SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (Interstat) — In a high-scoring G League affair defined by offensive runs and a frantic final minute, the Santa Cruz Warriors outlasted the Valley Suns 123-115 on Saturday night at Kaiser Permanente Arena.

The game, which saw 10 lead changes and was tied on 11 occasions, was ultimately decided by superior execution in the closing seconds. The Warriors, who improved to 7-17, used a 38-point second quarter to build a cushion and then held off a persistent Suns squad that fell to 6-18.

Valley trailed by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter but mounted a furious comeback. A 3-pointer by Jaden Shackelford with 1:02 remaining tied the game at 115, capping a stretch where the Suns erased a late deficit. The momentum was short-lived, however. On the ensuing possession, Santa Cruz’s Taevion Kinsey finished an emphatic dunk off an assist from Malevy Leons to put the Warriors back ahead for good with 52 seconds left.

The Suns then missed a chance to tie or take the lead on their next trip, and the Warriors sealed the victory at the free-throw line. Santa Cruz made six consecutive free throws in the final 31 seconds, with Chance McMillian and L.J. Cryer each sinking a pair and Leons adding two more.

The most pivotal sequence of the game occurred in the second quarter, where Santa Cruz transformed a tightly contested matchup. After a first quarter that ended tied at 26, the Warriors erupted. Led by the hot shooting of Cryer, who hit four 3-pointers in the period, Santa Cruz outscored Valley 38-28. The surge gave the Warriors a 64-54 halftime lead, a margin they would rely on as Valley chipped away throughout the second half.

Charles Bassey anchored the Warriors’ interior effort, providing a consistent scoring and rebounding presence. The Suns’ offense was more distributed, with Damion Baugh facilitating and Shackelford providing crucial perimeter scoring, particularly during the late rally. Valley’s C.J. Huntley, from Huntersville, North Carolina, also made key contributions on both ends.

Despite the loss, Valley continued a pattern of competitive play, having pushed Santa Cruz to overtime in one of their three previous meetings this season. The Warriors, however, leveraged their home court and a decisive rebounding advantage in the final minutes to secure the win.

The two teams will meet again at the same venue on Monday night.