As expected, the third-ranked Brigham Young University Hawaii men's basketball team received the number-one seed in the NCAA II West Regional Tournament field announced March 8 by the NCAA. The Seasiders, champions of the Pacific West Conference, will host a four-team sub-regional on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14, and will face seventh-seeded Humboldt State (20-11) in the opening round on Friday at 7:30 pm in the Cannon Activities Center.
The opening game on Friday, at 5 p.m., will pit fourth-seeded Cal State-Dominguez Hills (21-6) against fifth-seeded Central Washington (18-6). The winners of the two first-round games will play on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. for the right to advance to the regional championship game which will be played on Tuesday, March 17th at the home of the highest remaining seed in the region.
Western Washington (21-6) received the region's second seed and will host the other sub-regional. They will face seventh-seeded Seattle Pacific (18-9) in one game and third-seeded Cal Poly Pomona (20-6) will meet sixth-seeded Cal State-San Bernardino (20-9) in the other opening round game.
BYU-Hawaii completed the season with a 25-1 record and went undefeated in the PacWest with a 12-0 mark. The Seasiders have not faced any of the other seven teams in the regional this season and have few shared opponents for comparison. Humboldt State and BYU-Hawaii have no common opponents this year. Cal State-Dominguez Hills defeated Grand Canyon in Phoenix early in the year, 74-64, and the Seasiders defeated Grand Canyon 101-81 in Laie, and 86-71 in Phoenix. Central Washington lost to Dixie State in St. George early in the season, 74-64, and BYU-Hawaii defeated Dixie State 100-79 in Laie and 92-77 in St. George.
Should the Seasiders make it through to the championship game on March 17, which they would host, they share a common opponent with two of the schools in the other sub-regional. Western Washington lost to Dixie State in St. George 86-84 in overtime and Cal State-San Bernardino lost to Grand Canyon on a neutral court 76-71.
Ticket prices for the regional tournament are $8 for reserved seats, $6 general admission, and $3 students with ID (BYUH season ticket holders must purchase tickets). For further information for the regional tournament, contact the BYU-Hawaii athletic office at 808-675-3764.