WHITTIER, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2024) – The Whittier College men's basketball team had one of its best shooting days ever from deep against West Coast Baptist College on Saturday afternoon. The Poets defeated the Eagles, 130-42, and knocked down 21 triples out of a possible 39 for an overall shooting percentage of 53.8 percent from deep.
Eight different players contributed to that lofty total, including senior wing
Ignacio Bettinelli (Quilmes, Argentina / Ann Sobrato / West Valley Community College), who went 3-for-3 from deep. Additionally, seven different Poets found themselves in double-figures, including Bettinelli who finished with 11 points. Senior guard
Aamari Smith (Decatur, Ga. / Roosevelt / San Bernardino Valley College | Cypress College) led the way with 34 points, and was responsible for precisely half of his team's fast break points for the game (18). Smith had more points than minutes played, and behind nine assists and five rebounds also flirted with the first triple-double of his career.
For the 40-minute duration, the Purple & Gold saw little opposition from its opponents, resulting in a lofty three-point shooting total and just five attempted free throws. Two players came off the bench to hit four three-pointers: true freshman
Jaedon Hose-Shea (Costa Mesa, Calif. / Estancia) and junior transfer
Vinny Andrea (Brentwood, Calif. / Heritage / Los Medanos College | Diablo Valley College). Both players showed they can be effective offensive pieces in Head Coach
Mark Jensen's up-tempo system and had all of their points from deep.
Also of note: senior center
Tyler Watters (Aurora, Colo. / Grandview / West Valley Community College) shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the field for a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double, senior guard
Roy Kalu (Lynn, Mass. / Pioneer Charter School of Science / Roxbury Community College) had 19 points, nine rebounds and five steals, and junior guard
Chine Nwanevu (Eastvale, Calif. / Norco / San Bernardino Valley College) shot 6-for-7 from the field.
Jensen and the Poets will now prepare for the Chapman Invitational, where they will play Willamette University and Texas Lutheran University next weekend.
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