Whittier runs past Beavers in 40-point win

WHITTIER, Calif. - The Whittier College men's basketball team went on a 17-0 run in the opening minutes of the game and that proved to be more than enough as the Poets cruised to an 85-45 victory over Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent Caltech Wednesday night at the Graham Athletic Center.

The Poets (13-8, 7-3 SCIAC) were tied at four with 17:27 left in the first half and then rolled off 17 consecutive points to stretch its lead to 21-4. The purple and gold never looked back as they led by as many as 28 points in the first half.

Whittier was led by Zach Corns who registered a double-double. The junior forward scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

Marcus Gibson and Keegan Hoover each scored 17 points in the win. Gipson opened the second half with four straight three pointers and he finished the night 5-of-6 from three-point range (6-of-7 from the field).

The Poets scored 31 points off of the 35 Caltech (1-20, 0-10 SCIAC) turnovers and outscored the Beavers in the paint, 44-8.

Kenneth Albritton dished out six assists while five players had two or more steals. Gibson and Jeff McLean each had three steals for WC.

As a team the Poets shot over 51 percent for the game which includes an even 50 percent from behind the arc.

Whittier returns to action on Saturday, February 14, as it hosts Occidental in a key SCIAC game at 7:30 pm. The Poets currently hold claim to the fourth conference playoff spot and are two games ahead of fifth place Occidental.

Photo by: Tony Leon/Action West Photography