Anthony Taylor '07 finished with ten points and twelve rebounds, but Whittier College lost 63-61 in double overtime to SCIAC rival, nationally ranked #19 Occidental College in front of nearly 1100 fans on "PAC the GAC" night at Graham Athletics Center on February 22.  The Poets finish their season 9-16 overall and 3-11 in conference play.

Taylor was 4-for-6 from the field in 33 minutes of action in his final game.  Fellow senior, Tim Fanning '07 scored eight points and was credited with six assists and three steals.  Vernon Covington '08 scored eleven points and pulled down eight boards.  Raphael Farlough '08 finished with ten points.

The Poets trailed by as many as nine in the first half and did not hold a lead until a made jumper at the end of the half gave the Poets a 23-21 lead going into the break.  Neither team shot well in the first half.  Whittier shot under thirty percent from the field, but did hit five three-pointers, while the Tigers shot just 33 percent from the field. 

The Tigers took the lead with a three to begin the second half, but a 15-4 Poet run immediately after gave the Poets a ten-point lead halfway through the half.  Occidental chipped away at the Poet lead until they pulled even at the 3:24 mark.  With the score tied at 46 with 1:12 remaining in regulation, neither team was able to score a field goal the rest of the half, sending the game into overtime. 

In the first overtime period, each team scored six points, neither team being able to pull more than two points ahead.  The teams traded baskets once again in the second overtime.  Farlough hit a jumper with 1:33 left to put the Poets up by three, but on the ensuing Tiger possession, they hit a three-pointer to re-tie the game at 59.  The Tigers forced a turnover and were able to knock down another jump shot to take a 61-59 lead.  Jeff McLean '09 hit a runner in the lane for two of his eight points to tie the score again with 23 seconds left.  Occidental came back and the Poets defense held them to a tough lay-up attempt that fell short and into the hands of McLean.  As the Poets pushed the ball up the floor with less than ten seconds left, a Tiger player made contact with the Poet ball handler forcing the ball to come loose.  The officials allowed play to continue and the Tiger player hit an 18-footer as time expired to win the game.

The Poets end their season losing their last four games and finish seventh in the SCIAC standings.