Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2021) – The Whittier College men's basketball team is off to a 3-0 start to the 2021 campaign thanks to a pair of double-double performances from senior Nick Colosi (La Mirada, Calif. / La Mirada) and junior Jordan Kanoe (San Antonio, Texas / Santa Monica College). Behind Colosi and Kanoe, the Poets defeated Colorado College, 88-75, giving Head Coach Mark Jensen his first 3-0 start to the season since taking over the program in 2017.

The Poets withstood an early run from the Tigers in order to lay the offense on thick over the final minutes of the first half. Whittier's 21-13 run over the final eight minutes of the opening 20 allowed them to even the game at the break, but the Tigers also got themselves into foul trouble along the way with 11 first-half fouls. The visitors' aggressive nature continued throughout the second half, and the fouls eventually began to catch up with them, taking them out of any offensive rhythm that could come together. The Poets, meanwhile, attempted 30 free throws on the game as a consequence to the Tigers' aggression and found their stroke from both the inside and outside. A tip-in from senior center Kyle Price (Rocklin, Calif. / Cal Maritime Academy) gave the Poets a nine-point lead less than four minutes into the second frame, forcing Colorado College to use a timeout in order to help stop the bleeding.

Colosi cinched his first double-double of the season during the Poets' initial run in the second half. He finished the game with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and totaled 12 rebounds, 11 of which were of the defensive variety. Kanoe, meanwhile, had to wait a little longer to notch his first double-double of the season. The junior transfer nabbed his 10th rebound with two minutes remaining, and on the ensuing possession knocked home a jumper to give him a 10-10 night. Senior guard Ahmad Young (Sunnyvale, Calif. / De Anza College) also provided a tremendous scoring contribution to the Poets with 21 points, with more than half of them coming from three-pointers or free throws. While Friday marked the second-consecutive game the Poets have had at least 30 free throw attempts, it also marked their most successful collective game at the line, making 25-of-30 to help ice the game down the stretch. Meanwhile, junior guard Bryant Howing (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / Rio Hondo College) and freshman forward Brent Smith (Atlanta, Ga. / Archer) gave the Poets 12 and 10 points off the bench which provided the home team with the extra boost it needed. With the Poets up 18 points with five minutes to go, fewer risks were needed and a strong defensive effort helped Whittier put a bow on its third win in as many games.

Jensen and the Poets will return to Dave Jacobs Court on Sunday, Nov. 21 to host Embry-Riddle University (Ariz.) for a 1 p.m. game. A victory would give the Poets their first 4-0 start to a season since 2009-10.

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