Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2021) – The Whittier College men's basketball team, despite playing shorthanded put together a sound team performance in a competitive Saturday contest with George Fox University.

The Poets made it a point to jump on the Bruins early, shooting a sterling 50-percent on the nose over the first 20 minutes. A productive half from the Whittier bench allowed the home team to take a seven-point lead into halftime. Collectively, the Poets' bench shot went 5-for-7 during this span with freshman wing Tanner Thompson (Seattle, Wash. / North Creek) turning in some sound two-way play that earned him some key minutes during the second half and junior center Ethan Battistini (Angwin, Calif. / College of Marin) shooting a perfect 2-for-2 from both the field and free throw line. Meanwhile, the scoring touch from senior guard Ahmad Young (Sunnyvale, Calif. / De Anza College) allowed the Poets to open the game with a 26-18 lead, showing the fans in attendance what their offense can be capable of when it is firing on all cylinders.

As the game progressed, the visiting Bruins were able to turn to their own deep bench as the fouls began to pile up. The increasingly physical nature of the game did allow, however, for the Poets to put their collective rebounding on full display. Whittier outrebounded George Fox 52-29 for the game, and hammered them further on the offensive glass (17-6) resulting in a season-best 14 second-chance points. While the Poets' inside game could aid them against SCIAC competition down the stretch, the visiting Bruins caught fire over the final 20 minutes, turning the tide their way. However, four consecutive free throws from Young helped the Poets claw their way back into contention, tying the game at 75 points apiece with three minutes to play. The Bruins' advantage in the outside shooting department aided them from here on out, causing the Purple & Gold to come up short on their home floor. Junior forward Jordan Kanoe (San Antonio, Texas / Santa Monica College), who scored 11 points came just one rebound shy of his second double-double of the young season, and while Young led the Poets with 18 points for the game, senior center Kyle Price (Rocklin, Calif. / Cal Maritime Academy) showed what kind of inside force he can be on the offensive end with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Young, meanwhile recorded all three of Whittier's steals for the game on the other side of the ball.

Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets will look to regrup and get back in the win column when they host Pacific University on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m.

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