win.

The Panther shot just 50 percent from the free throw line, going 13-for-26 in the game.

The Panthers head to La Sierra on Sunday for a 4 p.m. exhibition game but return home after Thanksgiving with a 7 p.m. SCIAC contest against Occidental.