ORANGE, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2025) – The Whittier College men's basketball team, led by junior wing
Chine Nwanevu (Eastvale, Calif. / Norco / San Bernardino Valley College), overcame adversity to complete the season sweep of Chapman University on the road and book their first trip back to the SCIAC Postseason Tournament in nine years. The Poets defeated the Panthers, 72-61, and in doing so held Chapman to fewer points than any NCAA opponent of theirs this season.
Division III leading scorer and Bevo Francis Award candidate
Aamari Smith (Decatur, Ga. / Roosevelt / San Bernardino Valley College) scored 10 points on 50% shooting in the first half, but left the game early in the second half, which necessitated the need for other players to step. One manner in which the Poets collectively raised the bar in Smith's absence was on defense. While Chapman shot 33% from the perimeter, they shot just 35% for the game thanks in part to Whittier's commitment to taking away scoring opportunities in the paint. Meanwhlie, Whittier outscored Chapman inside the restricted area by double-digit points.
Throughout the game, Whittier hit eight three-pointers between four different players, which allowed five different Poets to finish the game in double-figures for the first time this year. Starters Nwanevu, sophomore guard
Sean Cervantes (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / La Mirada), and Smith cracked double-digit points, while senior guard
Andrew Milot (Murrieta, Calif. / Balboa / Knox College) and senior wing
Morgan Cox (Lawton, Okla. / Velma-Alma / Simpson University) both got there off the bench. However, junior transfer Nwanevu stole the show with his playmaking ability on defense. His ability to force turnovers out of the Panthers resulted in Whittier winning the turnover battle at a near 2:1 clip, while he, himself accounted for a career-high seven steals. Altogether, Nwanevu had himself a 14-7-7 night with points, rebounds and steals, and that would be more than enough to push Whittier over the finish line as the men's basketball program made history.
Senior center
Tyler Watters (Aurora, Colo. / Grandview / West Valley Community College) also stepped up to the plate with eight rebounds playing some key minutes for the Poets down the stretch. It was during the game's waning minutes, after all, that the Poets played their best basketball, keeping with the theme from previous games. The visitors scored the game's final six points and finished on a 18-5 run over the game's final five minutes. Five different players scored during this stretch.
Head Coach
Mark Jensen and the Poets will aim to improve their standing in the conference heading into the postseason, beginning on Saturday, Feb. 15 when they travel to California Lutheran University for a 7 p.m. game.
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