Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Whittier College men's basketball team who came into Tuesday night's meeting with Pomona-Pitzer with the No. 3 seed in the SCIAC Post Season Tournament at stake was able to edge out the Sagehens 69-64 in what was a hard fought battle to the very end.

Whittier wraps up the regular season 14-11, 10-6 SCIAC, while Pomona-Pitzer drops to 14-10, 9-7 SCIAC.  This was also the second time this season the Poets have beaten Pomona-Pitzer in a tight match-up as they won 61-58 back on January 16.

This sends the Purple & Gold into the SCIAC Post Season Tournament for the second consecutive year and for the third time since the tournament originated back in 2008-09.  This also marks the second time Head Coach Rock Carter's program has earned a No. 3 seed in the tournament as they came in seeded No. 3 last season in 2011-12.

Pomona-Pitzer now drops into the No. 4 slot in the seeding's and will now travel to Redlands, Calif. to take on the No. 1 seed in the University of Redlands.

Whittier maintains their winning streak and now run it to four games heading into the SCIAC Tournament.  Pomona-Pitzer used a 15-0 run early in the game to turn a 7-4 deficit into a 19-7 lead.  But Whittier responded with a 13-3 run of their own to pull within two at 22-20 with 7:56 to play in the first half.  The Sagehens ran their lead back to seven, 36-29, but senior Willie Mebane was able to knock down a three pointer at the buzzer to pull the Poets within four at the half.

In the first four minutes of the second half, Pomona's Xavyr Moss knocked down three three pointers that held the Poets at bay momentarily, but Whittier eventually gained their first lead at the 11:19 mark after a Dylan Irwin layin. 

With the game tied at 49-49, the Purple & Gold were able to build a four point lead at 53-49 with 10:17 to play, but Pomona responded with a three pointer that gave them a 57-56 lead but on the ensuing possession Aaron Fernandez drew a foul and knocked down both free throws that put the Poets back in front giving them a lead they would not relinquish.

After the Sagehens missed the go ahead three pointer, Eric Goedde scored on a put back with 2:39 to play and after a missed layup on the other end, Goedde again answered with his biggest field goal of the season knocking down a three pointer with the shot clock expiring to put Whittier up seven 67-60. 

The Sagehens furiously fought back though with time running down and pulled within three 67-64 thanks to a layin from Michael Cohen but with 22 seconds to play, junior Chris Barnes-Williams iced the game making both ends of a one-and-one securing the four point victory.

Barnes-Williams finished with a game high 15 points on 4-8 shooting, while Irwin came off the bench to chip in with 12 points and six boards.  Pomona-Pitzer saw Moss finished with a game high 21 points on 8-12 shooting, but was the lone Sagehen in double figures.                     

Whittier begins their quest for their 31st SCIAC Championship in the program's history as they travel to Claremont, Calif. to take on the No. 2 Stags of Claremont-M-S this Friday evening, February 22 with game time set for 7:00pm.