LA VERNE, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2025) – Behind a historic offensive performance from Brandon Andrews (Houston, Texas / Clear Brook / Palomar College), the Whittier College men's basketball team earned a convincing 78–68 conference road victory over La Verne on Saturday afternoon at The Tents. The win marks Whittier's third SCIAC victory of the season and continues the Poets' strong stretch of play in conference action.
Andrews delivered one of the most explosive individual performances in recent program memory, pouring in a career-high 34 points on 13-of-20 shooting from the field. Just three days removed from setting a previous career high of 22 points, Andrews topped it emphatically, adding five rebounds and an NCAA career-high three steals while finishing a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. His scoring touch set the tone early and allowed Whittier to control the game from the opening minutes, as the Poets led wire-to-wire.
Whittier built a nine-point advantage at the break and maintained steady separation throughout the second half, leaning on efficiency and discipline at both ends of the floor. Jonathan Duley (Rocklin, Calif. / Del Oro / Cuyamaca College) and Peyton Guerrero (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Ocean View / Cypress College) provided consistent scoring support, combining for 32 points, while both continued their efficient play in conference action. The Poets shot 46 percent from the field as a team and held La Verne to just over 35 percent shooting, limiting second-chance opportunities and converting at an 80 percent clip from the free throw line.
The defensive effort was anchored by Tochi Onyeador (Amuri, Nigeria / MEC / Los Medanos College), who turned in a dominant performance in the paint. Onyeador tied his season-high of 17 rebounds and recorded a new NCAA career high with five blocks, repeatedly altering shots and controlling the glass. Jaden Mathis (Pasadena, Calif. / Pasadena / Palomar College) and Bryce Whitaker (Burbank, Calif. / Providence / Montana State Billings) added valuable defensive minutes on the perimeter, helping Whittier hold La Verne without a single lead change throughout the contest.
With the win, Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets improve to 11–4 overall and 3–2 in SCIAC play. Whittier will return home to Dave Jacobs Court on Saturday, January 14, at 7 p.m. to host Chapman as conference action continues.
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