PASADENA — Despite closing the game on a 15-2 run, the University of La Verne men's basketball team could not climb out of a big second half hole in a 70-69 loss to Caltech at Braun Athletic Center on Tuesday night.
La Verne got one last chance to steal the game, but could not get a shot off before the buzzer. With the clock ticking down, Hakim Arnold drove into the lane and launched a floater, but did not get the ball out of his hand fast enough.
La Verne falls to 9-14 overall and 5-9 in SCIAC. Caltech improves to 4-19 and 3-11.
Arnold led La Verne's late charge and tallied a game-high 24 points while adding nine rebounds and three assists.
The Beavers ran away to a 64-48 lead—their largest of the game—using a 24-9 run in the second half and held the 16-point lead as late as 5:19 left in the game.
The Leopards turned the switch back on and stormed back, but the time ran out on the game. Arnold had nine points during the late run and Kendall McClain drained two three-pointers, including one that brought the Leopards within a point with nine seconds left.
Karl Reyes chipped in 13 points for the Leopards.
Kc Emezie led the Beavers with 22 points and Lawrence Lee scored 11 off the bench.
La Verne returns to action on Saturday at Chapman.
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