LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Dec. 28, 2024) – Keyed by a steady performance from senior guard
Andrew Milot (Murrieta, Calif. / Balboa / Knox College), the Whittier College men's basketball team fended off a late surge from Edgewood College and defeated the Eagles 85-79 to claim their fourth victory over an NCAA opponent this season.
The game was a notable one, as the Poets attempted a program-record 44 free throws in the winning effort. Of those 44 attempts, Whittier made 32 of them -- a lofty total but just shy of a program record, as the Poets went 34-for-43 against the University of Redlands back in 2017. In any case, the men's basketball team made the most of its opportunities on Saturday night and held off a tough Edgewood team from Michigan.
Senior guard
Aamari Smith (Decatur, Ga. / Roosevelt / San Bernardino Valley College), in limited action, led the Poets in scoring once again with 27 points. However, it was Milot who stepped up when Smith exited the game in the second half. The point guard had a season-high 20 points in 30 minutes of action and displayed a good command of the offense by contributing a 2:1 assist-turnover ratio. Earlier in the game, he worked in tandem with Smith to stake the Purple & Gold to a big lead early. Whittier, at one point, led Edgewood 36-18, but the Eagles eventually overcame their gaudy foul totals in both halves to push the Poets down the stretch.
One area where the Poets were able to get the better of the Eagles was on the offensive and defensive glass. Junior guard
Chine Nwanevu (Eastvale, Calif. / Norco / San Bernardino Valley College) shined in that area, and overcame a sluggish offensive performance by his standards to pull down a game-high 13 rebounds, 12 of which came on the defensive end, thus limiting Edgewood's opportunities for second-chance points. Ultimately, the Poets needed to rely on its free throw shooting to keep distance between themselves on the Eagles, and thanks to Milot's 6-for-6 showing at the charity stripe among others, they were able to do just that.
Other notable contributors to Saturday's win included senior forward
Tyler Watters (Aurora, Colo. / Grandview / West Valley Community College) with nine rebounds and senior guard
Morgan Cox (Lawton, Okla. / Velma-Alma / Simpson University), who had 13 points and knocked down a trio of three-pointers.
Head Coach
Mark Jensen and the Poets will look to make it consecutive wins in the D3Hoops Classic for the first time in his tenure as coach and in the history of the Whittier men's basketball program. They will take on North Jersey's Ramapo College, another Saturday victor, at 6 p.m. PT.
Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!
