Leopards win in overtime on Senior Day

Leopards win in overtime on Senior Day

LA VERNE, Calif. — The Leopards knocked down their first 10 free throws in overtime and the University of La Verne men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 96-86 overtime win over the Caltech Beavers in a thrilling matchup at the Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion Saturday afternoon. 

Five Leopards finished in double figures in the win. Victor Costa led all players with a career-high 32 points in his final game in The Tents. The senior also picked up his third double-double of the year with 11 rebounds. Senior Connor Head had a big game, adding a double-double of his own with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

La Verne took the opening lead in overtime with Head dishing to senior Ryan McHenry under the basket for the easy layin. 

Then the Leopards did damage at the free throw line. Cole Currie came up clutch for La Verne in the extra period, scoring eight points, all at the line. La Verne knocked down 12 of 14 free throw attempts in overtime to put the game away.

Jamaal Willis scored 15 points, Currie added 14 points, and Alec Vucinich finished with 10 of his own. Currie nearly added a double-double finishing with nine rebounds.

With just under two minutes remaining in regulation and La Verne trailing by four, Costa drained a three-pointer from the left wing to put La Verne within one. Caltech made a layup to go back up by three, but then Head came in huge for the Leopards, making a tough contested layup at the rim and finishing the play with an and-one at the line, tying game 80-80. 

Each team had a shot to end the game in regulation but neither could find the bottom of the net, sending the game to overtime.

McHenry finished with six points and five rebounds. 

Spencer Schneider led the Beavers with 29 points. Gokul Srinivasaragavan added 21 points.

Senior Day: La Verne honored seniors Dylan McElligott, Jamaal Willis, Ryan McHenry, Connor Head, and Victor Costa in a brief pregame ceremony. 

Next Game: The Leopards close out the 2017-18 season next Tuesday at Cal Lutheran in a 7 p.m. game against the Kingsmen.