LAS VEGAS, NV — The Leopards took the lead a minute and a half into the game and never trailed again, closing out 2023 with an 85-61 win over Rhodes in their final game of the D3 Hoops Classic.

Dahmaj Warren led the Leopards with a season-high 28 points, with four assists and three steals. 

Warren picked up 2023 D3hoops.com Classic All-Tournament honors after totaling 43 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and a block over the Leopards' two games. 

Paul Antonis drained five three-pointers in the win and shot 50 percent from beyond the arc. He totaled 23 points, two steals, two blocks, and three assists. 

Kyler Harvey grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds to go with 21 points to notch his first double-double of the season. He added four assists and a block.

The Leopards forced Rhodes into 19 turnovers and made the Lynx pay, turning the giveaways into 27 points. 

Just over five minutes into the game, Warren forced a steal, drove down the court, and completed the fast break play to put La Verne up by double-digits for the first time.

Antonis sank a three with six seconds left in the half to preserve the 10-point lead, 42-32.

The Leopards closed out the game strong and went on a 12-0 run in the final minutes to take an 83-59 lead capped by Antonis' final three-pointer of the day.

La Verne improves to 4-5 overall and drop the Lynx to 7-5. The Leopards return to action after the new year on January 3 at Whittier at 7 p.m.