WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 5, 2025) –
Aamari Smith (Decatur, Ga. / Roosevelt / San Bernardino Valley College) of the Whittier College men's basketball team padded his incredible senior resume with one of his most impressive performances of the season against a tough Pomona-Pitzer Colleges team at home on Wednesday evening. The Poets defeated the Sagehens, 78-74, and took over sole possession of fourth place in the conference as a result.
Smith put up 34 points and while he played nearly the entire game, it wasn't until the second half that he really caught fire -- and it couldn't have come at a better time. Pomona-Pitzer opened the second half on a 9-0 run, so the Poets needed a swift and heavy answer in order to keep themselves in the game. They got it from Smith, who scored 18 points in the second half, though he was far from the Purple & Gold's only difference maker on Wednesday. Senior
Morgan Cox (Lawton, Okla. / Velma-Alma / Simpson University) came off the bench in his home return to the Poets' lineup, and had himself a perfect night -- perhaps both figuratively and literally.
The Simpson University transfer hit every shot he took -- five three-pointers, two free throws, and an additional field goal inside the three-point line. He was selective, precise and efficient, and could simply do no wrong with his opportunities. His last three-pointer came almost six feet off the line from the top of the key -- a moonshot that sent the Poet faithful into a frenzy in front of a packed house on Staff & Faculty Appreciation Night. With the Poets having answered the Sagehens' initial second half run, they had plenty of confidence to push themselves over the finish line, and they were able to do just that.
As the pace of the game began to take its toll on both teams, Smith found himself getting to the free throw line with greater frequency. He ended up shooting 21 free throw son the night, converting on 15 of them while accounting for 75% of the Poets' total free throw attempts for the game. With two minutes go go and the game tied at 74 points apiece, the Sagehens would not score again. Instead, the Poets would finish the game on a 4-0 run with Smith hitting the go-ahead free throws that put his team over the top. Junior wing
Chine Nwanevu (Eastvale, Calif. / Norco / San Bernardino Valley College) helped the Poets keep up with a Pomona-Pitzer team that is always exceptional on the glass. He double-doubled with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, sophomore guard
Sean Cervantes (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / La Mirada) continued his breakout campaign with six assists in a starting role. Collectively, Whittier shot a sterling 11-for-20 from the three-point line, with Smith adding to the total with three triples and Nwanevu with two.
Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 8 when they host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at 4 p.m.
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