Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LOS ANGELES – Offense met defense on Wednesday night at Rush Gymnasium and it was the top scoring team in the conference who prevailed by connecting on 4-of-6 free throws in the final minute to clinch a 57-53 win over Occidental.

Whittier (12-11, 7-5 SCIAC), which is averaging over 67 points per game, was held to 10 points under its season average but was led by Damon Perry and Willie Mebane who scored 15 and 13 points, each, respectively.

Perry was 6-of-11 from the field and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds while Mebane was 6-of-9 from the floor with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Poets matched their season effort from the charity stripe by converting only 52 percent but it was their ability to make them in waning moments that mattered most.

Occidental (12-11, 6-6 SCIAC) trimmed the lead to 53-50 with 57 seconds left on a Sam Stapleton 3-pointer and went to quick fouls to extend the game. Greg Preer knocked down both of his foul shots with 45 seconds remaining in regulation to push the lead back to five points but a critical error on defense put the Tigers at the line for three foul shots.

The Tigers made all three of their attempts and trailed 55-53 with 33 seconds left. After fouling Brandon Thomas, the junior made 1-of-2 shots and after Jack Hanley missed a jumper, Preer was headed back to the line with four seconds left.

Preer made the front end of his two shots and made it a two possession game. The Tigers three-point heave at the end of the game missed which put an end to their four-game win streak.

With the win the Poets now hold a one-game lead over Cal Lutheran and Occidental in the conference standings. Whittier owns the tie breaker over the Tigers by virtue of its season sweep.

The Poets shot just 16 percent from deep and 45 percent from the field but forced 21 Occidental turnovers in the win.

Whittier returns to action on Saturday night against La Verne. The Leopards and Poets both hold a 7-5 record in the conference. Game time is set for 7 pm.