Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LA VERNE, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2022) – The Whittier College men's basketball team put its offensive potential on full display at the University of La Verne over the weekend, scoring 91 points in a narrow defeat.

The Poets ran into a hot Leopards offense that won two of its last four while managing at least 70 points in every game. Even still, Whittier managed to shoot nearly 50 percent from the field while keeping beneath their conference turnover average on the year. Freshman guard Kunal Bagga (Anaheim, Calif. / Servite) made nearly every basket he attempted, providing the Poets 19 points to go with three assists. Additionally, two Poets double-doubled, with senior guard Ahmad Young (Sunnyvale, Calif. / De Anza College) scoring 24 points to go with 10 rebounds and senior center Kyle Price (Rocklin, Calif. / Cal Maritime Academy) scoring 12 points to go with 11 rebounds. Together, the Whittier seniors made up 60 percent of their team's total rebounds for the game.

Whittier took a six-point lead into halftime behind Bagga's 13 points, but fell behind midway through the half as the Leopards were not only able to maintain but exceed their gaudy first-half shooting percentages, particularly from deep. However, big-time second half performances from the likes of Young and freshman wing Cameron Stiepock (Glastonbury, Conn. / St. Andrew's Prep) kept the Poets in the game until the final whistle. Young scored 22 of his 24 points over the final 20 minutes, while Stiepock deposited all eight of his points during this period as well, including five after the Leopards had taken the lead. Unfortunately, the Poets also had to contend with the Leopards shooting 22-for-26 from the free throw line and found themselves ultimately outgunned on a night where things still went their way in terms of offensive execution. 

Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets will look to build some late-season momentum heading into SCIAC Postseason Tournament season when they host Caltech on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m.

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