WHITTIER, Calif. – Travell Oakes led Albion College on a 17-4 first half run, and the Britons went on to seize a 79-75 victory over Whittier College on the second night of the Purple & Gold Poet Classic.

Albion erased an early 14-5 deficit. Robert Ryan ignited the rally by knocking down a jumper. Oakes produced three baskets and a free throw and Carter Elliott, Zach Hurth and Corey Wheeler added baskets.

"Whittier plays at a fast pace and it took us a few minutes to adjust," Albion Head Coach Jody May said.

Albion ripped off five points to break a tie at 24 and seize the lead for good. Dakota Kazen tipped his own miss into the basket and Lucas Marble dialed up a three-point basket.

Albion held a 13-point lead midway through the second half, but Whittier made plenty of shots down the stretch to climb back in the game.

Briton Notes

 Wheeler matched his career-high 17 points. He knocked down 5-of-10 shots from the field and all five of his attempts from the free throw line. He grabbed eight rebounds, including four on the offensive end.

Jordan Herron produced his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Oakes gave the Britons a lift off the bench with 12 points and eight rebounds. He scored 5-of-8 shots from the field.

Albion grabbed a season-high 50 rebounds and it generated 24 second-chance points.

The Britons scored 40 points in the paint.

Herron and Oakes were placed on the Purple & Gold Classic All-Tournament team. Herron averaged 12 ½ points and 10 ½ rebounds in the tournament, while Oakes chipped in with averages of 14 points and eight rebounds.

Next Up

Albion will take a 7-3 record into its Jan. 7 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener against Kalamazoo College. The tip is slated for 7:30 p.m. inside Kresge Gymnasium.

"Everybody gets a brand new start with 0-0 records in the league," May said. "I've gone on record saying the most consistent team will win the league and that's our goal."