Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. - It was a game of big scoring runs that helped the Whittier College men's basketball team come away with a victory Saturday night in the Graham Athletic Center as they rolled to the 67-47 victory over Pomona-Pitzer to improve to 9-5, 3-2 SCIAC. 

Senior Eric Jennings (Fontana, Calif.) led the offensive attack finishing with a game high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting going 4-of-7 from deep along with six rebounds, two assists, and two steals as the Poets cruised to their second lopsided victory in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play.          

It was a balanced attack as Nick Demusis (Mililani, HI) picked up a double double posting 20 points and 11 boards along with four assists, and three steals, while Andrew Torres (Whittier, Calif.) collected 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. 

The game started off quickly for the Poets as they raced out to an early 15-0 lead and eventually extended it to 21-3 led by Demusis, Jennings, and Torres.  They would thenwithstand an ensuing 12-0 first half run by the Sagehens (2-12, 0-5 SCIAC), managing to hold a two point lead 32-30 at the break before brushing off the potential challenge adding 35 points in the second half, while holding PP to a mere 17.

Kyle McAndrews opened up the scoring in the second half with a basket that tied things up 32-32 but the Poets would explode for 16 unanswered that moved the score to 52-35 where they were able to cruise from there, building the lead to as many as 27 before earning the 20 point victory.

Whittier hit 46 percent of their shots (28-61) and found themselves going to the free throw line only three times for the game.  Despite losing the rebounding category 39-35, the Poets managed to pick up 22 assists, collect 23 points off turnovers, and add 30 points in the paint.

Despite not adding any points, Michael Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) put together an impressive game at the point playing 16 minutes picking up five rebounds, a game high six assists, three steals, and a block.

Whittier returns to action next week on Thursday, January 22 as they travel to take on Redlands beginning at 7:30pm. 

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