VALLEJO, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2025) – The Whittier College men's basketball team closed its brief Northern California road swing with a hard-fought 96–90 victory over CSU Maritime on Tuesday afternoon in Vallejo. Playing their second straight road contest, the Poets built a commanding first-half lead and held on late to improve to 7–2 overall on the season.
Whittier set the tone early with one of its most efficient offensive halves of the year, pouring in 54 first-half points while shooting over 50 percent from the floor and knocking down eight three-pointers. The Poets led by as many as 24 midway through the second half, fueled by strong ball movement, consistent perimeter shooting, and timely finishes inside. Whittier finished the game shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from beyond the arc, marking the fourth time this season the Purple & Gold have eclipsed the 50 percent mark overall.
Jonathan Duley (Rocklin, Calif. / Del Oro / Cuyamaca College) paced the offense with 21 points, recording his fifth 20-point performance of the season. Jaden Mathis (Pasadena, Calif. / Pasadena / Palomar College) continued his hot stretch from deep, knocking down five three-pointers for the second consecutive game and finishing with 15 points. Tochi Onyeador (Amuri, Nigeria / MEC / Los Medanos College) was dominant on the glass, securing his second NCAA double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds while anchoring the interior on both ends of the floor. Bryce Whitaker (Burbank, Calif. / Providence / Montana State Billings) added 14 points with steady guard play, and Peyton Guerrero (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Ocean View) chipped in 13 off the bench as Whittier saw six players score in double figures.
The Poets also leaned on their depth once again, with 32 bench points helping absorb a second-half push from the Keelhaulers. Brandon Andrews (Houston, Texas / Clear Brook / Palomar College) provided a spark with 14 points in reserve minutes, while Whittier's collective defensive effort forced CSU Maritime into tough looks late as the Poets closed out the win at the free-throw line.
Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets move to 7–2 overall while remaining 1–1 in SCIAC play. Whittier will next travel to San Diego for an exhibition matchup against San Diego State on Monday, December 22, with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.
Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!
