Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – For the first time since 1953-54 the Whittier College Men's Basketball team has been swept by the California Institute of Technology on the season as they suffered an 85-62 loss inside of the Graham Athletic Center.

The loss extends the Poets losing skid to four games with each being by double digits.  Whittier now drops to 8-11, 3-8 SCIAC, while Caltech improves to 6-15, 5-7 SCIAC.

A 7-0 run by the Poets, which included a layup from Conner Longmire (Tarzana, Calif.) and five straight from Nick Potthoff (Phoenix, AZ), would put them on top 7-5.  But that would be short-lived as Caltech would add an 11-0 run that put them on top 15-7.  Whittier attempted to stay in the contest by forcing the issue inside and drawing fouls bringing them to the free throw line but their they struggled shooting 19-26 (73%). 

After a few free throws Caltech again strung together a run this time adding 11 of the next 13 points that put them on top 29-12.  Eric Davis (Ventura, Calif.) tried to provide a much needed spark for the Poets adding 16 of the next 18 points, which included throwing down two monster dunks. 

Potthoff and Louis Kurihara (Culver City, Calif.) combined right afterwards with two more free throws and a layup that got Whittier within five at 37-32.  Ryan Henry (Fontana, Calif.) knocked down a three-pointer and Richard Kaye (Irvine, Calif.) added a last second tip-in as time expired that kept the Poets in striking distance at the half.

But in the second half the shots wouldn't fall as Whittier went cold from the field being held to a mere 24 points and 29% shooting.  Nasser Al-Rayes added an in-transition dunk that got the offense going for the Beavers and that spearheaded a 13-3 run that extended their lead back to double digits.

Whittier tried to cut back into the lead little by little but CIT would continue to add big runs that helped them grab a lead as many as 27. 

Whittier was outrebounded 49-38 on the evening and was outscored in the paint 42-24. 

Davis led the Poets with 18 points and had six boards with three steals.  Longmire totaled 12 points with five rebounds and Potthoff and Henry each registered seven points apiece.        

Whittier hits the road for the next two games.  They take on Claremont-M-S this Thursday, February 9 at 7:00pm and then Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday, February 11 beginning at 7:00pm.