LOS ANGELES — Andrew Johnson had a career night with 35 points and nine rebounds on 15 of 28 shooting and Jay Miller added 19 points.

But despite controlling most of the game, the Occidental men's basketball team couldn't make enough plays against first-place La Verne, losing 74-72 in overtime at Rush Gymnasium on Wednesday.

Season Impact: Oxy falls to 10-7 overall and 4-4 in SCIAC play with one round of the 16-game schedule in the books.

It is the second consecutive overtime loss for Oxy and the third overtime game the Tigers have played in so far in SCIAC.

La Verne goes to 8-8 and 6-2.

Poor free throw shooting by both teams made for a dramatic ending. With La Verne holding a 68-67 lead and 21 seconds left in regulation, Khaneal Mason missed a pair of free throws to give the Tigers one last chance.

At the other end of the court, Miller missed a three, Kory Hamane rebounded it and was short on a 15-footer and then Johnson got fouled going after the rebound. The junior made the first to tie the game, but missed the second.

Miller got the rebound, but missed the front end of a one and one, sending the game into overtime. 

Miller had a good look at a contested layup and Johnson had a shot at a tip in at the end of overtime, but both shots were off the mark.

Oxy was just 1 of 9 from the field in OT and shot just 31 percent in the second half.

Connor Head and Hakim Arnold led the Leopards with 14 points each.

Austin Dewitz scored six points and grabbed six rebounds before fouling out with 1 minute left in regulation. Andrew Garrison had six assists, seven rebounds and two blocks inside for Oxy.

Next Game: The Tigers are back in action on Saturday, playing at Chapman at 2 p.m. Oxy jumped out to a big lead over the first-place Panthers in the first half and was able to hang on for a big win when the teams met in Round 1 of SCIAC play.