Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Poet Pit provided a spark Wednesday evening as the Whittier College Men's Basketball team used a deadly attack from long range to hold off the Leopards of the University of La Verne 93-91 in the Graham Athletic Center.
Despite being outscored in the second half 49-46, it was the 59% clip from behind the arc that won it for the Purple & Gold as they move back to .500 on the season at 5-5, 1-1 SCIAC.
"We played well offensively against a very good team. La Verne is very similar to us in style and played well enough to win. We made some big plays late in the second half that ended up being the difference. This win was good after coming off a poor performance against Chapman. We know every night we will have to bring our best to be successful within our conference," explained Head Coach Rock Carter.
La Verne saw an opportunity to tie the game up or take the lead following a free throw from Andrew Torres (Whittier, Calif.) that gave the Poets a 91-89 lead with 14 seconds to go. But after committing a crucial turnover, Torres who would wound up picking up the steal would get fouled converting both free throws that sealed the home victory for WC.
Whittier got out in front by nine with 8:37 left to play in the game but ULV would storm back with an 11-2 run that tied things up at 74-74 sparked by back to back triples from Kendall McClain and Anthony White.
With 4:56 to play, ULV wound up taking their first lead of the game following another jumper but Torres would stop the bleeding with a huge three pointer on the Poets next possession that brought the Poet Pit to their feet.
A pair of free throws from Tony Warwick would flip the lead back to La Verne soon after but it would be short-lived as Eric Jennings (Fontana, Calif.) and Torres would go back to back with lay-ups and Whittier wouldn't look back.
Torres who came off the bench scored a game and season high 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting with five boards. Jennings followed with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Louis Kurihara (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) was perfect from the field going 5-for-5, with three coming from the corner for three-pointers as he finished with a season high 14 points.
Whittier had one of their best shooting performances of the season going 53% from the field and despite being edged in four categories (Rebounds – 41-29), (2nd Chance Points – 22-9), (Points in the Paint – 40-34), and (Points off Turnovers – 9-4) they still managed to hold a 16 point lead midway through the second half, which proved crucial.
Whittier has a short turn-around as they host Claremont-M-S this Saturday, January 9 beginning at 2:00pm.
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