Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2022) – Junior guard Bryant Howing (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / Rio Hondo College) provided an immense contribution to the Whittier College men's basketball team in a game where the Poets put together arguably their strongest performance of the season despite coming up short to defending SCIAC champion Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Wednesday evening.

The junior transfer rediscovered his early season form, providing a light the men's basketball team would carry through to the finish of Wednesday's exciting contest. Howing scored 17 points in 23 minutes off the bench, and proved to be instrumental to the Poets digging themselves out of an early 14-2 hole to open the game. He would be responsible for the Poets' ensuing five points to cut the Sagehens' lead to seven, first with a routine mid-range jumper before flashing his range on the very next shot, which came roughly 30 seconds later thanks to a timely steal from junior forward Jordan Kanoe (San Antonio, Texas / Santa Monica College). The Poets would go on to show they can compete with the Sagehens, ending the first half on a high note having the cut the visitors' lead to just three points. The Poets clawed back into the game thanks to eights first-half points from Howing, eight from Kanoe and seven from senior guard Ahmad Young (Sunnyvale, Calif. / De Anza College).

After shooting a near-collective 43 percent in the first-half, the Poets were able to maintain a similar pace over the final 20 minutes thanks to some of the best team defense they have shown all season. Whittier forced its SCIAC foe into jamming middling to subpar looks from all lengths of the floor, while taking care of the basketball on the other side of the floor. The Poets committed just 12 turnovers, a new low for a SCIAC game this season and six whole points below their season average, and as a result were able to maximize offensive opportunities. Additionally, they would go on to shoot a perfect 17-for-17 as a team from the free throw line, keeping the Sagehens within striking distance even when things got tight. Thanks to nine second-half points from Howing, seven from Young and seven from junior center Ethan Battistini (Angwin, Calif. / College of Marin), the Poets succeeded in turning the tide their way several times late in the second half, though it would be Howing's final shot that brought the fans to their feet in an unprecedented way. The junior initally had a look at the go-ahead jumper with just seconds remaining on the shot clock, but fell to the ground as the ball missed the rim. Senior guard Nick Colosi (La Mirada, Calif. / La Mirada) made the save underneath the basket, and with the ball having shot back to Young near the free throw line, the Poets' leading scorer batted the ball to Howing in what resembled more of a volleyball set than a chest pass. In one fluid motion, Howing brought himself back to his feet and launched the ball into the air for it to sink through flawlessly through the net, giving Whittier a two-point lead with 41 seconds to play. A pair of clutch shots from the Sagehens' would ultimately upend the Poets' late effort, but the Purple & Gold will have a lot of positives to take out of Wednesday's game to channel into the remainder of the SCIAC schedule. 

Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets will have an opportunity to build on the strong performance when they travel to Occidental College on Saturday, Jan. 22 to take on the 6-5 Tigers (2-4 SCIAC) at 2 p.m.

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