WHITTIER, Calif. (Dec. 31, 2023)- Whittier returned to conference play to take on conference rival Chapman, falling 80-73. 

Chapman quickly found themselves with the lead. However, the Poets were ready to fight. Halfway through the first half, Chapman held a 24-19 point lead over Whittier. Ultimately, the Panthers  took a 43-34 lead into the intermission. 

Blake Lander had a great first half, leading the Poets with 12 points, three rebounds, and one block. Whittier was shooting over 50% from the field, but eight turnovers allowed the Panthers to get ahead. 

As the second half began, Chapman continued to drain buckets. Whittier could not quite find their footing, and the Panthers could not miss. With only nine minutes left in the game, Chapman had a 20-point advantage. Then Whittier began its fierce comeback. The final nine minutes of the match turned in favor of the Poets, who played suffocating defense and finally got their shots to find the bottom of the net. Whittier pulled within five points of Chapman, but the Panthers were able to hang on, 80-73. 

The Poets had four men score in double digits, with Lander's 23 leading the charge. He drained eight of nine shots in the contest, including five of his six three-point attempts.

Freshman Bryant Handley had another great game, filling the statsheet. He walked away with 12 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and one steal. 

Whittier will be off for the next week before a road tilt against CMS next Saturday Jan. 7. This game will take place at Claremont at 4 p.m. 

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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