WHITTIER, CA. (Jan. 20, 2024)- The Poets played host to Chapman University Saturday, in a SCIAC double-header with both the men's and women's teams taking on the Panthers at home. The men's team played the first game of the double-header, unfortunately coming up short in an 80-64 loss. 

With the game tipping off, the two teams began to battle it out with Chapman gaining the quick advantage. The Poets fought hard in this first half making multiple comebacks to bring the game closer. Whittier was crashing the boards hard this game and were able to get the score within reach thanks to them grabbing 8 offensive rebounds this half. Nick Manor-Hall (Chino Hills, Calif., Chino Hills HS) was very aggressive coming out of the gates, scoring 10 points to go along with his 3 rebounds. Despite the Poets playing aggressive during the first, as the teams went to halftime the Panthers had a 44-34 lead. 

Getting started in the second, Whittier was looking to make a comeback. The team continued to play hard on the defensive end, but the Panthers were having a night where every shot was going in. Aamari Smith (Decatur, GA, San Bernardino Valley) did everything he could to help get the Poets back in this game. In the second half alone, Smith had 17 points, 5 rebounds, an assist, a block, and 2 steals. The depth of the Chapman bench though was too much to maintain and the Panthers would eventually secure the 80-64 victory. 

Manor-Hall, Smith, and Kunal Bagga (Anaheim, Calif., Servite HS) had their third straight game with all 3 scoring in double-digits. Smith would end up being the scoring leader in this game finishing with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, a block, and 3 steals. The Poets did manage to finish with 9 steals in this game and you can credit that to the fight all the men show when they take the court. Despite dealing with a lot of adversity this year, the Poets come out and fight every game. Whittier will have another chance to show this fight next Wednesday when they host Pomona-Pitzer. This SCIAC matchup will tip off at 7:00.