Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Basketball team opened up the Mission Inn classic Sunday stunning host UC Santa Cruz 86-72 earning their third straight victory over the Banana Slugs in the past two years.

The win marks the third in a row for the Purple & Gold as they improve to 3-2.  It was all Poets Sunday evening as they rolled out to an impressive 48-31 advantage at the break.  They used a 14-4 run early with Eric Jennings (Fontana, Calif.) converting three lay-ups, a jumper and a free throw and Ben Maynard (Pasadena, Calif.) knocking down a triple and a pair from the charity stripe and they didn't look back. 

At the 14:19 mark Jake Moore (Dallas, TX) continued the offensive onslaught with his first points of the game coming from behind the arc, while point guard Anthony Martinez (Cerritos, Calif.) made a jumper and lay-up that moved the score to 21-6.

Soon after Jacob Contreras (Pleasanton, Calif.) and Michael Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) would go back to back on triples that extended the Poet lead and seven consecutive free throws from Martinez and Chris Kapano (Los Alamitos, Calif.) would put the first half in the books.

Despite being outscored in the second half 41-38, the surge wouldn't be enough for the Banana Slugs as the Poets would end the second half on an 20-8 run that helped them secure their first win of the classic. 

Four Poets recorded double figures with Martinez pouring in 21 off the bench that went with four boards and three assists.  Jennings had 19 on 8-of-12 shooting with five rebounds and four assists, Contreras totaled 14 going 4-of-5 from behind the arch and Maynard would chip in with 11 points shooting 50% from the field along with six boards, and four assists.            

Whittier has a short turn around as they return to the court tomorrow, Monday, December 21 when they take on Puget Sound beginning at 3:00pm.