WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2026) – On Senior Night at Dave Jacobs Court, the Whittier College men's basketball team delivered one of its most explosive offensive performances in recent memory, rolling past Caltech 106–76 in a Valentine's Day SCIAC victory. The 106 points marked Whittier's highest conference scoring total since the 2018–19 season, capping a fitting home finale for the program's senior class.
Jaden Mathis (Pasadena, Calif. / Pasadena / Palomar College), Chinecherem Nwanevu (Eastvale, Calif. / Norco / San Bernardino Valley College), and Bryce Whitaker (Burbank, Calif. / Providence / Montana State Billings) were honored prior to tipoff, and the trio helped set the tone in a dominant team effort. Whittier shot nearly 60 percent from the field and knocked down 15 three-pointers, building a 56–27 halftime lead before cruising to the 30-point win.
Tochi Onyeador (Amuri, Nigeria / MEC / Los Medanos College) powered the interior with a new NCAA career-high 20 points on 10-of-12 shooting, adding 10 rebounds to secure his sixth double-double of the season. His efficiency and presence in the paint helped Whittier control the tempo from start to finish.
Jonathan Duley (Rocklin, Calif. / Del Oro / Cuyamaca College) added 13 points while dishing out a new NCAA career-high six assists, and Brandon Andrews (Houston, Texas / Clear Brook / Palomar College) contributed 13 points with strong all-around play. Nwanevu finished with 12 points, including four three-pointers, while Whitaker tallied 12 points and five assists in his Senior Night performance.
Mathis chipped in nine points and continued to stretch the floor from beyond the arc as part of a balanced offensive attack that saw six Poets score in double figures.
The night also featured meaningful contributions from the younger Poets. Bernardo Zappia (Funes, Argentina / Colegio Sol De Funes) scored his first collegiate points, and Brandon Romo (Whittier, Calif. / Whittier) knocked down his first career three-pointer as Whittier's depth shined in extended minutes.
As a team, the Poets shot 59.5 percent from the floor and recorded 29 assists, showcasing one of the most fluid and dynamic offensive performances of the season under Head Coach Mark Jensen.
Whittier improves to 15–9 overall and 8–7 in SCIAC play as the Purple & Gold continue their push for a conference tournament berth. Coach Jensen and the Poets will close out the regular season on Saturday, February 21, traveling to Redlands for a 5 p.m. matchup against the University of Redlands.
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