Scoring the game's final seven points, the University of La Verne rallied to post a 52-51 road triumph over Cal Lutheran in SCIAC men's basketball action Saturday at Gilbert Arena in Thousand Oaks.
Eric Becker's jumper with 49 seconds remaining completed the 7-0 Leopard run for a one-point lead. Cal Lutheran had a chance for the win on its last possession, but missed on a pair of jumpers on its last possession in the final seconds as the Leos held on for the victory.
Cal Lutheran (7-7, 3-3 SCIAC) led 51-45 after a Jayvaughn Nettles three-pointer with 3:02 left to play. Jake Vieth drained a three-pointer to get the Leos back to within three points at 51-48. Alex Wolpe converted on a layup with 1:17 to trim the deficit to 51-50.
La Verne (3-11, 2-4 SCIAC) turned back the Kingsmen on the ensuing possession, and got the ball with 1:08 remaining to set up Becker's game-winning jumper to provide the final margin.
The contest featured seven ties and four lead changes. Trailing 25-20 at the half, the Leopards never led in the second stanza until Becker's eventual game-winner. The last lead for La Verne was 17-15 late in the first half.
The Leopards shot 54.2% from the field (13-24) over the final 20 minutes.
Vieth led the La Verne offense with a team-high 19 points, connecting on five of the Leopards' six three-point field goals. Wolpe added eight points followed by Ronn See with seven points. CLU's Corey Quintana tallied a game-high 20 points in the defeat.
La Verne continues league action when it plays host to Caltech Wednesday night at Frantz Athletic Court. Tip-off is 7:30 pm.
