WHITTIER, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2025) – The Whittier College men's basketball team delivered a composed, hard-fought performance Monday night at Dave Jacobs Court, pushing a competitive SCIAC matchup into overtime before concluding the evening with an 89–83 decision against Occidental. The contest marked Whittier's first overtime game of the season and featured multiple lead changes and extended stretches of high-level play.
Whittier stayed steady throughout regulation, answering each run with strong execution on both ends of the floor. After trailing by three at the break, the Poets responded with an aggressive second half, outscoring the Tigers 35–32 over the final 20 minutes to force overtime. Whittier controlled the paint, attacked in transition, and showed poise at the free-throw line to extend the game.
Brandon Andrews (Houston, Texas / Clear Brook / Palomar College) once again led the way offensively, finishing with a game-high 20 points to record his fourth 20-point performance of the season. Andrews consistently put pressure on the defense and logged a career-high 10 made free throws in 31 minutes of action.
Defensively, Tochi Onyeador (Amuri, Nigeria / MEC / Los Medanos College) turned in another dominant performance, anchoring the interior with activity and physicality. Onyeador posted nine points, 14 rebounds, four steals, and five blocks, setting a new NCAA career high in steals while tying his career best in blocks. His presence around the rim and ability to disrupt passing lanes played a key role throughout the game.
Jonathan Duley (Rocklin, Calif. / Del Oro / Cuyamaca College) and Peyton Guerrero (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Ocean View / Cypress College) continued their steady scoring contributions, combining for 31 points and providing consistent offensive balance. Off the bench, Bryce Whitaker (Burbank, Calif. / Providence / Montana State Billings) added 13 points while knocking down three three-pointers, and Chinecherem Nwanevu (Eastvale, Calif. / Norco / San Bernardino Valley College) provided valuable defensive minutes during extended stretches of play.
As a team, Whittier showed toughness and composure across 45 minutes, executing effectively in a back-and-forth conference matchup and responding well in late-game situations.
Whittier now stands at 11–6 overall and 4–4 in SCIAC play. Head Coach Mark Jensen and the Poets will return to the road on Saturday, January 24, traveling to Pasadena, Calif. for their first matchup of the season against Caltech at 2 p.m.
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