Bellarmine (KY) nips BYU-Hawaii 71-68 Saturday in NCAA Division II National Championship

SPRINGFIELD, MA - Jet Chang scored 35 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, but BYU-Hawaii's dream of an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship fell a few points shy in a 71-68 loss to Bellarmine (KY) on Saturday, March 26, in Springfield, MA.

The Seasiders, who became the first Pacific West Conference men's basketball team to reach the title game, actually finished the season third in the PacWest behind co-champions Dixie State and Chaminade.

But BYU-Hawaii unleashed a streak of five straight post-season victories that landed the Seasiders on national television (CBS) playing for that coveted Division II crown.

Chang, whose 43 points on March 24 in BYU-Hawaii's victory over West Liberty in the national semifinals was the second-most in PacWest history, hit 12 of 20 (60%) attempts from the field and 4 of 5 (80%) from beyond the arc. He also made 7 of 8 (87.5%) free throw attempts and collected six rebounds.

Okesene Ale was the only other player for BYU-Hawaii to reach twin-figures, scoring 17 points off the bench after making 6 of 12 field goal attempts. He also made 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.

Bellarmine had five double-figure scorers, including Jeremy Kendle and Chris Dowe who had 16 each.

The Seasiders finished the year with a 22-9 overall record, while Bellarmine wound up 33-2.