Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2021) – Junior forward Jordan Kanoe (San Antonio, Texas / Santa Monica College) of the Whittier College men's basketball team put together one of his strongest offensive showings of the season to date against visiting Pacific University on Saturday afternoon.

Kanoe's efforts to enject life and vigor into Whittier's offensive approach paid off in a big way, as the junior recorded a season-high three dunks throughout the game, and his first two-handed jam came on the ensuing possession after senior center Kyle Price (Rocklin, Calif. / Cal Maritime Academy) hammered home a dunk of his own. The junior's third dunk answered a pair of Boxer free throws at a crucial time in the fourth quarter, and came on an alley-oop off a timely dish from senior guard Nick Colosi (La Mirada, Calif. / La Mirada), dazzling the more than 150 fans in attendence during the Holiday Break, no less. However, Kanoe's eventual 22-point night would figure into a wild ride for the Poets against a resliant Pacific team from the state of Oregon for the duration of Saturday's contest.

Though a strong start for the Poets would be answered by the Boxers, the home team showed an ability to strike back, putting together a 20-13 run over the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a six-point lead into the break. The lead, however would not be safe despite Whittier jumping out to a 14-point lead to open the quarter thanks to four consecutive made-free throws from Price and Colosi. The two Whittier seniors put together a night for the ages from the charity stripe, shooting a combined 18-for-21 to help the Poets to a collective 82.5 percentage that ultimately helped keep pace with the deep visiting squad. Two technical fouls as a result of flopping behind the three-point line only further reinforced the Poets' gaudy free throw shooting numbers for the game. In spite of this, the Boxers kept things close to the bitter end thanks to their concerted efforts from deep, even if at first unsucccessful. As the game began to near its conclusion, Kanoe's alley-oop statement from Colosi appeared to indicate yet another shift in momentum, and the junior would follow up two possessions later with a three-pointer, again assisted by Colosi, to put the Poets back up by three. However, the Boxers received one too many chances to tip the scales back in their favor over the final minute, and hit the decisive shot with just over a second to go in regulation. With his team's feet held to the fire, Price nearly hit a shot just inside the half-court line to give Whittier a miracle victory, but it was ultimately not to be. While Kanoe would lead with 22 points and six rebounds, Price scored 18 points to go with one block and came one rebound away from recording a double-double.

Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets will next be competing in the D3hoops.com Classic at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. over a pair of days later this month, Dec. 28 and 29. First up for Whittier will be Concordia University Moorehead on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

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