PASADENA, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2023) – Caltech Men's Basketball hosted the University of La Verne Leopards Wednesday night in front of an energetic Braun Gymnasium crowd.

The Beavers started off strongly and efficiently, scoring the game's first points and quickly racking up a seven-point lead early in the first half, with all five of Caltech's starters contributing to the scoring, as well as senior Ben Juarez (El Dorado Hills, Calif. / Oak Ridge), who drained a gorgeous three-pointer on an assist from sophomore Riley Wood (Richmond, Va. / St. Christopher's School).

La Verne chipped away at their deficit during the second half, but Caltech remained on top and pulled ahead by eight points on a second chance three by senior Chase Pagon (Solana Beach, Calif. / Santa Fe Christian) after collecting an offensive rebound. The teams traded baskets and leads during the final six minutes of regulation, and La Verne led by three with just over two minutes to play. After both teams utilized their timeouts to rest and strategize the critical last possessions, rookie Noah Hicks (Oxford, Ga. / George Walton Academy) dished to senior Kyle McGraw (Los Altos Hills, Calif. / The Nueva School) for a game-tying three-pointer with 17 seconds left. La Verne was unable to take another shot before the buzzer as Pagon earned a clutch steal to send the game into an extra frame.

Pagon led the Beavers with 18 points and a pair of steals, also collecting seven rebounds. McGraw nabbed seven rebounds as well, along with nine points and a game-high two blocks. Wood was the Beavers' top rebounder with nine, and senior center Pavlos Stavrinides (Nicosia, Cyprus / The English School of Nicosia) delivered a season-high six assists along with his seven points.

Head Coach Dr. Oliver Eslinger and the Beavers will host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Saturday afternoon as part of the winter Orange Out event at Braun Athletic Center.