Dixie State, Chaminade & BYU-Hawaii bound for NCAA II West Regional in Washington

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Dixie State (20-6/13-3 PacWest), Chaminade (20-8/13-3) and BYU-Hawaii (17-8/12-4) will represent the Pacific West Conference in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament.

All three teams were selected to compete in the West Regional that begins play at Central Washington University in Ellensburg on Friday, March 11, with four quarterfinal contests. The semifinals will be held on March 12, followed by the West Region title game on Monday, March 14.

PacWest Co-Champions Dixie State and Chaminade will battle for the third time this season in the opening round. The Red Storm earned the #4 seed, while the Silverswords earned the fifth slot. Dixie State won both regular-season meetings to claim the automatic qualifier, including a thrilling 72-69 triumph in Honolulu on March 2.

The winner of the Dixie State-Chaminade battle will face either top seed Central Washington (26-3) or #8 Seattle Pacific on March 12. The Red Storm beat Seattle Pacific in Washington 68-61 earlier this season, while Chaminade lost to both schools.

BYU-Hawaii earned the #7 seed in the tournament and will face #3 Cal State Dominguez Hills in the other half of the bracket. The Seasiders lost to CSU Dominguez Hills 81-54 in the season opener when BYU-Hawaii was a far different club. If the Seasiders win, BYU-Hawaii would face either #3 Humboldt State or #6 Alaska Anchorage in the semifinals.

BYU-Hawaii could meet Dixie State or Chaminade in the West Region finale on March 14. Chaminade has beaten the Seasiders three times this year, while BYU-Hawaii and Dixie State split their two contests.

Last season, both Dixie State and BYU-Hawaii earned tournament bids with the Seasiders falling to eventual National Champion Cal Poly Pomona in the regional finale 78-75. Dixie State lost to Cal Poly Pomona 71-62 in the first round.

In 2009, the Seasiders were the lone PacWest representatives in the West Region when they beat Humboldt State 98-84 and Cal State Dominguez Hills 84-71 in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. The Seasiders dropped a heartbreaker at home in the regional championship to Cal Poly Pomona by the score of 59-58.

Chaminade is making its first trip to the post-season since 2008. The Silverswords beat Humboldt State in the opening round 68-60 before falling to BYU-Hawaii in the semifinals 83-62. The Seasiders bounced Cal State San Bernardino 67-63 in the first round before losing in the title game 73-67 at Alaska Anchorage. It marked the beginning of three straight West Region Championship Game appearances for the Seasiders.

In 2007, BYU-Hawaii lost in the opening round to Cal State San Bernardino 71-68, while Grand Canyon defeated Seattle Pacific 87-65. The Antelopes then lost to Humboldt State 95-81 in the semifinals.

For more information on the National Championship, check out the NCAA website at: http://www.ncaa.com/championships/basketball-men/d2

For more information on Central Washington University, check out the institution’s website at:  http://www.wildcatsports.com/index.aspx?path=