CLAREMONT, Calif. — Despite a game-high 23 points from Charlie Hutchison, Pomona-Pitzer men's basketball fell 87-70 at home to Whittier Wednesday night. 
 
Season Impact: The result puts the Sagehens at 5-6 on the season, including 1-3 in SCIAC play.
 
Hutchison reached 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 2-7 from three, to go with 10 rebounds and five assists. Charlie Treene added nine points while Connor Fitzgerald and Samir O'Brien each had eight. 
 
Teams traded baskets to start the contest, with a Bryson Bryker layup off a Hutchison assist making it 16-16 early. Cooper Bladow later knocked down a pair from the line to give the Sagehens a 23-22 lead. But the Poets scored 14 unanswered to then take a 36-22 advantage. Treene hit a jumper but Pomona-Pitzer trailed 42-32 at the break.
 
Whittier pushed its lead to 21, 60-39, before Hutchison hit a pair of free throws. Fitzgerald later hit a three and Hutchison added one of his own, but the Sagehens trailed 74-51 with 8:02 to go. O'Brien hit a triple in the final minutes and Clyde Rosenberg scored in the paint, but Pomona-Pitzer fell 87-70 to the Poets. 
 
Up Next: Pomona-Pitzer will return to Voelkel Gymnasium to host UC Santa Cruz on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 2:00 p.m. PT.