CLAREMONT, CA— The University of La Verne men's basketball team came out battling in their first SCIAC contest of the season, staying within reach throughout before falling 77–68 to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Wednesday night.

The Leopards opened the night with energy, jumping out to a 10–4 lead behind a sharp first-half performance from Carlos Bedolla. The junior guard set the tone early, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and leading all scorers with 10 points before the break. Right behind him was Kason White, who added 9 points and continued to show why he's already earned a Leopard of the Week nomination this season.

Despite the strong start, momentum shifted late in the half, and La Verne entered the locker room trailing by seven.

The Stags opened the second half with a 37–30 advantage, but the Leopards fought hard to close the gap. Bedolla continued his standout night, leading La Verne in second-half scoring while also tying for second on the team in rebounds and finishing first in blocks. White, Higgy Katoa, and Christian James each added 8 points of their own to keep the Leopards within striking distance.

Despite the push, La Verne couldn't fully overcome the deficit, and the game closed with a 77–68 final.

The Leopards are back in action against the Tigers at 2 pm on December 13th at Occidental.