WHITTIER - The Whittier College men's basketball team handed Pomona-Pitzer its first conference loss of the season as the Poets held on for a 91-84 Southern California Intercollegiate Conference win on Saturday night at the Graham Athletic Center.

Senior Jeff McLean provided the heroics in the waning moments of the game as he ran down a would-be fast -break lay up by Pomona's Justin Sexton, blocked the shot, and kept the Poets lead at 85-82 with 1:01 left in the second half. McLean added a pair of free throws that proved to be the difference as the Poets went on for the seven-point win.

Whittier (10-6, 4-1 SCIAC) held a 49-44 points advantage at halftime after it shot for over 56 percent. WC was 17-of-30 in the first half and connected on seven on its 10 three point attempts. The Sagehens (7-8, 4-1 SCIAC) matched the Poets' first half shooting numbers as Pomona-Pitzer was 14-of-25 (56 percent) from the field.

WC saw five players reach double figures as it was led by senior Travis Crow's 19 points. Fellow seniors Michael Archuletta and Keegan Hoover added 18 points apiece while McLean and senior A.J. Manalo finished with 13 and 10 points each, respectively. Hoover also grabbed 10 rebounds to give him a double-double.

The Sagehens were led by the game's high scorer, Adam Chaimowitz, who scored 27 points which included 5-of-9 from three-point range.

With the win the Poets move into a first place tie in the SCIAC with Cal Lutheran and Pomona-Pitzer.

The 91 points scored by Whittier marks the fourth time this season the Poets have surpassed the 90-point plateau. All four of those games resulted in WC wins.

The Poets return to action on Wednesday, January 28, as they travel to Claremont, CA, to face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in a SCIAC contest.