LA VERNE, CA — Dahmaj Warren scored a career-high 39 points and the Leopards had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. But a late turnover ended their chances and the University of La Verne men's basketball team fell on the road to a tough University of Redlands squad 88-84.

Warren has been on a tear. Just a game after scoring a then career-high 34 points in a win in Texas against Howard Payne, the guard made 14 of 24 attempts, four three-pointers, and seven of nine free throws to set his new career-best. Warren added four rebounds, four steals, and three assists.

Not to be outdone, Logen Howard added a career highlight of his own. Howard finished with a career-best 29 points off six three-pointers and went 11-15 from the field. He grabbed three rebounds, added two steals, and dished one assist.

The Leopards got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 17-3 lead to open the game. Howard led the run with a pair of threes from beyond the arc and Joshua Rook and Warren each knocked down threes. La Verne continued to surge and took their largest lead of the night when Warren sank a three to put his squad up 31-13 with 9:37 left in the first half. Howard put a stamp on the dominant half with a three with four seconds left to send the Leopards into the break up 46-33.

La Verne held a double-digit lead midway through the second half when the Bulldogs began chipping away. Chozen Amadi made a three with 6:48 left to give the Bulldogs the lead for the first time since the opening minute, 68-67.

The squads continued to trade buckets late and the Bulldogs took an 86-81 lead with 15 seconds to play. Warren gave the Leopards a chance when he was fouled on a three-point attempt with nine seconds left. The senior made all three shots from the line to make it a two-point game. 

Redlands had a chance to ice the game but missed the second of two free throw attempts. La Verne hustled in transition but lost control of the ball.

Paul Antonis made an impact off the glass and distributed passes. He led the Leopards with seven rebounds and six assists, tallied three steals, and blocked two shots to go with four points. Rook ended with eight points and three rebounds.

La Verne moves to 5-6 overall and 0-2 in the SCIAC. The Bulldogs improve to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the SCIAC.

The Leopards continue their road trip this Saturday when they travel to Whittier for a 4 p.m. game against the Poets.