LA VERNE, Calif. — Wis.-La Crosse used an early 20-0 run to beat the University of La Verne men's basketball team, 84-51, on Monday afternoon at Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.
La Verne falls to 2-5 and Wis.-La Crosse improves to 5-5.
The Leopards scored the game's first two baskets but Jared Staege caught fire to lead the Eagles' run. Staege scored 11 points in just over two minutes while connecting on three 3-pointers to stake the Eagles out to a 20-4 lead.
La Verne settled down to keep the deficit at 16 points at the intermission but. La Crosse went on another big run in the second half to stretch the lead to as much as 38 points and put the game away.
The shots just didn't fall for La Verne. The Leopards went into the contest shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc but went just 1-of-20 from the three-point line. By contrast, La Crosse shot 11-for-22 from downtown.
Hakim Arnold made a flurry of baskets late in the game and the Leopards got within 25 points on an Anthony White 3-pointer with 4:29 to go but that was as close as they would get.
Arnold scored 14 points in the second half and finished with 16 on the game. Khaneal Mason had eight points, five rebounds and three assists, and Jordan Stokes added six points off the bench.
Staege led all players wit h25 points and 10 rebounds for La Crosse and Ryan Cruser chipped in 10 points off the bench.
La Verne is back in action tomorrow at home against UC Santa Cruz. Tipoff is at 5 p.m.