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BYU-Hawaii falls to Cal Poly Pomona in West Region finale
Broncos top Seasiders in regional final for second straight
year
BELLINGHAM, WA - Tournament MVP Austin Swift scored 19 points, including five in the final 97 seconds, lifting Cal Poly Pomona to a 78-75 victory over Brigham Young University Hawaii in the West Regional title game of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament.
The eight-team, four-day tournament concluded Monday in Bellingham, WA, on the campus of host Western Washington University.
Cal Poly Pomona, the No.4 seed in the region, improved to 25-6 with its 18th win in the last 19 games. Center Dwayne Fells and forward Donnelle Booker each had 15 points for the Broncos, who also beat BYU-Hawaii in the regional finale in 2009. The Broncos lost to Finlday (OA) in the Division II National Championship game.
BYU-Hawaii, the No.6 seed, completed its season 22-6 with a third straight regional title game appearance. Center Lucas Alves had game-highs of 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Seasiders, who had a 15-game winning streak snapped.
The score was tied at 72-72 after a driving lay-in by BYU-Hawaii guard Jet Chang, who finished with 21 points.
But Swift took a pass from Dahir Nasser and hit a reverse layup to give the Broncos a two-point lead. Then, after a Seasiders’ turnover, he nailed a three-pointer late in the shot clock to put Cal Poly Pomona up 77-72 with 45 seconds left in regulation.
A Chang three-pointer narrowed the margin to two. BYU-Hawaii then
saw Cal Poly Pomona’s Mark Rutledge’s making 1 of 2
free throw attempts to keep the contest a one-possession game. The
Seasiders had a chance to tie the contest but missed a trio of
three-pointers in the final 11 seconds.
Rutledge finished the game with 11 points and Mitchel Anderson added 10 for the Broncos, who shot 53.8 percent (28 for 52) from the field. Virgil (J.R.) Buensuceso had 13 points for BYU-Hawaii and Anthony Reilly added 11.
Cal Poly Pomona controlled much of the contest, making five three-pointers in six possessions to key a 17-3 run that gave the Broncos a 26-14 lead with 8:24 left in the first half.
The Broncos led 36-25 at halftime and by eight at 62-54 with under eight minutes left when BYU-Hawaii ignited a 12-1 run and took a 66-63 lead on a lay-in and free throw by Anthony Reilly with 4:52 remaining. Neither team led by more than three points after that until Swift’s three-pointer in the final minute.
Alves and Chang were named to the All-Tournament Team.
