WHITTIER, CA. (Jan. 3, 2024)- The Whittier College Poets returned home to continue SCIAC play Wednesday night. In this showdown the Poets were up against the University of La Verne Leopards. The Poets took a strong lead into halftime and were able to maintain control in the second half on their way to a 83-74 victory. 

As the game tipped off Whittier came out hot, going up on the Leopards 5-0. The two teams then began to go back and forth trading baskets in a very up-beat tempo. The Poets offense was in a nice flow and they were moving the ball well to each other; 5 different men had scored within the first 10 minutes of the game. With about 4 minutes left in the first half Whittier then began to pull away. The men turned up the intensity on both ends of the court and carried a 43-34 lead into halftime. 

Aamari Smith (Decatur, GA, San Bernardino Valley), Kunal Bagga (Anaheim, Calif., Servite HS), and Nick Manor-Hall (Chino Hills, Calif., Chino Hills HS) were all in double-digits in the scoring department through the end of the first. Whittier shot the ball very well in this first half, 65%, and would look to continue this as they began the second half. 

Whittier once again came out on a mission in the second half; they quickly began to expand the lead. Bagga, Smith, and Manor-Hall continued their impressive nights, knocking down shot after shot to push Whittier's lead to a game high of 19. Only 5 minutes into this second half the Poets were looking good, but the Leopards were not ready to just roll over. La Verne then began to put together some nice runs of their own. With 5 minutes left the Leopards had cut the Poets lead to only 4. The two teams were trading baskets and Whittier was fighting hard to not let them back in it. Up by 5 with 2 minutes remaining in the game, Manor-Hall made a beautiful behind the back pass to the cutting Tanner Thompson (Seattle, Wash., North Creek HS) who laid it in on an 'And-One'. Thompson's free throw sealed the game for the Poets, putting the team up 8 with less than 2 minutes remaining. 

Whittier would hold on to pull away with a 83-74 victory over La Verne. The men were excellent tonight shooting 60% from the field, coming away with 6 steals, and forcing 15 turnovers. Bagga had the hot hand tonight scoring 15 points on 3 3-pointers. Smith was the leading scorer for Whittier as he poured in 25 points for the team. Manor-Hall was the highlight for the team though as he came away with a double-double. Nick was 9-10 from the field on his way to 24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, a block, and a handful of massive dunks. 

Securing their first SCIAC victory of the season, the Poets will look to add another one to the win column on Saturday. Whittier will take on the University of Redlands at 2:00 in the Graham Athletics Center at Whittier College.