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March 15, 2010

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - 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 championship game of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament which concluded Monday on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium 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 final in 2009 and reached the 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 14-game winning streak snapped.

The score was tied at 72-72 after a driving layin by BYU-Hawaii guard Jet Chang, who finished with 21 points. But Swift took a pass from Dahir Nasser and hit a reverse layin to give the Broncos a two-point lead, then after a Seasiders turnover, nailed a 3-pointer late in the shot clock to put Cal Poly Pomona up by five, 77-72, with 45 seconds left.

A Chang 3-pointer narrowed the margin to two, and after Mark Rutledge made one of two free throws with 26 seconds left, the Seasiders had a chance to tie, but missed three 3-pointers in the final 11 seconds.

Rutledge had 11 points and Mitchel Anderson added 10 for the Broncos, who shot 53.8 percent (28-of-52) from the field. Virgil Buensuceso had 13 points for BYU-Hawaii and Anthony Reilly added 11.

Cal Poly Pomona controlled much of the contest, making five 3-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.

Cal Poly Pomona led 36-25 at halftime, and was ahead by eight 62-54, with under eight minutes left, but BYU-Hawaii went on a 12-1 run and took a 66-63 lead on a layin and free throw by Reilly with 4:52 left. Neither team led by more than three points after that until Swift's 3-pointer in the final minute.

Joining Swift on the all-tournament team were Booker, Fells, Alves and Chang.

Cal Poly Pomona is a perfect 8-0 at Carver Gym in three NCAA tournaments.