By Cyanna Rosa

LA VERNE, CA- The University of La Verne men's basketball team faced the Occidental Tigers tonight at The Tents.

Although the Leopards started off the game 0-8, the challenge led them to change the pace through the second half of the first twenty minutes. Early on, Leopard Tyler Matthews read the Tiger's defense and began the rush across the court. Matthews would push the Tigers to find the net to tie the game for the first time, 12-12. Brad Yasukochi followed suit and rushed the Tigers' defense to find the gaps. Brian Adams secured nearly half of the first-half points for the Leopards, the biggest threat to the Tigers. 

Leopard Casey Knudson hit a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to end the first half, 30-39. As the Leopards led in offensive rebounds in the first half, they made their way to the second half in hopes to find a sustainable field goal percentage. 

The Leopards found their defensive footing after a 15-point deficit early in the second half. The game looked up for the Leopards after a 3 point basket by Saafir Moore and an offensive rebound sent to Kyler Harvey to dunk on the Tigers, leaving the crowd on their feet, 49-61.

With almost three minutes left in the game, Jonas Holt found a layup to make it a one-possession game, 65-68. Both sides of the court found themselves behind the free throw line and Brian Adams continued the one-score game with a jump shot at 0:42, 70-73. It came down to the last 10 seconds and the last Leopard possession. Ultimately, the Leopards couldn't find a shot behind the arc to end the game falling to the Tigers 74-70. 

They continue their season with another conference game this Saturday, January 21, in Whitter at 4 PM PST.