Whittier Loses Another Battle with NAIA Foe, Covington Drops Season-High 21 Points on Mustangs

Vernon Covington '08 scored a season-high 21 points, but Whittier College lost 71-67 to NAIA opponent, The Master's College, on December 8 in the Graham Athletics Center.  The Poets (3-3) have lost three games to NAIA opponents this season, including their last two games. 

Covington shot 8-for-10 from the field and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds in 31 minutes of action.  David Hayashi '11 was the only other Poet in double figures with ten points. 

The Mustangs (6-4) were led by Ryan Zamroz, who scored a game-high 22 points.  Raphael Harris scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.  Joey Fuca and Eric Durso pitched in with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

The Poets led by as many as 14 points in the first half, but held just a 37-33 edge at the break.  Master's started the second half with a 5-0 run to take over the lead just three minutes into the second stanza.  The teams exchanged the lead seven times in the half, with the Mustangs taking the lead for good with less than four minutes remaining (62-61).  They went on to lead by as many as six before taking home the four point victory.

Both teams shot well from the field; Master's finished shooting 22-for-44 (50%) while the Poets were 24-for-53 (45%).  Whittier held a slight edge in turnovers, committing 18 while forcing 19.  The Mustangs finished with a 34-30 advantage on the glass. 

The Poets hit the hardwood again on December 16, when Pacific University ventures out of the Northwest Conference to come to the Graham Athletics Center.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm.