Photo by: Davis Gerber

Interview by: Natalie Munguia (Whittier College Sports Network)

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College men's basketball team continued its winning streak Thursday night, dousing the Firebirds of St. Katherine College 87-72. After starting the season 0-2, back-to-back wins against West Coast Baptist and this evening's victory propelled the Poets above .500 for the first time this season.

The game started slowly for Whittier, as St. Katherine grabbed an early lead through the first ten minutes. With the score 18-17 in favor of the Firebirds, junior Jacob Porter (Temecula, CA) gave Whittier its first lead of the night with a layup inside the paint, two of his 13 points off the bench. St. Katherine managed to even the game up twice in the latter stages of the first half but never mustered enough points to retake the early advantage, thanks in part to a strong defensive showing from guard David Richardson (Los Angeles, Calif.). Richardson swiped four of his season high six steals in the first half and added a defensive rebound to keep the Purple and Gold in front.

The Poets led 35-29 coming out of the locker room, and whatever slowed down Whittier in the first half did not impede the team's success in the second. Sophomore Ben Maynard (La Canada, Calif.) tallied four of his five three-pointers on his way to a team-high 15 points, while junior Nick Demusis (Mililani, HI) and sophomore Michael Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) added eight points each.

The lead got into double digits at the 17:17 mark with the Poets stretching the lead to 47-34.  It then jumped to 16 three minutes later but the Firebirds then thundered back cutting the lead to 12 but it wouldn't be enough as the Poets would secure the lopsided non-conference victory.

Despite only shooting 38% from the field and 40% from deep, the Poets managed to grab 18 points off 18 turnovers that kept them in front in the second half.  The Firebirds outsized the Poets in the paint with heights of 7'0", 6'8" and 6'8" but Whittier managed to control the glass 41-33 that proved to be crucial down the stretch.        

Porter, Maynard, Demusis (13), senior Chris Barnes-Williams (Salt Lake City, UT) (12), and sophomore Eric Goedde (Longmont, Colorado) (11) all tallied double-digit points, the second time in as many games that five or more Poets reached that mark. 

As for the Firebirds, impressive efforts from Dale Austin (18 points, 14 rebounds, 1 steal) and Dante Miller (18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) were not enough to earn St. Katherine the win as they were the lone two in double figures. 

Whittier opens SCIAC play this Saturday, December 7, when they travel to Redlands to take on the Bulldogs with tip-off set for 5:00pm.