Whittier, Calif. – Chris Barnes-Williams made two go-ahead foul shots with 14 seconds left and added the clinching defensive rebound as the Whittier Men's Basketball team took a 61-58 win over Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday evening.

The loss drops the Sagehens to 10-5 on the year and 5-2 in the SCIAC, while Whittier improves to 7-9 and 3-4 in the SCIAC.

Pomona-Pitzer struggled offensively all night against Whittier's defensive pressure, but took a one-point lead with 1:13 left, when junior forward Jake Klewer (Tucson, Ariz.) had a steal in a tie game and was fouled, making one of two at the line. Sophomore guard Kyle McAndrews (Seattle, Wash.) then blocked a Whittier shot out of bounds off the Poets, to give the Sagehens the ball back with the lead.

Pomona-Pitzer killed the shot clock and McAndrews got a good look in the corner, but missed and Whittier called a timeout with 27 seconds left. Barnes-Williams then drove the lane and drew a foul with 14 seconds left, making both to put the Poets ahead to stay. The Sagehens brought the ball right up court, and McAndrews started to drive, was cut off, and took a stepback three-pointer that rimmed out, and Barnes-Williams got the rebound and made both to seal the win.

The Sagehens looked like they might break it open with a late run, as a Klewer put back, a floater from senior guard Xavyr Moss (Federal Way, Wash. - pictured), and a Klewer foul shot gave them a 53-48 lead with 4:42 left. However, they missed two chances to extend the lead, and Phillip Thomas was left unguarded for a three-pointer, then found Jacob Porter all alone for a lay-up to tie the score with 3:59 left.  A Tyree Landrum dunk with 2:22 left gave the Poets a 55-53 lead, before a series of foul shots left the Sagehens ahead 58-57 heading down the stretch.  

Whittier took a 26-25 lead into halftime after a low-scoring first stanza which saw the Sagehens shoot just 9-24 (which included 4-5 from McAndrews). Pomona-Pitzer fell behind 24-18 before a 7-0 run, starting with a Moss three-pointer  and ending with his steal and hit-ahead pass to McAndrews for a lay-up, made the score 25-24 with 3:23 left in the half. However, the Poets were able to hold the Sagehens scoreless the rest of the way, and went into the locker room with a one-point lead on a Thomas driving scoop shot.

Four players finished in double figures for the Sagehens, led by 15 from McAndrews, who shot 1-9 in the second half after a strong first half. Moss (who was 5-9 from the floor with three steals) and sophomore guard Michael Cohen (Tarzana, Calif.) each had 13 points, and Klewer finished with 10 on 3-3 shooting. Whittier was led by Landrum, who finished with a game-high 17 points.

Pomona-Pitzer will be back in action on Saturday when it returns home to face La Verne for a 7 p.m. contest.