CLAREMONT, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2025) – The Whittier College men's basketball team responded in a big way on Wednesday night, bouncing back from a narrow loss to Occidental with an emphatic 87–70 road win over Pomona-Pitzer at Voelkel Gym.
Playing shorthanded and without leading scorer Jonathan Duley (Rocklin, Calif. / Del Oro / Cuyamaca College), the Poets delivered one of their most complete performances of the season to secure an important SCIAC victory.
Whittier set the tone early, building a 42–32 halftime lead behind efficient shooting and aggressive play on both ends of the floor. The Poets shot over 50 percent in the opening half and continued to apply pressure after the break, knocking down six three-pointers in the second half and finishing the night at an even 50 percent from beyond the arc. Whittier never relinquished control, pushing the margin as high as 19 while holding Pomona-Pitzer to under 38 percent shooting overall.
Brandon Andrews (Houston, Texas / Clear Brook / Palomar College) delivered a breakout performance in his first career start, posting NCAA career highs across the board with 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Andrews was aggressive from the opening tip, attacking the rim and converting at the free throw line while also facilitating the offense with poise. Peyton Guerrero (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Ocean View / Cypress College) added another standout night of his own, scoring a new NCAA career high 19 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Jaden Mathis (Pasadena, Calif. / Pasadena / Palomar College) continued his strong stretch of play, pouring in a new NCAA career high 17 points while knocking down three triples.
Tochi Onyeador (Amuri, Nigeria / MEC / Los Medanos College) anchored the interior once again, scoring 14 points on efficient shooting while matching his NCAA career highs in both blocks and steals. David Estes (Henderson, Nev. / Basic / College of Southern Nevada) also made his first career start as a Poet and made the most of the opportunity, logging a season-high 26 minutes and pulling down a team-leading nine rebounds. Dillon McLennan (Palos Verdes, Calif. / Palos Verdes Peninsula / Hiram College) and Bryce Whitaker (Burbank, Calif. / Providence / Montana State Billings) provided timely contributions off the bench, combining to hit four three-pointers and help maintain Whittier's momentum throughout the second half.
The win was particularly impressive given the circumstances, as Whittier played without Duley, who entered the night averaging 20 points per game, along with veterans Chinecherem Nwanevu (Eastvale, Calif. / Norco / San Bernardino Valley College) and Sean Cervantes (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / La Mirada). Despite the absences, the Poets showed depth, balance, and resilience in earning a statement road win in conference play.
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