Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

REDLANDS, Calif. – The Whittier College men's basketball team extended their winning streak to two games Thursday night needing three overtime periods to put away the Bulldogs of the University of Redlands 93-90 in Currier Gym.

Fueled by Nick Demusis (Mililani, HI) who finished with a double double, which included a season and game high 33 points on 10-of-23 shooting and 14 rebounds, Whittier (10-5, 4-2 SCIAC) put together yet another impressive offensive display shooting 40.3% from the field and 39.5% from three point territory.

Following a deadlocked game at 28-28 with 7:38 to play in the first half, the Purple & Gold put together a 16-7 run that ended the first period moving the score to 46-35 at the break. 

Redlands (5-10, 2-4 SCIAC) mounted a comeback however in the second half sparked by Aljosa Bjekovic who came out firing scoring the first 13 points in seven minutes for the Bulldogs that cut the deficit to four.  Whittier pushed the lead back to nine at the 9:18 mark following seven unanswered but UR managed to pull within one at 64-63 two minutes later following their own spurt.

With 2:07 remaining in regulation, Redlands grabbed the lead for the first time since the eight minute mark in the first half, which pushed the score to 67-66.  However, they let it slip away with thirty seconds left as Whittier's Demusis would sink two free throws that sent the game into OT.

The Bulldogs went out in front quickly in the first overtime period 75-69 with Marco Kengott adding the first six points of the session.  But the Poets were relentless knocking down three triples outscoring UR 9-3 in the final 1:17 that forced the second OT period. 

With just 17 seconds left in that first extended period, the Poets worked the ball around to get a solid look at a tying shot from beyond the arc. The ball rimmed out from their first attempt but Whittier came up with the offensive rebound and reset for the second-chance opportunity. This time, Jacob Contreras (Pleasanton, Calif.) converted the three-pointer with a half second left on the clock that tied the game at 78. 

In the second OT period UR again held a lead late 84-82.  Blake O'Brien missed one of two free throws with 23 seconds left that kept the deficit at two and Andrew Torres (Whittier, Calif.) made them pay going coast to coast with the game tying layup that forced a third OT session.

In the final period, Andrew Bucholtz (Lone Tree, CO) and Demusis teamed up for an early five points that put WC in front 89-85 with 2:38 to play.  O'Brien would then hit an ensuing three pointer for UR that cut the deficit to one but Demusis would then take over adding the final four points of the period that helped Whittier hold on for the decisive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) victory.

Despite falling in the rebounding category 57-49 and, second chance points 18-11, and points in the paint 44-26, the Poets saw four players record double digit efforts.  Ben Maynard (Pasadena, Calif.) had 11 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes of action.  Bucholtz finished with 15 points and nine boards, one shy of a double double, and Contreras finished with 12 points off the bench.

The Poets return to the court this Saturday, January 24 as they travel to Occidental College with tip-off set for 4:00pm.