Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2022) – The Whittier College men's basketball team proved on Saturday how important a strong finish can be, defeating the University of La Verne, 81-73, on Saturday afternoon thanks in large part to a 15-4 run to close the game over the final five minutes of regulation.

For the majority of Saturday's contest, the Poets contested a close game with the Leopards, trading baskets, fouls, physicality and momentum shifts. Whittier took a three-point lead into halftime, but ultimately found themselves trailing by three points with five minutes to play. However, the Poets saved their five strongest minutes of defense of the season to date for the final five in Saturday's SCIAC battle and held La Verne to just a pair of field goals while notching 15 points of their own. Most of the Poets' damage during this stretch came at the foul line, where they shot 6-for-7 over the span. A three-pointer from senior guard Ahmad Young (Sunnyvale, Calif. / De Anza College) kicked the run off the on the right foot just above the five-minute mark, and the former De Anza Mountain Lion went on to account for seven of the Poets' 15 points the rest of the way. Young led the Poets with 19 points. With some slick scoring from Young, classmate Nick Colosi (La Mirada, Calif. / La Mirada) and junior guard Bryant Howing (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / Rio Hondo College) keeping Whittier afloat late, the defense accounted for six consecutive stops, rendering the Leopards unable to keep up with the Poets' torrid late-game pace.

Senior center Kyle Price (Rocklin, Calif. / Cal Maritime Academy) and freshman guard Kunal Bagga (Anaheim, Calif. / Servite) owned the first half for the home team, shooting a combined 7-for-9 from the field. Price had the most efficient statistical afternoon out of any player in the building, scoring 15 points in 16 minutes to go with six rebounds and a trio of made free throws. Price had to contend with foul trouble early, but his time on the floor count prior to exiting the contest. The Poets' backcourt picked up the slack, with Bagga putting forth his best showing of the season against a SCIAC opponent. He finished with 14 points and five assists, logging 34 minutes of action on the afternoon. All five of Bagga's assists went to different players. One of the benefactors from Bagga's unselfish ways was junior Jordan Kanoe (San Antonio, Texas / Santa Monica College), who joined Young, Bagga and Colosi in double-figures with 13 points thanks, in part, to an efficient 3-for-4 day from the outside. Kanoe also had two of the Poets' three steals, the last of which came in the final minute and enabled the Poets to bury the hungry Leopards for good. 

Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets will look to make it two consecutive SCIAC victories when they host Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.

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