Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – It came down to an extra five minute period Tuesday evening as the Whittier College Men's Basketball team saw their senior day spoiled by the Kingsmen of Cal Lutheran University 103-101 in the Graham Athletic Center.

Prior to the contest, Head Coach Rock Carter recognized his seven seniors who were taking part in their final regular season home game, which included Eric Jennings (Fontana, Calif.), David Richardson (Los Angeles, Calif.), Jacob Contreras (Pleasanton, Calif.), Michael Alvarez (Downey, Calif.), Andrew Torres (Whittier, Calif.), Ben Maynard (Pasadena, Calif.), and Jose Gonzalez (Bell Gardens, Calif.).

Despite dropping their last two contests, Whittier still holds onto the No. 2 seed within the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament.  They hold a 14-11, 9-7 SCIAC record and will host the University of Redlands this Friday, February 26 beginning at 7:30pm.

The Poets fell behind early trailing the Kingsmen by 10 at the break 48-38 as Sam Cirillo lit it up from the field with 14 points going 4-of-6 from behind the arc.  Jeremy Sulker-Hall and Connor McGuire also had 10 points apiece in the first half.

Whittier fought back in the second however outscoring CLU 52-42 that sent the game into OT.  Contreras would have the game-tying three-pointer from NBA range with just seconds left on the clock that tied it up at 90-90 and Anthony Martinez (Cerritos, Calif.) had a great look for the game-winner but couldn't convert the lay-up as time expired.

In the extra period, Dan Wade and Austin Cole added a quick three points that put CLU in front 93-90.  Martinez answered with a triple from the corner that tied things up but it would be Sulker-Hall with a key five points down the stretch that helped the Kingsmen pull off the road victory.

Chris Kapano (Los Alamitos, Calif.) converted three free throws that kept the Poets within one at 97-96.  Martinez added another three-pointer and Alvarez would make a lay-up that pulled the Poets within two but that would be the final points scored by the Purple & Gold as they fell 103-101.

Martinez finished with 22 points off the bench with five assists and three rebounds going 6-of-11 from behind the arc.  Torres had 19 points with seven boards and four assists and Kapano had a strong game in 16 minutes of action with 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting.  Jennings was the last Poet in double figures as he registered 13 points, six rebounds and six assists.