Despite BYU-Hawaii loss in NCAA II title game, Jet Chang tabbed as Most Outstanding Player

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Not often does the MVP of a championship game or series come from a team that didn’t win the title. But in the case of BYU-Hawaii’s Jet Chang, the exception occurred because he was simply exceptional.

Chang scored 35 points in a tough 71-68 loss to Bellarmine (KY) in the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship in Springfield, MA, on Saturday, March 26, earning the title of Most Outstanding Player of the Division II Elite Eight and a place on the All-Tournament Team. He received the honor because of his body of work during the tournament.

Chang averaged 33.3 points over the three games that began with a 22-point performance on March 23 during a 96-89 victory over Bloomfield (NJ). It continued with a 43-point explosion vs. West Liberty (WV) in a 110-101 semifinal triumph on March 24. The 43-point performance was the second-high in PacWest history.

Chang’s shooting was unconscious. Form the floor he hit 35 of 53 field goal attempts for a robust 66.0% (35 for 53) accuracy rate. He was even more deadly from beyond the arc, making 12 of 17 three-point jumpers (70.6%) and averaging 4.0 three-pointers made per game.

Equally impressive was his shooting from the line, making 18 of 21 (85.7%) foul shots. He averaged 4.7 rebounds per game while dealing out 3.0 assists per contest. He averaged 1.0 steals per game and a 1.0 assist/turnover ratio, all while averaging 34.3 minutes played per game.

Chang finishes the season as the leading scorer in the PacWest after averaging 21.2 points per game. He ranked 11^th in field goal percentage (46.1 / 234 for 508), seventh in foul shooting (76.5% / 130 for 170), seventh in steals per game (1.1), 12^th in three-point shooting (36.6% / 58 for 157), and fourth in three-pointers made per game (1.9).

The Seasiders became the first Pacific West Conference men’s basketball team to reach the NCAA II Championship game after finishing the year third in the PacWest behind co-champions Dixie State and Chaminade.

BYU-Hawaii unleashed a streak of five straight post-season victories that landed the Seasiders a West Region title and a chance to play on national television (CBS).

The Seasiders finished the year with a 22-9 overall record.