Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – Following a tough loss on the road against the Leopards of the University of La Verne, the Poets got back to their winning ways Monday evening as they took down UC Santa Cruz 85-74 in the Graham Athletic Center.

With the win the Poets have now won five of their last six and wrap up their non-conference schedule finishing 5-4. 

The last time the Poets and Banana Slugs matched up back on December 20 the Poets were also victorious earning the 86-72 victory during the Mission Inn Holiday Classic.

Monday evening it was all about the deep ball with the Poets shooting 37% from behind the arc, while finishing at a 42.4% clip from the field. 

Eric Jennings (Fontana, Calif.) led all scorers with 18 shooting 50% from the field, while grabbing five rebounds, dishing out three assists, and picking up a steal and block.  Andrew Torres (Whittier, Calif.) was in a support role tossing in 17 with five rebounds and two assists, while freshman Conner Longmire (Tarzana, Calif.) had his breakout game of his career adding 11 points off the bench, which included going 3-3 from three point territory in the early stages of the game.

The Poets broke a 14-14 tie early with an 8-0 run.  Anthony Martinez (Cerritos, Calif.) knocked down a three-pointer and hit another a minute later, while Richard Kaye (Irvine, Calif.) added a lay-up in between.          

UCSC answered with their own eight straight soon after that put them in front 22-19 but Whittier would come back strong in the final ten minutes with Chris Kapano (Los Alamitos, Calif.) adding two three-pointers, Jennings adding one himself and a 7-0 run in the final 2:04.  This run included lay-ups from Michael Alvarez (Downey, Calif.) and Jacob Contreras (Pleasanton, Calif.), capped off with a three ball from Longmire that gave WC a 44-42 lead at intermission.

The second half was all Whittier.  Torres got things started with a three-pointer right out of the half and Jennings would add two free throws that moved the score to 49-42. 

UCSC would pull within one at 51-50 following six unanswered but that's as close as they would get as the Purple & Gold would continue shooting lights out going on an 11-2 run that stretched the lead to double digits 62-52.

The Banana Slugs attempted one final comeback getting within one at 69-68 with 4:49 to play but Torres would convert two free throws and Longmire would again connect from long range before an 8-0 run under two minutes to play would put the game out of reach.  

Whittier has a day off before hosting Chapman University on Wednesday, February 10 with tip-off set for 7:30pm.