LA VERNE, Calif. – Sophomore Eric Jennings (Fontana, Calif.) hit a big corner three with under a minute to play in one of the most entertaining finishes this season to send the Poets to the 82-79 road victory over the Leopards of the University La Verne Saturday evening.

Whittier who has struggled on the road this season with a 4-3 record never trailed during the game but received a scare at the :18 second mark in the second half when freshman Evan Roberts knocked down his second consecutive three pointer to pull La Verne within one 80-79.  

"The key to success this evening was keeping the game at our pace for the entire twenty minutes", said Head Coach Rock Carter.  "Coming in we were averaging about 80 points a game, while they were averaging close to 58 so we wanted to get our up tempo offense going right from the get go." 

"I have to give La Verne credit, though, they came out in the second half and picked up their tempo in an attempt to keep up with our style of play and down the stretch they came away with some big shots."

Karl Reyes started off the Leo scoring adding the first basket of the game with a three pointer and after a see saw battle that encompassed the next ten minutes, Whittier managed to pull away increasing their lead to eight 26-18 thanks to two three pointers from sophomore Ben Maynard (La Canada, Calif.) and two jumpers from Tyree Landrum (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Jennings.

LV responded though pulling within five a few minutes later but this time around Nick Demusis (Mililani, HI) answered the call with eight straight points, which included two three pointers that helped the Purple & Gold go into the half leading 41-35.

Out of the break, the Leopards attempted to match the Poet intensity on both ends of the floor picking up their tempo, while implementingbeginning  a press that gave the Poets trouble early helping them chip away at the Poet lead.  Chris Barnes-Williams (Salt Lake City, UT) started off the half with a tre, and was then followed by a two handed jam by Landrum but LV didn't go away pulling within six 52-46 at the 15:02 mark before going on an 8-2 run that pulled them within two 62-60. 

With 6:01 to play, La Verne again pulled within two 67-65 but it was soon answered with, with a Poet 6-0 run capped off with a Landrum steal and fast break two handed jam that led to a technical foul for hanging on the rim and a fired up Poet bench.  With Landrum then having four fouls, LV put the ball in Ronn See's hands and what a finish he had, pulling the Leopards within one 77-76 after dishing Roberts for three following his back to back jumpers in the paint.

Jennings then answered with a corner pocket three ball, one of his four on the night, which put the Poets up by four and then after yet another Roberts three pointer that pulled LV within one, Demusis was able to knock down two crucial free throws that secured the victory for the Poets. 

Whittier shot 50% from the field and held a slight 39-37 advantage on the glass, but for the first time this season they only turned the ball over 12 times, while forcing 11 of their own. 

Four of the five starters recorded double digits efforts led by Landrum who finished with a double double, 10 points and 15 rebounds, while Demusis tossed in a team high 23 points on 9-17 shooting.

Asked about what the men's basketball team needs to do to continue playing good basketball at the midway point of the season, Rock Carter explained "that if the players continue doing what they are doing and playing the up tempo style of game they are used to, while moving the ball well, then we will be fine."    

Barnes-Williams finished with ten points and six boards, while Jennings had yet another breakout game on the season finishing with 14 points on 5-9 shooting, six rebounds, and three assists.  Richardson despite missing double digits still put together an impressive stat line, which included eight points, eight assists, four rebounds, a steal, and a block, which came in the last couple of seconds on La Verne's final shot, which sealed the victory for the Poets.

La Verne was led by See who tossed in a game high 26 points on 9-11 shooting with eight rebounds, while Reyes and Eric Becker chipped in with ten a piece.

Whittier returns home for two games beginning this Wednesday, January 22 when they host Redlands at 7:309pm before wrapping up the week Saturday, January 25 when they host Cal Lutheran at 5:00pm.