LA JOLLA, Calif. – Hawai’i Pacific and California Baptist both lost tight games in the semifinals of the NCAA Men’s West Regional on Saturday. No. 2 HPU fell to No. 6 Chico State and No. 4 CBU fell to No. 1 UC San Diego. Chico State and UCSD will play for the West Region title on Monday.
Chico State 77 - Hawai’i Pacific 74
Hawai’i Pacific couldn’t pull off a second-half comeback for the second night, losing to Chico State, 77-74.
Chauncey Orr recorded 31 points and four steals in his final college game.
HPU played from behind most of the first half, never trailing by more than six points. Orr scored five points on consecutive possessions to give the Sharks a 30-29 lead with 2:44 left in the half. Chico State closed the first half with a 10-0 run to go up 39-30 at the break.
The Wildcats maintained a double-digit lead for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Orr scored eight during a 18-6 run that pulled the Sharks within three, 71-68, at the final media timeout. Orr scored again coming out of the timeout, and after a Chico State turnover,
Connor Looney made two free throws to put HPU ahead for the first time, 72-71. Chico State answered with scores of an HPU turnover and missed shot to regain a three-point edge. Another HPU miss and turnover gave Chico State two more free throws to cap the decisive 6-0 run.
UC San Diego 84 – California Baptist 80
For the second-straight season, California Baptist lost to UC San Diego in the regional semifinals, dropping an 84-80 contest in the second game Saturday.
Michael Smith scored a game-high 39 points, giving him 81 in two games against the Tritons this year. He shot 11-for-18 from the field and made 12 free throws.
Kalidou Diouf doubled up with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
UCSD had an eight-point lead as the first half wound down, but Smith closed the period with 10-straight points to put CBU ahead, 38-36. UCSD regained the lead with four quick points at the start of the second half and built a seven-point cushion at the final media timeout, making eight-straight free throws. A layup pushed the lead to nine, when a
Jordan Heading three, and a layup and three from Smith pulled CBU within on, 79-78, with 34 seconds remaining. A quick foul led to two more UCSD free throws, but Smith answered again with a layup. UCSD made only one free throw on the next possession to bring the lead to two, but CBU turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. UCSD made both free throws following the turnover for a four-point edge.