THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (Jan. 18, 2023)- The Poets traveled to Thousand Oaks to take on the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen, looking for their first SCIAC win. Whittier was not able to get their shots to fall tonight and took the loss 99-68. 

As the game began, Whittier kept it close and were only trailing by two, 10minutes into the game. The Kingsmen then went on a run and went up by eight. Whittier fought back to bring the game within five; however, the last four minutes belonged to the Kingsmen as they went on an 8-0 run to go into the half with a 43-30 point lead. 

The Poets could not get much going from the field in the first half of the game. They shot 35% from the field and 32% from behind the arc. Nick Manor-Hall paced Whittier in total points with 11. Bryant Howing filled the stat sheet with eight points, four rebounds, an assist, and two steals. 

The second half was more of the same for the Poets. The Kingsmen continued to pour in their shots and within the first three minutes of the secon half, Cal Lu had built a 23-point lead. This would be the closest Whittier would get to Cal Lu for the remainder of the game. Eventually Cal Lu would go on to beat the Poets by a score of 99-68. 

Bryant Handley had a strong second half and finished the game with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Manor-Hall was the only other Poet to score in double-digits, as he finished with 13. Whittier was not able to hit their shots tonight, as they finished with a 37% field goal percentage, 26% from behind the three-point line and 63% from the free-throw line. 

The Poets will return home on Saturday to take on the University of La Verne at 4 p.m.. Whittier will be looking to secure their first SCIAC victory. 

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!